An Improved Finite Beam Element Method for Calculating Lateral Displacements of Piles Subjected to Inclined and Eccentric Loads

This study presents an improved finite beam element method developed to calculate lateral displacement of pile subjected to eccentric and inclined loads. The relationships between the moment and shear to the lateral displacements of pile are derived from the mechanical deferential equation of the pile by taking into account the P-Delta effect of the pile due to geometric nonlinearity, and the stiffness of the pile element discretized into the finite beam elements is obtained, followed by solving, lateral displacement of pile is deduced by the improved finite beam element equations. By comparing to results of a model test on piles under eccentric and inclined loads, it is shown that the improved finite beam element method accurately predicts the pile's lateral displacements.