5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan

The Establishment of Dynamic P-Y Curve in Pile Foundation Based on

Shaking Table Tests
Peizhen Li1, Shenglu Cao2, Daming Zeng3, Xilin Lu4
1 Associate Professor, State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai,China
E-mail: lipeizh@tongji.edu.cn
2 Master Degree Candidate, State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Dept. of Civil Engineering,
Tongji University, Shanghai,China. E-mail: shlugood@gmail.com
3 Master degree candidate, Research Institute of Structural Engineering and Disaster Reduction, Dept. of Civil Engineering,
Tongji University, Shanghai,China. E-mail:zengdaming1987@163.com
4 Professor, State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai,China. E-mail:
lxlst@tongji.edu.cn

ABSTRACT
The dynamic p-y curve method provides a distinctive idea for seismic design of pile foundation based on
deformation. However a mature model of dynamic p-y curve has not been put forward. In this paper, the method
to establish dynamic p-y curve based on the shaking table test of pile-soil interaction is explored. Firstly, based
on the beam theory, the pile shaft bending moment distributed along the longitudinal direction in the test is fitted,
and the function expression of the bending moment is determined. Secondly, quadratic integral and quadratic
differential are applied respectively to this bending moment function to calculate pile soil contact stress and
pile shaft displacement. Thirdly, the soil acceleration reaction record is fitted and the quadratic integral is applied
to this function, thus, the soil displacement distribution is obtained, and the pile-soil relative displacement is
determined. Finally, the dynamic p-y curve is obtained based on the relation between soil counter stress and the
pile-soil relative displacement. In the end of this paper, several advices about the shaking table tests for studying
dynamic p-y curve are given.
KEYWORDS: pile-soil interaction, dynamic p-y curve, pile foundation, shaking table test

1. INTRODUCTION
Pile foundation is used as the most popular deep foundation due to its large vertical bearing capacity, good
stability, small sedimentation value and outstanding adaptation to all kinds of geological conditions and various
load conditions. In addition, it has superior performance to solve structure stability problem in soft soil
foundation considering its large lateral stiffness and its isolation effect due to soil pile interaction [1]. At present,
p-y curve method, which, compared with other methods to analysis and research of pile foundation under
horizontal load, not only can reflect the nonlinearity of the soil around the pile, the pile stiffness and the load
effect characteristics but also can be used to conduct elastic and elastic-plastic analysis under static load, cyclic
load and dynamic load in various of soil condition. This makes the p - y curve method be widely used [2]. P-y
curve method has been the most recipient method applied in geotechnical engineering field to study lateral
dynamic response of pile foundation in liquefiable soil [3]. With the maturity of p -y curve method applied in the
static calculation field, it has been being get more and more attention of earthquake engineering field to
introduce p-y curve into dynamic calculation to provide significant inspiration to pile-soil dynamic interaction
based on deformation.
It is the key point that whether the p-y curve established is reasonable, no matter for the analysis of the pile
foundation deformation or the calculation of the lateral ultimate bearing capacity. In recent years, some domestic
research on the establishment and application of dynamic p-y curve model has been carried out. For example,
Yan, B. etc. [4] studied the extent of influence of dynamic p-y curve model parameters on seismic response of
structural system and the influence of seismic characteristics on structural system when p-y curve model is
applied.
Guo, J.F. and Zhu, B. etc. [5] applied dynamic p-y curve into the study of high-pile crash bearer calculation and
analysis. By means of introducing a reasonable model of the interaction between ship and crash bearer and a
dynamic py curve, a dynamic analysis model of the interaction between high-pile crash bearer and ship is
established, which is somehow a better result. In recent years, a good deal of research results on p - y curve
about pile in clay soil have been achieved [6-8]. However, the p - y curve about saturated sandy soil, especially the

