A coupling analytical solution of piles subjected lateral loads

It is common to use the load-transfer curves (p—y curves) or Poulos’s elastic theory to calculate laterally loaded piles at present. This paper discusses the characteristics of these two methods and develops a new coupling analytical solution based on these methods. In the new method, the soil moduli along pile length are calculated by the p—y curves according the stress level and lateral displacements of soil, then the elastic theory is used to account for the soil-pile interaction between different elements using the above soil modulus. The results of the proposed coupling method is reasonable as shown by comparing lateral behavior of the pile with the above two methods.