Abstract: Based on the p-y curve method for plumb pile in sand proposed by Reese, a new p-y curve method and its corresponding finite element method for analyzing horizontal bearing characteristics of single batter pile are presented. Firstly, according to the mechanical behavior of the shallow soil near a batter pile, a three-dimensional wedge model is put forward to describe the passive region which is in the limit state. By using limit equilibrium analysis method, the expression of ultimate soil resistance of batter pile is derived. Then, the influences of pile angle and the friction between pile and soil are numerically studied; and the method for determining the initial modulus of p-y curve of batter pile is given. By modifying the p-y curve for plumb pile in sands proposed by Reese, the p-y curve for batter pile in sand is obtained. Using the virtual work principle, the finite element formulations for horizontal bearing analysis of single batter pile are deduced; and the iteration algorithm is put forwards. The corresponding program is coded by authors; and numerical examples are taken to illustrate the effectiveness of the method. Finally, a printed centrifuge model test of batter pile is analyzed by the presented method. The numerical results show fine agreement with those of model test.

Key words: batter pile, ultimate soil resistance, p-y curve method, horizontal bearing characteristics