Characterizing Lateral Load Behavior of a Pile in Improved Soils Surrounded by Soft Clay Using the Winkler Analysis Concept

Following the Winkler analysis concept, a simplified analysis method is investigated in this paper to characterize the lateral load behavior of piles in unimproved and improved soft clays. Several different ground improvement scenarios were used with cement deep soil mixing as the soil improvement technique and the extent of soil improvement region as the main variable. By using the proposed analysis method, modified p-y curves can be developed to model the nonlinear behavior of improved soft clay surrounded by unimproved soil as a homogenized composite material. This modified p-y curve was incorporated into LPILE analysis program to characterize the monotonic pseudo-static load response of a single pile subjected to lateral load in different ground improvement scenarios. Although the analysis results require validation based on test data and/or detailed 3-D analysis results, which are being currently performed in an ongoing study, the investigated method enabled the effects of soil improvement to be accounted for in a simplified manner.