Load–Deflection response of transversely isotropic piles under lateral loads

In general, pile materials are assumed to be isotropic during the analysis of the load–deflection response of piles under lateral loads. However, commonly used materials such as reinforced concrete and timber as well as potentially promising new pile materials such as fiber reinforced polymers are typically transversely isotropic materials. Experimental studies have shown that transversely isotropic materials have a high ratio of section longitudinal modulus to the section in‐plane shear modulus (E_zz/G_xz) compared to the value for isotropic materials. The high modulus ratio leads to a more significant shear deformation effect in beam bending. To account for the shear deformation effect, the Timoshenko Beam Theory has been adopted in deriving the solutions for the load–deflection response of transversely isotropic piles under lateral loads instead of the Classical (Euler–Bernoulli) Beam Theory. The load–deflection responses depend on the shear effect coefficient, the lateral soil resistance, the embedment ratio, and the boundary conditions. The deflection of the pile, if the shear deformation effect is considered, is always larger than if it is neglected. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.