5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan
liquefaction sandy soil, are scarcely studied because of the difficulties to reflect the nonlinear stress-strain
relationship, the soil parameters and geometric nonlinearity under the condition of large deformation [9]. It is
considered that it is key to determine py curve correctly about pile foundation seismic resistance design [10]. At
present, the establishment and practical application of p-y curve is still studied, and plenty of experiments work
is needed.
On the basis of above research work, we can see that plenty of experiment work and further research of the
establishment of dynamic p-y curve on liquefiable sites are urgently needed in order to apply dynamic p-y curve
to the calculation analysis of pile-soil interaction under the seismic action. Therefore, in this paper, shaking table
test on the liquefiable soil-pile-structure interaction are briefly introduced. And based on the basic theory of
beam and the shaking table test, a set of calculation method to establish the dynamic p-y curve in pile foundation
has been explored and formed. The dynamic p-y curve under various working conditions has been obtained. At
the end of the article, certain experience and advices on shaking table test on the research of dynamic p-y curve
in pile foundation are provided.

2. BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF SHAKING TABLE MODEL TEST ON THE LIQUEFIABLE

SOIL-PILE-STRUCTURE INTERACTION
In recent years, with the development of model similarity theory and structure seismic resistance experiment
technique, shaking table test has been becoming an important method in the field of soil-structure interaction
research. In June 2007, a series of shaking table model tests on the liquefiable soil-pile-structure interaction have
been conducted in State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University. Based on
these tests, the pile-soil interaction effect and its regular pattern are studied and a set of test data is obtained,
which are the preparations for the subsequent research of establishment of dynamic p-y curve.

The size of the shaking table used in the experiment is 4.0m4.0m, and the maximum model load bearing
capacity is 25t. It can move in three vibration direction and have six degrees of freedom. In order to reduce the
soil boundary "model box effect", a flexible boundary is designed. A bi-directional and single span 12-floors
reinforced concrete frame model is adopted as the superstructure, and a 3x3 group pile foundation is adopted as
the foundation. Geometric similarity ratio of the model is taken as 1/10, shown in figure2.1 [11]. The 12-floors
frame structure model was cast in place floor by floor. Then the pile foundation was assembled together with the
superstructure by screw bolt. As for the model soil, liquefiable soft sandy soil with overlying clay was used.
Parameter Value

Vibration direction

Figure2.1. Dimensions and reinforcement details pilesoilstructure interaction system model in liquefiable sites
In the experiment, accelerometers, displacement meter and strain transducer were used to measure the dynamic
response of the superstructure, foundation and soil. Pore-water pressure gauge embed in soil was used to

5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan
measure the change of pore water pressure. Soil pressure gauge was used to measure pilesoil contact pressure.
El Centro wave and Shanghai bedrock wave were chosen as seismic wave in the tests. Considering various
acceleration peak values and white noise excitation, 16 working condition in total were design in order to
observe the changes of model dynamic characteristics.
In order to observe the response of piles, strain transducer and soil pressure gauge were arranged along the pile
to measure changes of pile body strain and the pilesoil contact pressure. After the test, the changes of pile body
strain amplitude and pile soil contact pressure amplitude under the input of El Centro waves and Shanghai
bedrock waves with various peak values could be obtained [11].

3. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DYNAMIC P-Y CURVE IN PILE FOUNDATION BASED ON

SHAKING TABLE TESTS
Dynamic p-y curve refers to the relation curve between the pile lateral soil stress p and pile-soil relative
displacement under dynamic load or cyclic load. From the perspective of dynamic pile-soil-structure interaction
p-y curve, further research of pile-soil interaction in the process of soil liquefaction in liquefiable soil sites under
earthquake action could be done. In this paper under below, based on shaking table test the method of how to
establish the dynamic p - y curve considering pile-soil interaction is elaborated.
The method of establishing dynamic pile - soil interaction p -y curve based on shaking table tests results can be
summarized as the following steps:
First, based on the beam theory, the pile shaft bending moment distributed along the longitudinal direction in the
test is fitted, and the function expression of the bending moment is determined.
Secondly, quadratic integral and quadratic differential are applied respectively to this bending moment function,
in order that pile-soil contact stress and pile shaft displacement are calculated.
Thirdly, the soil acceleration reaction record is fitted and the quadratic integral is applied to this function, thus,
the soil displacement distribution is obtained, and the pile-soil relative displacement is determined.
Finally, the dynamic p-y curve is obtained based on the relation between soil counter stress and the pile-soil
relative displacement.
It should be pointed out that in the discrete test data fitting analysis the noise influence on test results should be
taken into account in order to achieve the best fitting precision. In addition, the discrete data results gained by
numerical analysis method also can be processed with the above steps to determine the p - y curve, which can be
verified by experimental p-y curve.

