Tutorial 2 Quick Start - Laterally Loaded Pile

Multi-Layer Model
Soil types for Laterally Loaded Pile
Pile Properties
Lateral Loading Conditions
Export Data into Excel

RSPile v.1.0 Verification Manual

Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Introduction
This tutorial will demonstrate how to analyze a laterally loaded pile in multi-layer soil under
various loading conditions.
The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 02 Quick Start - Laterally
Loaded Piles.rspile data file. All tutorial files installed with RSPile 1.0 can be accessed by
selecting File > Recent Folders > Tutorials Folder from the RSPile main menu.

Model
If you have not already done so, start the RSPile program by double-clicking on the RSPile
icon in your installation folder. Or from the Start menu, select All Programs > Rocscience >
RSPile 1.0 > RSPile.
If the RSPile application window is not already maximized, maximize it now, so that the full
screen is available for viewing the model.
You will see the splash screen. Select Laterally Loaded Pile
Select: Lateral Mode
You should see the following default model.

The Lateral Mode will display these graphs of Pile Deflection, Moment, and Shear values
along the length of the pile. They are imposed over the soil layers that are defined with the
ground surface at the top (Depth = 0 m). The green line indicates the moving soil that is
loading the pile.
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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Select: Project Settings

Here you can change the analysis type, units, tolerance, number of iterations allowed, and
the number of pile segments to be used in the analysis.

Keep in mind larger values for Pile Segments will increase the computation time as
calculations are performed at every node down the length of the pile. This can be an issue
when Auto Compute is on because every change you make in the interface will perform the
computation again. If you want, you can turn off Auto compute by unselecting the check
box and instead use the compute button when all your changes have been made.
For this tutorial, no changes need to be made to the project settings.
Select Cancel.

Soil Layers List

You can add or delete a soil layer using the tools in the Soil Layers List. Select the Name of
Soil Layer 1 and select Add Layer.

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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Your model should appear as follows.

Notice that the layer was added below the currently selected layer. Now select Soil Layer 3
and select Delete Layer to remove it.

Your model should again look like the default model above.
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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Soil Properties
Lets define the soil properties for each layer.
On the left table view, select Soil Layer 1 and change the following properties:
Name = Soft Clay
Soil Type = Soft Clay
Effective Unit Weight = 15 kN/m3
Strain Factor (E50) = 0.02
Undrained Shear Strength = 32 kPa

Select Soil Layer 2 and change the following properties:

Name = Sand
Soil Type = Sand
Effective Unit Weight = 20 kN/m3
Friction Angle = 35 degrees
kpy = 16300 kN/m3

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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Pile Properties
You will now define the pile properties. Select Define Pile Properties from the top toolbar.
Select: Define Pile Properties
Select Pile 2 and change the following properties:
Name = Steel Pipe
Pile Type = Pipe
Pipe Outside Diameter = 0.5 m
Pipe Wall Thickness = 0.02 m
Youngs Modulus = 200,000,000

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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Select OK.
On the left table view, set the Embedment Length to 19 m. Keep the pile head level with the
ground surface by leaving the Length Above Ground at 0 m.

The screen should appear as follows.

Loading Conditions
In the table view under Lateral Soil Loading, change the Soil Displacement to 0 mm.

Select: Pile Head Loading Condition

In the Pile Head Loading Condition dialog, change the Moment to 100 kNm and the Shear
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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Load to 50 kN.

Select OK. You should see the following analysis.

The moment and shear load at the very top of the pile are equal to the values we have just
input and the deflection is shown at just over 10 mm. Negative values can also be entered
to fit the direction of the loading.
If we want to fix the pile head, we can change the selection of loading conditions and set
the slope of the pile head to zero degrees. To do this you must uncheck one of shear or
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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

moment under the Pile Head Loading Condition and select Slope (ensure the value is set to
0 degrees). Set the shear value to 150 kN as well.

The user can choose any two loading conditions for analysis, but two must be selected in
order to get the results. You should see the following analysis.

Notice the deflection of the pile: The first few nodes essentially deflect the same amount,
indicating the pile head is fixed from rotation.

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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

Lateral Resistance against Sliding

To analyze the pile lateral resistance against sliding, start by removing the shear load on the
pile head. Note: there can still be head loading conditions applied when there is a sliding
soil load.
Select: Pile Head Loading Condition
In the Pile Head Loading Condition dialog, change the Shear Load to 0 kN. Select OK.

On the left table view, change the Soil Displacement to 30 mm and keep the Sliding Depth
at 4 m.

You should see the following analysis.

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Notice the shear force corresponding to the depth of 4 m where sliding has occured. The
shear force at the sliding depth can be taken as the lateral resistance against the applied
sliding soil load. Under normal conditions this value is typically the maximum shear force in
the pile but this may not always be the case. This process can be automated for any number
of sliding depths along the length of the pile by selecting Show Lateral Resistance Graph
(which will be done shortly). Keep in mind that the head is still fixed, and any head loading
applied will be the same for every sliding depth analyzed.
Select: Pile Head Loading Condition
In the Pile Head Loading Condition dialog, unselect Slope and make sure Moment and Shear
are selected and both set to zero, defining a free head condition.

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You should see the following analysis.

Notice the difference in deflection of the pile head when the free head condition is applied
compared to the fixed head before.
On the left table view, select Show Lateral Resistance Graph. The analysis will take a few
seconds.

You should see the following analysis.

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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

You are analyzing a pile under a lateral soil displacement of 30 mm applied from the ground
down to each sliding depth. The lateral force at each sliding depth is recorded and shown in
the lateral resistance plot. The Number of Intervals controls the number of sliding depths
you wish to analyze along the pile. If you selected 20 intervals, the pile will be analzyed for a
soil displacement of 30 mm at sliding depths of 0 m to 19 m in increments of 0.95 m (19
m/20 intervals = 0.95 m). Note: the pile head loading can have a big affect on the resistance
for sliding depths near the surface.
There are various Lateral Resistance Analysis types. The Max Allowable Lateral
Displacement Analysis allows the user to specify the maximum applied soil displacement
based on design tolerances. The Ultimate Lateral Resistance Analysis increases the soil
displacement at each sliding depth until either the maximum lateral resistance is reached or
the soil movement reaches the Ultimate Soil Cutoff (default: 0.3m). In the case of ultimate
lateral analysis, substantial soil movement is usually required in order to mobilize resistance
in the pile. Rather than always running the analysis until failure of the pile (which can result
in unrealistic pile deflections up to 2 meters), it is assumed the Ultimate Soil Cutoff value is
considered failure if resistance in the pile has not been mobilized to that point.
Click on the tab RSPile 1:1 Chart View at the bottom of the window. You will see the
following analysis.

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In the top right under Depth Settings, you can select which sliding depth analyses you would
like to compare by selecting the corresponding check boxes with the option to hide or show
all.

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Tutorial 2: Quick Start Laterally Loaded Pile

In this tutorial, the Ultimate Lateral Resistance Analysis is not demonstrated. The Ultimate
Lateral Resistance Analysis may require as much as a minute to compute because it is
performing the analysis multiple times in iteration. Improvements to the algorithm is an
ongoing development for future updates.
Save the file as tutorial02.rspile. (RSPile model files have a .rspile filename extension).
Select: File Save
Use the Save As dialog to save the file. You can export the data from the current analysis
using the export icon.
Select: Export to Excel
The exported file should appear as follows. The deflection, moment, and shear for the
analysis at every sliding depth is contained in the different sheets of the excel file.

That concludes this tutorial. To exit the program:

Select: File Exit
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