KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering (2011) 15(5):813-821 Geotechnical Engineering

DOI 10.1007/s12205-011-1113-0
www.springer.com/12205

Development of Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves for a Single Pile

in Dense Sand by 1g Shaking Table Tests
Eui-Kyu Yang*, Jung-In Choi**, Sun-Yong Kwon***, and Myoung-Mo Kim****
Received January 18, 2010/Accepted August 15, 2010

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Abstract

A series of 1 g shaking table model pile tests were carried out in dry and saturated dense sand to evaluate dynamic p-y curves for
various conditions of the acceleration frequency, the acceleration amplitude of input loads, the flexural stiffness of the pile shaft and
the mass at the pile head. The influence of each parameter on dynamic p-y curves was evaluated. Dynamic p-y backbone curves for
pseudo static analysis of dense sand were proposed as hyperbolic functions by connecting the peak points of the experimental p-y curves,
which correspond maximum soil resistances. In order to express the backbone curves as hyperbolic functions, empirical equations for
the initial soil stiffness (kini) and the ultimate soil resistance (pu) were developed, respectively, as a function of the soil friction angle and
the confining stress. The herein suggested backbone curves were also compared with the currently available p-y curves.
Keywords: dynamic p-y backbone curve, pseudo static analysis, initial soil stiffness, ultimate soil resistance, 1g shaking table tests
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1. Introduction non-linear p-y element conceptualized as consisting of elastic,

In the seismic design of a pile foundation, pseudo-static
analysis is widely used to convert the dynamic loads to
equivalent static loads. To model the lateral behavior of a pile
foundation for pseudo-static analysis, the p-y curve method
considering non linear soil behavior is most frequently used in
practice. Although the soil-pile interaction mechanism in tests is
different from that under an actual earthquake loading condition,
the Reese et al. (1974) and the API (American Petroleum
Institute, 1987) p-y curves derived from field tests applying static
or cyclic loads at the pile head are frequently used even for
seismic loading conditions with slight modifications without any
further verification. Ting et al. (1987) and Dou and Byrne (1996)
performed dynamic pile load tests and showed that some of the
recommendations for p-y curves, such as the API p-y curves,
gave poor results for cyclic lateral loading of piles. Since then,
various methods have been used to study p-y curves for
earthquake loading conditions. By using a computational model
which related static p-y curves with the dimensionless frequency
and the apparent velocity of soil particles, the NCHRP (National
Cooperative Highway Research Program, 2001) suggested
closed-form dynamic p-y curves, now used in the pile foundation
analysis program FB-Pier. Boulanger et al. (1999) developed a
plastic, and gap components in series by assuming the API p-y
curve as a backbone curve. However, the applicability of the
NCHRP dynamic p-y curves was verified only by limited
statnamic pile load tests; therefore, it needs to be verified further.
Boulanger’s p-y spring, which was developed for FEM time
history analysis, is also too complicated for practical pseudo
static analysis, and has a problem concerning the use of the API
p-y curve as a backbone curve, which suffers from the previously
mentioned problem. Therefore, dynamic p-y curves that can be
conveniently applied in the practical seismic design of pile
foundations need yet to be established.
The centrifuge tests and 1 g shaking table tests are generally
used as model tests to evaluate the dynamic behavior of a pile
foundation. Centrifuge tests have the advantage that the stress
condition and the constitutive behavior of the prototype soil can
be reproduced by applying centrifugal force to model system. On
the other hand, 1g shaking table tests have the advantage of using
relatively large size models compared to that of the centrifuge
tests, which enables more precise preparation of model ground
and structures, and easy handling of the measuring devices.
However, scaling of the constitutive behavior is of concern for
the shaking table tests because the stress in the 1g model test is
much lower than that of the prototype (Gibson, 1996). To

*Member, Assistant Manager, Civil Engineering Team, GS E&C., Seoul 100-722, Korea (E-mail: ekyang@gsconst.co.kr)
**Member, Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea (Corresponding Author, E-
mail: choi0122@gmail.com)
***Member, Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea (E-mail: charisma_y@han-
mail.net)
****Member, Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea (E-mail: geotech@snu.ac.kr)

