Lateral response evaluation of single piles using inclinometer data

In an effort to develop an efficient method for interpretation of lateral pile load test results via measured inclinometer data only, an analytical model is proposed based on energy conservation of a pile-soil system. A Fourier series function is used to represent deflection behavior of the pile-soil system. In order to obtain shear, moment, and soil reaction along the pile shaft, convergence of the series after differentiation is guaranteed by applying the Cesaro sum technique. The concrete cracking effect is also incorporated into the pile model to account for yielding of the pile itself. Three full-scale pile load cases are then used to verify the feasibility of the developed methodology as well as make comparison to other methods.