Lateral Load on a Large Pile Group: A 3D Finite Element Model

Practice shows that the analysis of laterally loaded pile foundations is critically important. For years, numerous experimental, theoretical and numerical investigations have been conducted to predict the behavior of such systems. This paper describes a computational study to investigate large pile-ground system response under lateral load based on 3-dimensional (3D) OpenSees finite element modeling. Primarily, pile group behavior in nonlinear soil with and without a tension-cutoff logic is discussed. Distribution of load within the pile group is analyzed and the group interaction effects are examined. A robust and versatile framework (OpenSeesPL, http://cyclic.ucsd.edu/openseespl/) for computational analysis of pile-ground systems is employed to facilitate the pre- and post-processing phases. Further validation and calibration of the analysis framework may be conducted with the aid of case histories and experimental data.