Prediction of Lateral Dynamic Response of Single Piles Embedded in Fine Soils

The lateral dynamic response of a single pile predicted by analytical models often yields higher natural frequencies and lower resonant amplitudes than those determined in field tests. This has been related to overestimated soil’s shear modulus and radiation damping used in the calculations of the response. The objective of this study was to determine a simple method to improve the theoretical predictions, primarily those of piles embedded in clay or fine silty sands. Accordingly, reduction factors to the soil’s shear modulus and radiation damping were proposed. These factors were related to the shear strain at predicted peak amplitudes.