Dynamic p-y Model for Laterally Loaded Piles near Clay Slope

Seismic loading can significantly affect the safety and serviceability of structures supported by piles, making seismic performance a key consideration in pile foundation design. The coupling between slope effect and dynamic loading can significantly alter pile–soil interaction and consequently influence the response of laterally loaded piles. In the present study, a dynamic extension of the static p-y curve model for piles near clay slopes is developed for analyzing the response of laterally loaded piles under dynamic loading, based on adjustment of the real stiffness component, and the spring and dashpot model. A computational program based on the Beam on Dynamic Winkler Foundation (BDWF) model is developed for analyzing the dynamic response of piles near a slope. Comparison with finite element simulation results shows that the complex stiffness scheme provides accurate response predictions, thereby validating the effectiveness of the proposed model. Finally, parametric analyses are carried out to investigate the effects of loading parameters (excitation frequency and load amplitude), pile parameters (pile diameter, pile length, and adhesion coefficient), boundary conditions (pile-head and pile-tip constraints), and slope parameter (slope angle). The pile–soil system exhibits a characteristic frequency governed by the soil shear-wave velocity and pile diameter, while being essentially independent of slope angle and pile length. Near this frequency, the pile-head stiffness and damping ratio change significantly. The proposed method provides a practical tool for steady-state dynamic analysis of laterally loaded piles near clay slopes.