Tutorial 1 Quick Start - Axially Loaded Pile

Multi-Layer Model
Soil types for Axially Loaded Pile
Pile Properties
Axial Loading Conditions
Export Data into Excel

RSPile v.1.0 Verification Manual

Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

Introduction
This tutorial will demonstrate how to analyze an axially loaded pile in multi-layer soil under
various loading conditions.
The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 01 Quick Start - Axially
Loaded Piles.rspile data file. All tutorial files installed with RSPile 1.0 can be accessed by
selecting File > Recent Folders > Tutorials Folder from the RSPile main menu.

Model
If you have not already done so, start the RSPile program by double-clicking on the RSPile
icon in your installation folder. Or from the Start menu, select All Programs > Rocscience >
RSPile 1.0 > RSPile.
If the RSPile application window is not already maximized, maximize it now, so that the full
screen is available for viewing the model.
You will see the splash screen. Select Axially Loaded Pile
Select: Axial Mode
You should see the following default model.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

Soil Layers List

You can add or delete a soil layer using the tools in the Soil Layers List. Select the Name of
Soil Layer 1 and select Add Layer.

Your model should appear as follows.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

Notice that the layer was added below the currently selected layer. Now select Soil Layer 3
and select Delete Layer to remove it.

Your model should appear as follows.

Soil Properties
Lets define the soil properties for each layer.
On the left table view, select Soil Layer 1 and change the following properties:
Name = Clay
Soil Type = API Clay
Unit Weight = 17 kN/m3
Undrained Shear Strength = 22 kPa
Remolded Shear Strength = 15 kPa

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

Select Soil Layer 2 and change the following properties:

Name = Sand
Soil Type = API Sand
Effective Unit Weight = 20 kN/m3
Friction Angle = 35 degrees
Coefficient of Lateral Earth Pressure = 1
Bearing Capacity Factor = 40

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

Pile Properties
You will now define the pile properties. Select Define Pile Properties from the top toolbar.
Select: Define Pile Properties
Select Pile 2 and change the following properties:
Name = Precast Concrete
Pile Type = Rectangular
Section Width = 0.3
Section depth = 0.3
Youngs Modulus = 25,000,000

Select OK. The screen should appear as follows.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

On the left table view, set the Pile Length to 17 m.

Loading Conditions
In the table view under Axial Soil Loading, change the Soil Displacement to 25.4 mm and the
Sliding Depth to 4 m.

The multi-view chart shows the axial force and displacement computed along the pile
depth.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

The soil from the ground surface to a sliding depth of 4 m surrounding the pile is displaced
25.4 mm downwards. The skin friction between the soil and pile causes the downward soil
movement to drag the pile downwards as well. This loading condition is commonly referred
to as downdrag (downwards positive in RSPile). The pile is in compression.

4m
Sliding Depth

You can move the pile upwards, commonly referred to as uplift, by applying a negative soil
displacement. Change the Soil Displacement to -25.4 mm. You should see the following
analysis.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

Negative Axial Forces indicate that the pile is in tension.

Now add an axial load to the pile head using the Pile Head Loading Condition dialog.
Select: Pile Head Loading Condition
In the Pile Head Loading Condition dialog, change the Axial Load to 1000 kN (downwards
positive).

Select OK. You should see the following analysis. The effect of the axial load is much greater
than the applied displacement. Therefore, the pile is in compression even though there is
an applied upwards displacement. A negative axial load at the head causes uplift or tension
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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

in the pile.

Axial Resistance against Sliding

To analyze the pile axial resistance against sliding you need to remove any axial pile head
loading.
Select: Pile Head Loading Condition
In the Pile Head Loading Condition dialog, change the Axial Load to 0 kN. Select OK.

On the left table view, change the Soil Displacement to 5 mm and the Sliding Depth to 8.5
m.
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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

You should see the following analysis.

Notice the axial force corresponding to the sliding depth of 8.5 m. The axial force at the
sliding depth can be taken as the axial resistance against the applied axial displacement.
Under normal conditions, this value is typically the peak axial force although this may not
always be true. To automate this process for various sliding depths along the pile, select
Show Axial Resistance Graph. This will change the analysis mode to only analyze the effect
of sliding. All axial loads at the head will be neglected automatically. The user does not need
to set the axial load to zero before selecting Show Axial Resistance Graph.
On the left table view, change the Soil Displacement to 2 mm.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

Select Show Axial Resistance Graph. The analysis will take a few seconds.

You are analyzing a pile under an axial displacement of 2 mm applied from the ground to
each sliding depth. The axial force at each sliding depth is recorded and shown in the axial
resistance plot. The Number of Intervals controls the number of sliding depths you wish to
analyze along the pile. If you selected 20 intervals, the pile will be analzyed for a soil
displacement of 2 mm at sliding depths of 0 m to 17 m in increments of 0.85 m (17 m/20
intervals = 0.85 m).
Your analysis should appear as follows.

If you navigate to the first chart tab, you should be able to see the axial displacement and
force for each sliding depth that was analyzed.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

You can view a selected set of sliding depth analyses on the top right Depth Settings. In the
Depth Settings select Hide All. Then select Sliding Depth 4.25 m and 8.5 m.

You should only see the axial displacement and force for these two sliding depths.

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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

There are various Axial Resistance Analysis types. The Max Allowable Axial Displacement
Analysis allows the user to specify the maximum applied soil displacement based on design
tolerances. The Ultimate Axial Resistance Analysis increases the soil displacement at each
sliding depth until the maximum axial resistance is reached.

In this tutorial, the Ultimate Axial Resistance Analysis is not demonstrated. The Ultimate
Axial Resistance Analysis may require a few minutes to compute because it is searching for
the inflection point at each sliding depth where the model just reaches maximum axial
capacity and is still stable. Improvements to the search algorithm is an ongoing
development for future updates.
Save the file as tutorial01.rspile. (RSPile model files have a .rspile filename extension).
Select: File Save
Use the Save As dialog to save the file. You can export the data from the current analysis
using the export icon.
Select: Export to Excel
Allow a few seconds for the export to finish. The exported file should appear as follows.
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Tutorial 1: Quick Start Axially Loaded Pile

That concludes this tutorial. To exit the program:

Select: File Exit

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