Soil-Pile Structure Interaction during Earthquakes

Seismic soil-pile structure interaction (SSPSI) is a complex process involving several, simultaneously occurring and, sometimes compensating phenomena. To better appreciate SSPSI, the physical processes that occur when a pile supported structure is seismically loaded are first categorized into far-field effects, near field effects, and inertial effects. Far-field effects consist of pore-pressure generation, ground deformation and subsequent cyclic degradation. Near field effects include strain rate effects (soil-pile slippage), cyclic degradation, and gap-slap mechanism. The effect of each phenomenon on the axial t-z and lateral p-y response is then discussed.