Static equivalent method for the kinematic interaction analysis of pile foundations

This work presents a simplified procedure for the evaluation of the kinematic stress resultants in single piles subjected to earthquake soil displacements. The procedure is applicable to single piles embedded in homogeneous as well as horizontally layered soil profiles overlaying a rigid formation. By neglecting radiation damping the evaluation of the effects induced in the piles by the propagation of seismic waves in the soil is studied by means of a static equivalent procedure, without the use of dynamic analyses. Piles are modelled as elastic beams on Winkler restraints and are pushed by the earthquake soil displacements provided by a response spectrum analysis of the soil profile. The soil is assumed to be homogeneous with constant shear modulus and density and to behave elastically. A validation of the method is carried out comparing results with those furnished by more sophisticated dynamic soil-pile interaction analyses.