P-y Curves of laterally loaded barrettes

Rectangular shaped piles (barrettes) are extensively used in construction projects to resist relatively high lateral loads in different onshore and offshore facilities. The need to analyze barrettes subjected to lateral loads is one of the challenges in the field of deep foundations. P-y curves and finite element method are widely trusted approaches to depict the behavior of such embedded concrete elements under the effect of lateral loads. In this paper, the authors aim to introduce a comprehensive approach to use validated numerical models to create the P-y curves that can be easily used to design laterally loaded barrettes. The performed analysis in this study focuses on developing P-y curves for cohesionless soil formations. The developed P-y curves from the analyses are compared to the P-y curves generated using the formulae of Reese, 1974, and API, 1993 for cohesionless soils. International standards and codes of reinforced concrete structural elements recommend considering the concrete cracking effect in the numerical analysis by reducing the flexural stiffness by an average value of 50% of that of the intact elements. Laterally loaded barrettes with different dimensions are analyzed in this study, using the finite element method to generate the corresponding P-y curves. Comparison between the P-y curves of laterally loaded barrettes of different dimensions and their corresponding piles of equivalent perimeters and areas, as well as piles of a diameter equal to the corresponding barrettes' width, is performed through this paper. Results of the performed analyses show that P-y curves of rectangular barrettes under lateral loads are relatively similar to that of piles with an equivalent perimeter.