3.1 Fitting of Pile Body Bending Moment Distribution Function

3.1.1 Pile body strain time history records
The research in this paper is based on the shaking table test on the pile-soil-structure interaction. In this test
model, 5 measuring points (E1 / E2 - E9 / E10) are arranged in different depth on the both side of the side pile,
shown in the figure 3.1. Among them, the E9 / E10 strain gauge measuring point are located in the upper clay
layer, the rest of the strain gauge are located in the lower saturated sand layer. As a result, in each working
condition 5 groups pile strain time history data can be obtained, on the basis of the pile strain time history data
the bending moment time history of the measuring points can be figured out.

3.1.2 Calculation of bending moment time history of pile body

Pile shaft strain consists of two parts - the pile strain produced by pile shaft bending moment M and the pile
strain produced by axial force N, shown in figure3.2.
Supposing the pile strain of the certain measure point at a certain time on both sides are l and r, then bending
moment formula of the pile is as follows depending on the material mechanics equation:

5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan

EI
M=

(e l - e r )
EI (e l - e r )
2
=
ymax
h

3.1

M bending moment of pile shaft measure point

lrpile strain of its each side
E elastic modulus of pile body given by material tests, considering the contribution of steel
H height of pile section
Pile cap

y
6
26

Pile shaft
26

Strain gauge

26

26
10

Figure3.1. Arrangement strain gauge on pile body

Compressive zone

Pile shaft section

Pile shaft strain

Strain induced by
bending moment

Strain induced by
axial force

Figure3.2. Sketch of pile body strain

According to the equation (3.1) above, using the pile body strain time history records obtained from experiment
the bending moment time history of the measuring points E1~E2/E9~E10 can be figured out.

3.1.3 Solution of distribution function of bending moment in pile body

The bending moment time history of the five measure points of the pile body can be determined by the previous
step. Due to the significant stiffness difference between the pile and the soil, the pile head is constraint by soil
relatively weak, thus the bending moment of pile head is supposed to be approximate zero. As a result, the
bending moment time history of 6 points on the pile can be got. In this paper, using the bending moment time
history data of the 6 points, the least squares method is applied to quintic polynomial to fit pile body bending
moment distribution. Through comparison it is found that the fitting result is basically satisfied. Figure 3.3
shows the contrast of bending moment distribution between which is calculated from strain record and which is
calculated from fitting equation of an arbitrary point from working condition EL1 (n = 1024, t = 3.36 s). As can
be seen from the figure 3.3 the fitting results are satisfied. If enough strain gauge is set along the pile body, the
polynomial to fit pile body bending moment would completely satisfy the computing requirements. In this paper
Matlab software programming was used to complete the above process.

3.2 Calculation of Pile soil Contact Stress and Pile Body Displacement
The distribution function of pile-soil contact force could be calculated by quadratic differential computing from

5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan
the bending moment distribution function. And the pile deformation distribution function could also be
calculated by quadratic integral computing from the bending moment distribution function.
Pile -soil contact force include not only the pressure between the pile and the soil when the pile makes the soil
generate compression deformation but also the suction between the pile and the soil when there exist separation
between the pile-soil interfaces. Therefore, both sides of the pile have pile-soil contact effect with soil. As the
result, the pile-soil contact force calculated by quadratic differential computing from bending moment
distribution function of pile body is the resultant force of the both side of the pile.
Pile body
bending moment
(N.m)

(m)

Distance between measured

points and pile top (m)