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 Eui-Kyu Yang, Jung-In Choi, Sun-Yong Kwon, and Myoung-Mo Kim
compensate the low confining stress in 1g model tests, Iai (1989)
and Iai and Sugano (1999) suggested a similitude law for the 1g
shaking table tests and demonstrated its usefulness.
A series of 1 g shaking table model pile tests were carried out
in this study to evaluate dynamic p-y curves of a dry sand and a
saturated dense sand. In order to obtain practically meaningful
test results, the pile used for Inchon Grand Bridge (which links
New Songdo City to Inchon International Airport in South
Korea) was assumed as a virtual prototype and the similitude law
as Iai and Sugano (1999) suggested was adopted in the model
preparation. Tests were performed for various conditions of
acceleration frequency and acceleration amplitude of input loads.
Furthermore the conditions of flexural stiffness of the pile shaft
and the mass of the pile head were varied; the basic pile
represented the Inchon Grand Bridge reproduced prototype. The
influence of each parameter on dynamic p-y curves was
evaluated. On the basis of the results obtained, dynamic p-y
backbone curves were proposed for pseudo static analysis.
2. Test Set-up and Programs
A biaxial shaking table was used to perform the dynamic
model pile tests under 1 g condition. The biaxial table of 2000 mm
width and 2000 mm length provides sample weight, acceleration
and frequency to a maximum value of respectively 5000 kg, 1 g
and 50 Hz. A soil box (1800 mm length, 600 mm width, and
1200 mm height) constructed with transparent acrylic plates was
placed on the shaking table. Sponge pads 50 mm thick were
placed inside the short side walls of the soil box in order to
reduce the reflection waves developed by the rigid wall in the
shaking direction.
The properties of the model piles and surcharge masses are
listed in Table 1 along with those of the basic prototype pile of
Inchon Grand Bridge. A model pile with a hollow circular
section was made of aluminum alloy, with an outer diameter of
3.2 cm and an embedment depth of 110 cm. The outer diameter
of the model could not satisfy the similitude law due to the
limitation of available material. Thus, the flexural rigidity, which
governs the behavior of a laterally loaded pile, was scaled to
Table 1. Properties of Model Piles
Properties Scaling factor Prototype Model Pile
Embedded depth (cm) λ = 27.5 3025 110
Outer diameter (cm) λ 240 3.2
Thickness (cm) λ 0.5, (0.3), (0.2)
2764424
Flexural rigidity
(kgf-cm2)
λ5 4.37E+13 (2008342)
(1473056)
Surcharge mass (kg) λ3 2004809 96, (64), (192)
*The values out of parenthesis represent the properties of the model pile
scaled to reproduce the prototype of Inchon Grand Bridge, and others
represent the properties of additional piles with flexural stiffness and
head masses different from those of the base pile to evaluate the effect of
each parameter on the dynamic p-y curves.
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Table 2. Properties of Jumoonjin Sand
D10 D50 γd,max γd,min
USCS Cu Gs
(mm) (mm) (t/m3) (t/m3)
SP 0.38 0.58 1.68 2.65 1.66 1.33
satisfy the similitude law. Additional piles with different flexural
stiffnesses and head masses than those of the basic pile were
tested to evaluate the effect of each these parameters on the
dynamic p-y curves.
Jumoonjin sand, characterized as clean and uniform sand, was
used in the tests. The properties of the Jumoonjin sand are listed
in Table 2.
The pile was positioned first without the pile cap, and then, soil
was poured to make the soil-pile system. The dry sand layer was
prepared by pouring the sand in 5 layers into the soil box, and
then, at each layer, compacted carefully by shaking the table until
settlement no longer occurred. The dry sand layer was made to a
relative density of 80%. The saturated sand layer was prepared
using the water sedimentation technique, and then, compacted by
shaking the table. The saturated sand layer was made to a very
dense state (relative density of 90%).
Fig. 1 shows the test set-up with a schema of the instrumenta-
tion layout. A model pile was fixed to the bottom of the soil box
to reproduce an actual pile in rock. The pile cap was located 11
cm above the subsurface. The pile was instrumented by bonding
miniature strain gauges in pairs at seven locations along the pile
in order to measure the bending moment. At the same depths of
the gauges, an accelerometer and a pore pressure transducer were
set up to monitor the free field displacement and the pore water
pressure of the soil. LVDT and another accelerometer were set
up at the pile cap to monitor the displacement and the inertial
force of the superstructure. An input sine wave of amplitude
ranging from 0.09 g to 0.4 g and frequency ranging from 3 Hz to
12 Hz applied at the base of the soil box for about 4 seconds. The
test programs are summarized in Table 3. A single model was
subjected to a sequence of loads for input sine waves of small
amplitudes of 0.09 g and 0.154 g. A different model was
constructed for the case of large loading amplitudes to minimize
Fig. 1. Schematic Drawing for the Test Section
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering
 Development of Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves for a Single Pile in Dense Sand by 1g Shaking Table Tests

