Theoretical Elastio-Plastic Solution for Piles Subject to Lateral Soil Movement

In this study, a nonlinear mechanical mechanism model for piles subject to lateral soil movement was proposed based on the Winkler elastic model. The plastic deformation of surrounding soils was taken into account using a simplified elastoplastic constitutive model. Then, the governing equations describing the interaction between passive piles and unstable slopes were deduced. By considering the continuity condition and the boundary conditions, the analytical solutions for the responses of pile embedded in linear-plastic soil were obtained. Moreover, a Matlab program was developed for the implementation of the solutions. Finally, a model test is simulated and it is shown that the proposed analytical method considering the soil nonlinear and plastic yielding is capable of representing the actual lateral performance of a pile more realistically than the existing elastic solutions.