Selection of p-y curves for the design of single laterally loaded piles

Two-dimensional finite element analysis has been used to find load-transfer relationships for translation of an infinitely long pile through undrained soil for a variety of soil-constitutive models. It has been shown that the se load-transfer curves can be used as p-y curves in the analysis of single piles undergoing lateral pile head loading in undrained soils with non-lin ear stress-strain laws. Lateral pile response deduced from 2-D analysis inp ut to the subgrade reaction method has been compared to the behaviour of a single pile analysed using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Good agreement between the two methods for non-linear soils suggests that the 2- D analysis may form a useful design method for calculation of p-y curves. C opyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.