Vertical dynamic response characteristics of single pile in non-homogeneous soil layers

A computational method and a mechanical model for evaluating the vertical dynamic harmonic response characteristics of a single pile embedded in non-homogeneous soil layers and subjected to harmonic loadings were established based on a certain assumption and the improved dynamic model of beam-on-Winkler foundation by using the principle of soil dynamics and structure dynamics. Both non-homogeneity of soil strata and softening effect of soil layer around the pile during vibration were simultaneously taken into account in the proposed computational model. It is shown through the comparative study on a numerical example that the numerical results of dynamic response of the single pile computed by the proposed method are relatively rational and can well agree with the numerical results computed from the well-known software of finite element method. Finally the parametric studies were conducted for a varied range of main parameters to discuss the effects of relevant factors on dynamic responses of the single pile embedded in non-homogeneous layered soils excited by harmonic loading with different frequencies.