Seismic response of end-bearing single piles

A numerical study is presented of the dynamic response of end-bearing piles embedded in a number of idealized soil deposits and subjected to vertically propagating harmonic S-waves. Results, for both ‘kinematic’ and ‘inertial’ interaction, are offered in the form of dimensionless graphs and formulae covering a wide range of excitation frequencies and of crucial material and geometric parameters. Practical aspects of the evaluation of the influence of piles on the effective seismic excitation of a structure are discussed and a case history illustrates the usefulness of the presented results.