Elastic Analysis of Laterally Loaded Rectangular Piles

An analysis is developed to determine the response of laterally loaded piles with rectangular cross sections. Soil displacement fields compatible with the rectangular shape of the pile cross section are assumed. The differential equations governing the displacements of the pile-soil system are developed using energy principles. Closed-form solutions for lateral pile deflection and displacements within the soil mass can be obtained using the analysis. The input parameters needed for the analysis are the pile geometry and the elastic constants of the soil and pile. The new analysis allows insights into the lateral load response of square, rectangular and circular piles and how they compare.