-0.9
0.0

0.0

0.9

1.8

0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
Fitted
Value

Measure
Value

1.2
1.4

Figure3.3. Fitting result examination of pile body bending moment distribution

In the process of integral from the bending moment distribution function, two unknown constants are produced.
For example, assuming the pile bending moment distribution curve equation is

M = x2 + x

3.2

In which, x is pile body coordinate, and M is the bending moment of pile body. After performing integral once
bending moment M turns into pile body cross-section rotation angle , and the equation turns into:

1
3

1
2

q = x3 + x 2 + c

3.3

After twice integral, the pile body deformation D is obtained, and the equation turns into:

D=

1 3 1 2
x + x + cx + d
12
6

3.4

In the process of integral two constants c and d are produced. In order to determine the undetermined parameters
c and d in equation (3.4), two boundary conditions are needed. Considering the specific test conditions in this
paper, it is assumed that in the process of shaking table test the pile caps vibration is always horizontal, no
rotation. The deformation D of pile body is the deformation relative to the pile top, and the rotation angle of the
pile body is also relative to pile top. Therefore, both the deformation and rotation angle of pile top are 0. Thus
two boundary conditions are provided here: on the top of the pile (i.e., intersect with the pile caps) and D must
be equal to 0. According to this boundary condition it is calculated that both c and d equal to 0. It should be
pointed out that, as a result of that the pile foundation boundary conditions was not particularly designed in the
shaking table test in this paper, which is not favourable to the research of pile-soil interaction p-y curve, the
boundary condition assumption here is mainly for the purpose of meeting computing needs, which is not

5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan
absolutely accurate and will generate subsequent calculation error. This also provides us certain reference that in
the henceforth shaking table tests planning pile foundation boundary condition should be carefully designed to
make sure the pile foundation condition is simple and clear enough for subsequence calculations.
According to the principle above, the symbolic differentiation function and symbolic integration function in
software Matlab are applied to quadratic differential and quadratic integral to the fitted pile body bending
moment distribution function. Consequently, the distribution functions of pile - soil contact force and pile body
lateral deformation ypile along the pile body were worked out.

3.3 Calculation of Soil Layers Displacement

In the shaking table test in this paper, a certain number of acceleration transducer was embed in soil layer of
different depth in order to measure the acceleration time history response of soil layer in different depth. The
displacement response of soil layer in different depth can be obtained by performing numerical integral on the
time. Afterwards, by polynomial fitting soil displacement distribution, the soil displacement in any depth could
be determined.
Software SeismoSoft is applied in this paper. The acceleration data recorded by accelerometer embed in soil
layers and the shaking table base are firstly filtered (1.0~35Hz), then numerical integrated, and finally baseline
corrected. Thus, the displacement time history of the measure points distributed in soil layers and shaking table
base is obtained.
On the basis of accomplishment of previous calculation steps, the dynamic p-y curve is finally established:
(1) Work out pile-soil contact pressure p according to the method mentioned in section 3.1 and 3.2.
(2) Work out the pile body deformation ypile and pile caps displacement respectively by the method mentioned
in section 3.2, and the sum of the two is pile body lateral displacement. Likewise, the lateral displacement of
the soil layer could be obtained by numerical integral program mentioned in section 3.3. The difference
between the lateral displacement of the pile body and the soil is the pile-soil relative displacement y.
(3) Using the pile-soil relative displacement y as abscissa, the pile-soil contact force as ordinate, and using
pile-soil relative displacement time history data of the pile body and the time history data of the pile-soil
contact force of the certain position obtained previously, the pile-soil interaction p-y curve at the certain
position can be obtained.