Table 3. Test Programs

Test Subgrade Condition Loading frequency (Hz) Loading amplitude (g) Pile stiffness (ratio) Surcharge load (kg)
1 6, 12 0.09, 0.154, 0.3, 0.4 1 96, 192
2 Dry dense sand 3, 6, 9, 12 0.154, 0.4 1 96
3 (Dr = 80%) 6 0.154, 0.4 1, 0.72, 0.53 96
4 6 0.154, 0.4 1 64, 96, 192
5 Saturated dense sand 6 0.09, 0.154, 0.3, 0.4 1, 0.53 96
6 (Dr = 80%) 6, 9, 12 0.4 1, 0.53 96

the effect of possible gapping or settlement. It was found that Finally, the relative displacement between the pile and the soil
settlement did not occur in all cases. was determined by subtracting the soil movement (ysoil), cal-
culated by double integration of the free field acceleration, from
3. Test Results and Analysis the pile displacement ( ypile) at each time step to obtain the time
history of dynamic p-y curves.
3.1 Determination of Experimental Dynamic p-y Curves
Experimental p-y curves can be derived from the bending 3.2 Experimentally Obtained p-y Curves at Each Test
moments measured along a pile based on simple beam theory. Condition
2
d
p = -------2 M ( z ) (1) 3.2.1 Dry Dense Sand
dz As mentioned, a series of 1 g shaking table tests were perform-
M( z) ed for different flexural rigidities of piles and for various masses
ypile = ∫ ∫ -----------
EI
- dz (2)
at various amplitudes and frequencies of input accelerations. Figs.
2(a), (b), (c) and (d) show a number of experimental p-y curves
where p = lateral resistance of the soil of the dry dense sand (Dr = 80%) at the depth of 3.75 pile
ypile = lateral displacement of the pile diameters. In Fig. 2, only the p-y curves for 1 second are plotted
M(z) = measured bending moments along the pile because there was very little change in the p-y response from the
EI = flexural rigidity of the pile first cycle to the last cycle, which meant that there was no
z = depth below the ground surface degradation of strength with respect to cycle number in dry
The bending moments mobilized in the pile were calculated by dense sand.
substituting the strains measured by the gauges (Fig. 1) into the It can be noted from the results of Fig. 2(a) that, due to the
Eq. (3) shown below: occurrence of a larger inertial force at the pile head, the relative
displacement increases with the loading amplitude of the input
Eε I wave. The soil resistance also increases with the increase of the
M = --------- (3)
y loading amplitude up to 0.3 g. However, it did not increase
further when the input acceleration became larger than 0.3 g. The
where E = elastic modulus of the pile
secant slope of the experimental p-y curve at the maximum
ε = strain
displacement was almost the same for relatively small input
I = moment of inertia
acceleration as in the cases of 0.09 g and 0.154 g, and from there
y = distance from the neutral axis
on, the secant slope decreased with the increase of the loading
The experimental bending moments were calculated only at amplitude.
certain discrete locations along the pile. In order to obtain Figure 2(b) shows that the maximum displacement increased
continuous bending moments along the pile, the cubic spline as the frequency of the input acceleration decreased from 12 Hz
method which has been used by various researchers (Dou and to 6 Hz. This result seems to be closely related to the ratio of the
Byrne, 1996; Scott, 1980) was used as the curve-fitting technique. input frequency to the natural frequency. The natural frequency
In order to obtain reasonable p-y curves, it was necessary to of the pile-soil system was estimated by the sweep test to be
remove the noise data generated during measurements of bending around 4 Hz. Also, as the frequency ratio became closer to one,
moments and calculation of the time history of p-y values. For the maximum displacement further increased.
this purpose, the fundamental frequencies of the pile and the soil In Fig. 2(c), a smaller mass at the pile head coincided with a
response were first found by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) larger relative displacement and soil resistance. This result may
analysis, and then, band pass filtering was performed from the be attributed to the fact that the input dynamic load applied at the
1st fundamental frequency, which corresponded to the input base of the soil box was magnified at the pile head by a rate
frequency of the sine wave, to the 3rd fundamental frequency. larger than the decrease rate of the pile head mass, and F = ma.

