A Boundary Element Analysis of Soil-Pile Interaction under Lateral Cyclic Loading in Soft Cohesive Soil

The environment prevalent in ocean necessitates the piles supporting offshore structures to be designed against lateral cyclic loading initiated by wave action. Such quasi-static loadreversal induces deterioration in the strength and stiffness of the soil-pile system introducing progressive reduction in the bearing capacity associated with increased settlement of the pile foundation. To understand the effect of lateral cyclic load on axial response of single pile in soft clay, a numerical model has been developed. The theoretical results are compared with the available experimental results so as to validate the theory. This paper presents a brief description of the methodology developed, analysis and interpretations of the theoretical results obtained and the relevant conclusions drawn there from.