Prediction of nonlinear characteristics of soil-pile system under vertical vibration

In the present study an attempt was made to predict the complex nonlinear parameters of the soil-pile system subjected to the vertical vibration of rotating machines. A three dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model was developed to predict the nonlinear dynamic response of full-scale pile foundation in a layered soil medium using ABAQUS/CAE. The frequency amplitude responses for different eccentric moments obtained from the FE analysis were compared with the vertical vibration test results of the full-scale single pile. It was found that the predicted resonant frequency and amplitude of pile obtained from 3D FE analysis were within a reasonable range of the vertical vibration test results. The variation of the soil-pile separation lengths were determined using FE analysis for different eccentric moments. The Novak's continuum approach was also used to predict the nonlinear behaviour of soil-pile system. The continuum approach was found to be useful for the prediction of the nonlinear frequency-amplitude response of full-scale pile after introducing the proper boundary zone parameters and soil-pile separation lengths.