Model tests on nonlinear vibration characteristics of single piles with different length-diameter ratios under lateral loading in sand

Soil nonlinearity around the pile becomes significant under lateral dynamic loading. Several laboratory model tests were conducted to investigate the nonlinear behavior of laterally loaded piles with different length-diameter ratios in sand, and to analyze the influence of loading amplitude and pile's length-diameter ratio on the nonlinearity. Test results show that the higher load amplitude leads to much stronger pile-soil nonlinear interaction and lower resonant frequency of the pile-soil system. The resonant frequency of the pile-soil system as well as its attenuation rate is negatively correlated with the pile's length-diameter ratio in case of the same pile diameter.