Piles III: Lateral stability analysis
With the module "Piles III: Lateral stability analysis", the CYPECAD, CYPE 3D and Foundation elements programs incorporate the lateral stability analysis to facilitate the design of deep foundations subjected to significant lateral forces. This module allows the checks of the "Piles I: Calculation of sinking load" and "Piles II: Structural check" modules to be carried out, also considering the lateral forces transmitted by the pile cap to the pile head.
Module overview
The module complements the calculation of the sinking load ("Piles I: Calculation of sinking load") and the structural check of reinforced concrete piles ("Piles II: Structural check" module), by allowing the verification of the bearing capacity of piles, and the verification of their sections and reinforcement in various loading scenarios. For this purpose, it integrates the soil characteristics by means of p-y curves and considers the non-linear behaviour of the soil in the analysis.
Design method and checking the results
The analysis is carried out using the OpenSees© analysis engine, and is based on a finite element model where the behaviour of the soil is assimilated to a series of non-linear springs. The stiffnesses of these springs are determined according to the geotechnical parameters previously defined in the specifications of the soil layers.
The forces and displacements obtained at each node can be exported to a CSV file once the finite element model has been solved. The calculated forces are also used to check the reinforcement of the pile section according to the applicable codes.
