sandraw (Geotechnical) 25 May 10 12:27

thread256-164011: Lateral Loaded Piles - Modulus of Horizontal Subgrade Reaction

When I read this useful thread (thread256-164011: Lateral Loaded Piles - Modulus of
Horizontal Subgrade Reaction), I have a question in one of Panars comments. It said that "If
k is the spring constant for the finite element model in units F/L, then k is determined by
multiplying the coefficient of variation of horizontal subgrade reaction by the depth of the
center of the pile segment and by the length of your pile segment."

My question is, assume a vertical pile of 40 ft long embeded in sand. The coefficient of
variation of horizontal subgrade reaction = 11.5 pci. Assume the pile segment is every 1 ft.
Then, at the bottom element (depth = 39.5' = 474"), the soil spring constant will become k
= 11.5 pci x 474" x 12" = 65,412 lbs/inch. It is a very big value. Is that realistic? Is there a
limitation to say that, after a certain depth, the k value will not increase?

Thanks!

mudman54 (Geotechnical) 27 May 10 17:16

i feel most comfortable with vesic's equation for the modulus of subgrade reaction because
it uses the modulus of elasticity of the soil and other parameters understood by geotechnical
engineers. if you feel you can get the horizontal modulus of elasticity, from a pressuremeter
test for example, use it. your spring constant will be dependent on B the width of the pile.

rather than using the so-called coefficient of variation of horizontal subgrade modulus which
is depth dependent, why not just plug in different spring constants at different depths after
you've divided up the soil into layers? that way you can have a limit on the k that you are
looking for in your question.

another good check is to calculate out the deflection based on your spring constant to see if
it is reasonable. usually, the structural engineer will want the k in pounds per cubic inch
(pci) so that each spring can be applied to a tributary area of the foundation. once the area
is known, it is easy to compute the deflection of the spring just like we did in physics class.

Mccoy (Geotechnical) 3 Jun 10 18:14

Mudman, do you mean the Biot-vesic equation underlined by Bowles in chapter 9 of his
reference book?

Same as in shallow foundations?

Do you find the output reasonable?

Do you use the same elastic modulus with horizontal reaction as you use in vertical reaction
? I'm saying so because Bowles' simplified approach would entail doubling the subgrade
modulus in the horizontal direction with respect to the vertical direction (chapter 16 of the
same reference book: 'foundation analysis and design')

mudman54 (Geotechnical) 8 Jun 10 15:38

...not sure what Bowles is referencing, but i've always gotten reasonable spring constant
numbers from:

Vesic, A.S.(1961) "Beams on Elastic Subgrade and the Winkler Hypothesis",

Vesic, A.S.(1961) "Beams on Elastic Subgrade and the Winkler Hypothesis",
5th Int conf Soil Mech Found Eng, Vol 1, Paris, pp 845-850

Ks = (0.65/B)*{(E*B^4)/(EI)}^1/12 * {E/(1-v^2)}

IF = pi * B^4 /64 EI = Ec * IF

FOUNDATION WIDTH B
CONCRETE STRENGTH C
FOUNDATION ELASTICITY E
FOUNDATION POISSON RATIO v
CONCRETE ELASTICITY Ec
MOMENT OF INERTIA IF
FOUNDATION STIFFNESS EI