Vol. 15, No. 5 / May 2011 − 815 −

 Eui-Kyu Yang, Jung-In Choi, Sun-Yong Kwon, and Myoung-Mo Kim

least affected by the variation of its stiffness compared to the

results obtained when varying other parameters.

3.2.2 Saturated Dense Sand

Figure 3(a) shows the plot of the excess pore water pressure
versus time, and Figs. 3(b), (c) and (d) show a number of
experimental p-y curves at the depth of 3.75 pile diameters in
saturated dense sand (Dr = 90%). It is observed in Fig. 3(a) that

Fig. 2. Experimentally Obtained Dynamic p-y Curves (dry sand at

the depth of 3.75 pile diameters): (a) For Different Ampli-
tudes of Input Acceleration (Input acc: 6 Hz, Pile stiffness:
1.0EI, Mass: 96 kg), (b) For Different Frequencies of Input
Acceleration (Input acc: 0.4 g, Pile stiffness: 1.0EI, Mass:
96 kg), (c) For Different Masses of Pile Head (Input acc: 0.4
g, 6 Hz, Pile stiffness: 1.0EI), (d) For Different Flexural
Rigidities of Piles (Input acc: 0.4 g, 6 Hz, Mass: 96 kg)

The different amount of magnification of the acceleration at the

pile head for different weight of mass may also be attributed to
the change in the frequency ratio of the input frequency to the
natural frequency. This time, the natural frequency of the pile-
soil system changed with the weight of mass at the pile head.
In Fig. 2(d), the stiffest pile shows the largest displacement,
because a larger flexural stiffness coincided with a larger
acceleration at the pile head. However, the pile behavior was the
Fig. 3. Experimentally Obtained Dynamic p-y Curves (saturated
sand at the depth of 3.75 pile diameters): (a) Excess Pore
Water Pressure (0.4 g), (b) For Different Frequencies of
Input Acceleration (Input acc: 0.4 g, Pile stiffness: 1.0EI,
Mass: 96 kg), (c) For Different Amplitudes of Input Acceler-
ation (Input acc: 6 Hz, Pile stiffness: 1.0EI, Mass: 96 kg),
(d) For Different Flexural Rigidities of Piles (Input acc: 0.4 g,
6 Hz, Mass: 96 kg)

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 Development of Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves for a Single Pile in Dense Sand by 1g Shaking Table Tests

the maximum excess pore pressure developed during the shaking
was only 0.05 kPa due to the high relative density of the soil,
whose magnitude can be regarded as insignificant compared to
the static pore pressure of 1.2 kPa at the same depth. Thus, the
excess pore pressure did not affect the p-y response at all.
All the p-y curves in Fig. 3 show the gapping response, i.e., a
drop in the pressure at the same value of the lateral displacement
between the pile and soil as was also observed in Fig. 2.
Moreover, Figs. 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d) show a similar trend to that of
dry dense sand.
3.2.3 Difference Between Experimental p-y Curves and
Currently Available p-y Curves
Soil resistance is reduced in current practice to consider the
effects of cyclic loading, such as strength degradation (e.g. API
Cyclic). In contrast to the p-y curves used in practice, which were
derived from field tests by applying static or cyclic loads at the pile
head, the dynamic p-y curves in dense sand were not affected by
the number of loading cycles, and there was no degradation of
strength with respect to cyclic number, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
Therefore, dynamic p-y curves that can replace the p-y curves used
in current design practice need yet to be developed.
4. Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves
Based on the experimental p-y curve data, the dynamic p-y
backbone curves, which can be used for pseudo-static analysis of
dynamically loaded pile systems, were constructed by the
following procedure.
4.1 Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves for Dry Dense Sand
First, the peak points of the experimental p-y curves, which
correspond to the maximum soil resistances, are taken at several
points (coincide with the locations of the strain gauges), and
plotted on a p-y plane for each location, as shown in Fig. 4(a).
When the frequency of the input acceleration is 3 Hz, which is
close to the natural frequency of the test pile system, the
displacement of the pile increased at each loading cycle, and
therefore, the peak p-y point per each loading cycle is obtained.
The best-fit curves connecting the peak p-y points are then
evaluated for each depth to determine dynamic p-y backbone
curves. The basic equation of the best-fit curve was the hyperbolic
function of Kondner (1963), which is expressed as:
y
p = ----------------- (4)
1
------ + ----
y
kini pu
where kini = initial soil stiffness
pu = ultimate soil resistance
y = horizontal deflection of the pile
As shown in Fig. 4(a), the points plotted on the p-y planes
show big scatters according to the input frequency of acceleration.
In order to embrace all the data points, two limit backbone curves

