Discussion of "Load-Deformation Mechanism for Bored Piles"

THE AUTHORS HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BEHAVIOR OF BORED PILES AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE POWER AND VERSATILITY OF THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR PREDICTING PILE LOAD--SETTLEMENT RELATIONSHIPS. THE AUTHORS' ANALYSIS IS IDEAL WHEN A FINAL DESIGN IS BEING CARRIED OUT AND WHEN SUFFICIENT SOIL DATA ARE AVAILABLE FOR INPUT. HOWEVER, IN PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS, WHERE SUCH A REFINED ANALYSIS WOULD NOT BE WARRANTED, OR IN SITUATIONS WHERE A COMPUTER IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, IT MAY BE USEFUL TO HAVE AVAILABLE A RAPID METHOD OF ESTIMATING THE LOAD-- SETTLEMENT BEHAVIOR OF A PILE OR PIER. SUCH A METHOD IS SUGGESTED THAT EMPLOYS ELASTIC SOLUTIONS FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF AN AXIALLY LOADED PILE AND MAKES CERTAIN SIMPLIFYING ASSUMPTIONS. AN EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION IS PRESENTED.