HANDOUT 12

Example Calculation of p-y Curve in Sand for Laterally Loaded Pile

Reference: "COM624P - Laterally Loaded Pile Analysis Program for the Microcomputer, Version 2.0" by S.-T. Wang and L. C. Reese, Report No. FHWA-SA-91-048, FHWA, June 1993. Determine p-y curve for sand at depth of 720 in. shown in Figs. 42 and 43 on the next page Given: Static loading Pile diameter, b = Constant of subgrade reaction, nh = Depth below bearing level, x = From Fig. 42: = Effective unit weight below g.w.t, ' = Calculations: Follow steps shown on pp. 341-347, referring to Fig. 3.11 on p. 342 for definition of terminology and general shape of p-y curves. =/2= = 45o + / 2 = Ko = Ka = tan2(45o - / 2) = 14.5 59.5 0.4 0.34697403 degrees = 0.253073 radians degrees = 1.038471 radians 48 80 720 29 57.5 in. pci in. degrees = 0.506145 radians pcf = 0.033275 pci

Compute p s as the smaller of p st and p sd (Eqs. 3.31 and 3.32 on p. 341) Calculate pst as follows:
K 0 x tan sin tan ( b + x tan tan ) + K 0 x tan ( tan sin tan ) K a b p st = x + tan( ) tan( ) cos

Term1 = Term2 = Term3 = Term4 = 'x= pst =

241.19859 1049.3949 107.07073 -16.65475 23.958333 33,087 lb/in.

Calculate psd as follows: Term1 = 27131.025 Term2 = 2117.9508 psd = 29,249 lb/in.

psd = Ka bx( tan 8 1) + K0bx tan tan 4

Use lower of two values for ps, so ps =

29,249

lb/in.

2001, 2008 Evert C. Lawton

Example Calculation of p-y Curve in Sand for Laterally Loaded Pile.xls

Page 1 of 5

 2001, 2008 Evert C. Lawton

Example Calculation of p-y Curve in Sand for Laterally Loaded Pile.xls

Page 2 of 5

Calculate ultimate values of p and y at point u x/b= From Fig. 3.12, p. 344: As = pu = As ps = yu = 3b / 80 = 15 0.88 25,739 1.80 lb/in. in.

Calculate ultimate values of p and y at point m From Fig. 3.13, p. 345: Bs = 0.50 pm = Bs ps = 14,624 lb/in. ym = b / 60 = 0.80 in.

Establish the initial straight line portion of the p-y curve p = (nh x) y nh x = 57,600 psi

Establish the parabolic section of the p-y curve p = C y1/n Slope of line between points m and u = (pu - pm) / (yu - ym) = Power of the parabolic section, n = pm / (m ym) = Coefficient, C = pm / ym
1/n

11,115 1.6447 16,750

psi

Determine point k where initial straight line portion intersects parabola 0.04281 in. From straight line, pk = (nh x) yk = 2,466 From parabola, pk = C yk1/n = 2,466 yk = (C / (nh x))n/n-1 =

lb/in. lb/in. - checks

2001, 2008 Evert C. Lawton

Example Calculation of p-y Curve in Sand for Laterally Loaded Pile.xls

Page 3 of 5

All required information is now available to draw the p-y curve as shown in Fig. 43. The following data points will be used to draw the p-y curve (shown on the next sheet): y (in.) 0 0.00856 0.0171 0.0257 0.0343 0.0385 0.0428 0.119 0.194 0.346 0.497 0.649 0.724 0.800 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.75 1.76 1.77 1.78 1.79 1.80 1.81 1.82 1.83 1.84 1.85 1.90 2.00 2.20 2.40 2.60 2.80 3.00 p (lb/in.) 0 493.2 986.4 1,480 1,973 2,219 2,466 4,580 6,185 8,781 10,951 12,873 13,767 14,624 15,736 16,847 19,070 21,293 23,516 24,628 25,183 25,295 25,406 25,517 25,628 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739 25,739

Location

(yk, pk)

(ym, pm)

(yu, pu)

2001, 2008 Evert C. Lawton

Example Calculation of p-y Curve in Sand for Laterally Loaded Pile.xls

Page 4 of 5

30000

25000

(yu, pu)

20000 p (lb/in.)

15000

(ym, pm)

10000

5000 (yk, pk) 0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 y (in.) 2.0 2.5 3.0

2001, 2008 Evert C. Lawton

Example Calculation of p-y Curve in Sand for Laterally Loaded Pile.xls

Page 5 of 5