Fig. 4. Lower Limit and Upper Limit p-y Backbone Curves along Depths for Dry Dense Sand: (a) p-y Backbone Curves (at the depth of
1.25 (left) and 3.75 (right) pile diameters), (b) Lower Limit (left) and Upper Limit (right) p-y Backbone Curves along Depths

Vol. 15, No. 5 / May 2011 − 817 −

 Eui-Kyu Yang, Jung-In Choi, Sun-Yong Kwon, and Myoung-Mo Kim

were established for each depth i.e., upper limit and lower limit Finally, empirical equations for the ultimate soil resistance at
curves. Fig. 4(b) shows the curve-fitting results for the boundary the lower and upper limit p-y backbone curves were obtained as
peak points of the experimental p-y curves at each depth. Eqs. (7) and (8). The calculated results using proposed equations
To express these backbone curves as hyperbolic functions, are plotted with the test results in Fig. 5(b).
empirical equations were developed for the initial stiffness (kini) Lower Limit p-y Backbone Curve:
and the asymptotic value of soil reaction ( pu) as a function of
p
friction angle and confining stress according to the following -----u = 6.32Kp γ ′z1.22 (N/cm2) (7)
D
procedure.
Upper Limit p-y Backbone Curve:
4.1.1 Ultimate Soil Resistance (pu)
p
The ultimate soil resistance was assumed to be closely related -----u = 11.83Kp γ ′z1.11 (N/cm2) (8)
D
to the passive earth pressure, so it was best-fitted using Eq. (5),
which was applied by Kim et al. (2004). 4.1.2 Initial Soil Stiffness (kini )
In order to determine the empirical equation for the initial soil
p
----u = AKp γ ′zn (5) stiffness (kini), a function is defined as the subgrade reaction
D
modulus at 1% deflection of the pile diameter (Eq. (9))
where D = pile diameter (cm)
p - --------------------------
1 - = K ( N ⁄ cm 2 )
pu -------------- = (9)
---- = ultimate soil resistance per unit width (N/cm2) 0.01D ------ 1 0.01D
D + ---------------
kini pu
Kp = Rankine’s passive pressure coefficient
γ′ = effective unit weight (N/cm3) Since the subgrade reaction modulus (K) is correlated with the
z = depth of soil (cm) confining stress, it was best-fitted using Eq. (10), which was
A, n = curve-fitting constants suggested by Janbu (1963).
In order to determine A and n, linear regression analysis was σ' 0.5
K = APa ⎛ ------⎞ (10)
performed on a logarithm plane (Eq. (6)), and the results are ⎝ Pa ⎠
shown in Fig. 5(a).
where Pa = atmospheric pressure (10.13 N/cm2)
p σ ' = confining stress (N/cm2)
log -----u = nlogz + logAKp γ ′ (6)
D A = curve-fitting constant

Fig. 5. Determination of Ultimate Soil Resistance (Lower limit backbone curve): (a) Regression Analysis, (b) Calculated Results

Fig. 6. Determination of Subgrade Reaction Modulus (Lower limit backbone curve): (a) Regression Analysis, (b) Calculated Results

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 Development of Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves for a Single Pile in Dense Sand by 1g Shaking Table Tests

In order to determine A, linear regression analysis is perform-

ed, and the result is shown in Fig. 6(a). Empirical equations for
the subgrade reaction modulus K are obtained as Eqs. (11) and
(12), and the calculated results using the proposed equations are
plotted with the test results in Fig. 6(b).
Lower Limit p-y Backbone Curve:
σ ' 0.5
K = 208.31Pa ⎛ ------⎞ (11)
⎝ Pa ⎠

Upper Limit p-y Backbone Curve:

σ' 0.5
Fig. 7. Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves along Depths for Saturated
K = 333.48Pa ⎛ -------⎞ (12)
⎝ Pa ⎠ Dense Sand

Now, the initial soil stiffness (kini) can be calculated by Eq.

