A p–y curve model for laterally loaded XCC pile in soft clay

This paper presents a p – y curve model for laterally loaded X -sectional cast-in-place concrete (XCC) piles, which are a type of non-circular cross-sectional pile, in soft clay. The recently developed empirical solutions for the elastic stiffness and the ultimate lateral resistance of the two-dimensional laterally loaded X -shaped cross-sectional pile segment–soil system by the authors using the complex variable elasticity theory and finite element limit analysis are used as the two key parameters in constructing the p – y curve. An elastic–perfectly plastic p – y curve is immediately obtained with the linear elastic state described by the elastic stiffness of the two-dimensional system, and the perfectly plastic state is controlled by the ultimate lateral resistance. Furthermore, to consider the nonlinear behaviour, a more robust model using the hyperbolic function is selected for producing the p – y curve with the elastic stiffness and the ultimate lateral resistance incorporated. Subsequently, the p – y model is introduced to the Winkler model to generate solutions for the response of laterally loaded XCC piles. The proposed model considers the non-circular cross-sectional effect of the XCC pile and can also be regarded as a simple method for constructing the p – y curve for other non-circular cross-sectional piles.