3.5 Establishing p-y Curve by Shaking Table Tests

120
x=0.6m

60
0
-60
-120
-2
0
1 (mm) 2
Pile soil-1relative displacement
(mm)

Pile soil
(N) (N)
interactive
stress

(N/m)

Pile soil interactive stress (N)

The approach of how to establish dynamic p-y curve considering pile-soil interaction in shaking table tests has
been elaborated in section 3.4. The following will provide the calculation of pile-soil interaction p-y curve
according to the steps described in section 3.4. The calculation of dynamic p - y curve of working condition EL1
is provided in figure 3.4. For the calculation process of the rest of the four working conditions EL2~EL5 is
similar, it will not be repeated here.
120
x=0.9m

60
0
-60
-120
-2
0
1 (mm) 2
Pile soil-1relative displacement
(mm)

Figure 3.4. Pilesoil dynamic interaction py curve of working condition EL1

5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan

80

40
x=0.6m
t=1.42s~1.52s

20
0
-20
-40
-0.50

-0.25

0.00

0.25

0.50

Pile soilrelative
(mm)
displacement
(mm)

stress
(N/m) (N)
Pile soil
interactive

Pile soil
interactive
stress (N)

(N/m)

The specific steps are as follows [12]. Firstly, work out the pile strain time history of each measure points which
could be used to calculate the bending moment time history of pile body at each measure points. Secondly, fit the
distribution function of pile body bending moment along the depth of pile. Then pile body deformation and pile
soil interaction at any position of the pile could be obtained by the method mentioned in section 3.3. Thirdly,
work out the displacement time history of soil layer relative to pile caps using the time history record of
accelerators in soil layers according to the method in section 3.3. Finally, obtain the dynamic p-y curve in
working condition EL1 shown as figure 3.5. Figure 3.5 shows a single cycle dynamic p - y curve of a certain
position of pile.

x=0.9m
t=0.83s~1.00s

40
0
-40
-80
-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Pile soil
relative
(mm)
displacement
(mm)

Figure3.5. Single cycle py curve in working condition EL1

4. CONCLUSION
The approach of establishing dynamic p-y curve through shaking table tests has been explored in this paper,
which has laid a certain foundation for the further research. The main conclusions summarized are as follows:
(1) The method of establishing dynamic p-y curve of pile-soil interaction was explored in this paper. First,
based on the beam theory, the pile shaft bending moment distributed along the longitudinal direction in the
test is fitted, and the function expression of the bending moment is determined. Secondly, quadratic integral
and quadratic differential are applied respectively to this bending moment function, in order that pile-soil
contact stress and pile shaft displacement are calculated. Thirdly, the soil acceleration reaction record is
fitted and the quadratic integral is applied to this function, thus, the soil displacement distribution is obtained,
and the pile-soil relative displacement is determined. Finally, the dynamic p-y curve is obtained based on the
relation between the soil counter force and the pile-soil relative displacement.
(2) Some advices which may be constructive to henceforth experiments of the shaking table test for the research
of dynamic pile - soil interaction p - y curve are put forward as follow:
1) In the shaking table tests for the research purposes of pile-soil dynamic interaction p-y curve, the
material of pile body should be considerately chosen according to the test requirement. If the pile body
is required always to be in elastic state, steel pipe pile or aluminum pipe pile could be priority selection.
And if elastic-plastic state is not strictly required or it is needed to study influence of stiffness change
caused by pile body concrete cracking on p-y curve, concrete pile is alternative.
2) In the shaking table tests for the research purposes of pile-soil dynamic interaction p-y curve, the
boundary conditions of pile body should be designed simple and clear in order to be convenient for the
subsequent calculation. For example, the pile tips could be fixed on the base so that the boundary
condition transforms into that the rotation angle and displacement of pile tip are zero. Another example
is that the pile tips and the base are connected by the hinge connection so that the boundary condition
transforms into that and displacement of pile tip is zero.
3) In the shaking table tests for the research purposes of pile-soil dynamic interaction p-y curve, the
seismic waves input should be inerratic so that to obtain inerratic p-y curves, which is conducive to
analysis and research.
4) With regard to shaking table tests for the research purposes of pile-soil dynamic interaction p-y curve,
the design is complex, influence factors are various and test quantity is larger, therefore prophase
systematic planning should be well conducted.

5th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Structural Engineering

November 8-9, 2013, Taipei, Taiwan

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful for the support of the Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 51178349). The work
is also supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities..

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