(13), and then finally, the dynamic p-y backbone curves can be therefore, the effective confining stress was calculated without
made by using the calculated ultimate soil resistance and the any consideration of the excess pore pressure in the procedure
initial soil stiffness according to Eq. (4). that was used to determine the empirical equation for the
ultimate soil resistance and the initial soil stiffness. The empirical
Kpu
kini = ----------------------
- equations for the ultimate soil resistance ( pu) and the subgrade
D
pu – K --------- (13) reaction modulus (K) are given by Eqs. (14) and (15).
100
Ultimate soil resistance:
4.2 Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves for Saturated Dense
p
Sand -----u = 27.82Kpγ ' z1.02 (N/cm2) (14)
D
The backbone curves for the saturated dense sand were
obtained by the same method as that for the dry dense sand Subgrade reaction modulus:
condition. Fig. 7 shows the peak points for the experimental p-y
σ ' 0.5
curves and the curve-fitting results. The peak points at the depth K = 499.39Pa ⎛ ------ ⎞ (15)
⎝ Pa ⎠
of 1.25 pile diameters could not be obtained obviously because
the shapes of the p-y curves were very flat due to the gapping 5. Application of Proposed Dynamic p-y Back-
phenomenon between the pile and soil. And when the frequency bone Curves
of the input acceleration was 9 Hz and 12 Hz, it was hard to
obtain the peak points of the experimental p-y curves in some Various p-y curves, now applied in pseudo-static analysis for
cases because the displacement of the pile was too small. the seismic design of a pile foundation in practice, are summarized
In the tests, the excess pore pressure generated at the in Table 4. In this study, the peak points of the experimental p-y
maximum soil resistance (the peak p-y point) was negligible, and curves, in other words the proposed dynamic p-y backbone

Table 4. Currently Available p-y Curve Methods for Pseudo Static Analysis (Sand)
Reference Equation of p-y curves Remarks
kz
p = Apu tanh ⎛ --------- y⎞
⎝ Apu ⎠ Developed from back analysis of full scale
API (1987)
where pu = minimum value of (C1z + C2D) γ z and C3 Dγ z; instrumented static and cyclic pile load tests
C1, C2, C3 = constants; A = constants according to loading type
z B
pa = khya ---- and pb = pu ---
D A
Developed from the results of full scale static
Reese et al. (1974) pu = minimum value between Pus and pud ; and cyclic loading tests
A, B = empirical factors; ya = D(pb/zkn)n/m−1(D/yb)1/m−1;
yb = D/60; yu = 3D/80
ϖy n
pd = ps ⎛ α + β a0 + κ a0 ⎛ --------⎞ ⎞ , pd < pu
2
⎝ ⎝ d ⎠ ⎠
NCHRP (2001) Established from computational model
where ps = static soil reaction; α, β, κ, n = constants;
ϖ = frequency of loading; a0 = dimensionless frequency
Modulus of subgrade reaction kHE = nk ak kH
JRA (2002) Ultimate soil resistance pHU = np ap pu Elasto-plastic modulus of subgrade reaction
where nk, ak, np, ap = constants

Vol. 15, No. 5 / May 2011 − 819 −

 Eui-Kyu Yang, Jung-In Choi, Sun-Yong Kwon, and Myoung-Mo Kim

Fig. 8. Comparison of p-y Curves: (a) Dry Dense Sand (At the depth of 3.75 (left), 7.5 (right) pile diameters.), (b) Saturated Dense Sand
(At the depth of 3.75 (left), 7.5 (right) pile diameters.)

