Simulation of full-scale cyclic lateral load tests on piles

The hysteretic global and local response of reinforced concrete pile shafts is studied herein using a commonly adopted finite-element (FE) analysis approach with nonlinear fiber beam-column elements for the piles and nonlinear p-y springs for the soil. The FE model is evaluated by simulating the response of a series of full-scale load tests on piles embedded in dry sand and subjected to cyclic lateral loading. Results from these analyses indicate good agreement, thereby supporting the use of the FE model for subsequent parametric studies considering different soil, pile, and loading conditions.