Kinematic Pile Response to Vertical P-wave Seismic Excitation

An analytical solution based on a rod-on-dynamic-Winkler-foundation model is developed for the response of piles in a soil layer subjected to vertical seismic excitation consisting of harmonic compressional waves. Closed-form solutions are derived for: (1) the motion of the pile head; (2) the peak normal strain in the pile, and (3) the group effect between neighboring piles. The solutions are expressed in terms of a dimensionless kinematic response factor Iv, relating pile-head motion and free-field soil surface motion, a dimensionless strain transmissibility factor Iε, relating pile and soil peak normal strains, and a pile-to-pile interaction factor α measuring group effects. It is shown that a pile foundation may significantly reduce the vertical seismic excitation transmitted to the base of a structure.