Finite element-based p-y curves in sand

Abstract

P-y curves are used in the prediction of non-linear soil resistance resulting from the horizontal pile movement. Many of the p-y curves have been developed in the 1970s for the petroleum industry to predict the horizontal capacity of piles supporting oil platforms. These curves are based on the beam theory fed by strain-gauge data installed on several full-size pile tests. In this particular study, a p-y curve formula for sand was developed using 34 finite element combinations. The p-y curve formula includes the input of soil modulus, soil friction angle, soil unit weight and pile diameter. The results of the formula and the finite element program were validated against the test data available in the literature.