curves, were compared with the currently available p-y curves

directly on a p-y plane. The API (1987) and Reese et al. (1974)
cyclic p-y curves were computed based on the peak friction angle
of 41o for dry sand and 43o for saturated sand, which were obtained
from a triaxial test, and the initial modulus of subgrade reaction
of 61,000 kPa/m for dry sand and 33,900 kPa/m for saturated
sand, which were recommended by the API (1987). The JRA
(Japan Road Association, 2002) and NCHRP (2001) curves were
made based on the API static p-y curves, which are widely used
for the static loading condition. Especially, the bender element
test needs to be performed to obtain the shear wave velocity
along the soil depth and thus, to determine various coefficients in
the NCHRP p-y curve method.
In Figs. 8(a) and (b), the proposed dynamic p-y backbone curves
are shown with the p-y curves that are currently used in practice
for dry and saturated sand conditions, respectively. In the figure,
the ultimate soil resistances predicted by the existing p-y curves
are smaller than one third of the measured values for shallow
depths (at the depth of 3.75D). The soil resistance for shallow
depths is of utmost importance in the evaluation of the behavior
of a pile under lateral loading. At the depth of 7.5 pile diameters,
the Reese p-y curve for dry dense sand and the API p-y curve for
saturated dense sand predict soil resistances comparatively well.
Pseudo-static analysis (with LPILE program) was performed
for the maximum inertial force at the pile head by using proposed
backbone curves and the currently available p-y curves, and the
results were compared with the measured bending moments and
displacement of a pile. The comparison results for the dry dense Fig. 9. Measured and Predicted Results based on Pseudo Static
sand and saturated dense sand are shown in Figs. 9(a) and (b), Analysis (Input acceleration: 0.154 g, 6 Hz): (a) Dry Dense
respectively. In both cases, pseudo-static analysis results based Sand, (b) Saturated Dense Sand

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 Development of Dynamic p-y Backbone Curves for a Single Pile in Dense Sand by 1g Shaking Table Tests
on the proposed backbone curves showed good agreement with
the measured bending moments and lateral deflections. However,
the results obtained with the currently available p-y curves over-
predicted the maximum bending moments and the lateral displace-
ment by up to 100%. This over-prediction was interrelated to the
under-estimation of soil resistances for shallow depths.
6. Conclusions
A series of 1 g shaking table model pile tests were carried out
to evaluate dynamic p-y curves of a dry and a saturated dense
sands for various conditions of acceleration frequency, acceleration
amplitude for input loads, flexural stiffness of a pile shaft and a
mass at the pile head. The following conclusions were obtained
by evaluating the experimentally obtained p-y curves.
1. It can be confirmed that dynamic p-y curves are largely
affected by the amplitude of the input acceleration, and the
mutual relation between the natural frequency of the pile
system and that of the input acceleration.
2. Dynamic p-y backbone curves for pseudo static analysis of
dense sand were proposed as hyperbolic functions by
connecting the peak points of the experimental p-y curves,
which corresponded to maximum soil resistances. Empirical
equations were developed for the initial stiffness (kini) and
the ultimate resistance ( pu) of soils as a function of friction
angle and confining stress to express the backbone curves
as hyperbolic functions.
3. The ultimate soil resistances predicted by the currently
available p-y curves were smaller than one third of the
measured values for shallow depths. The under-estimation
of the soil resistance led to the over-predictions of the
maximum bending moments and the lateral displacement
of a pile by up to 100% in pseudo-static analysis.
Acknowledgements
The writers are grateful to the Editorial Board Member and
three anonymous reviewers for their extensive and constructive
comments that considerably improved the manuscript. This work
was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) grant
funded by the Korea government (MEST) (No. 2010-0018864)
and SNU SIR Group of the BK21 research Program funded by
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Notations
The following symbols are used in this paper :
γ′ : Effective unit weight
σ′ : Confining stress (N/cm2)
A : Curve-fitting constant
D : Pile diameter
EI : Flexural rigidity of the pile
kini : Initial soil stiffness
Vol. 15, No. 5 / May 2011
K : Subgrade reaction modulus
Kp : Rankine’s passive pressure coefficient
M(z) : Measured bending moments along the pile
n : Curve-fitting constant
p : Lateral resistance of soil
Pa : Atmospheric pressure (10.13N/cm2)
pu : Ultimate soil resistance
p
-----u- : Ultimate soil resistance per unit width
D
y : Horizontal deflection of the pile
ypile : Lateral displacement of a pile
ysoil : Lateral displacement of soil
z : Depth below the ground surface
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