Effects of Uncertain Parameters on the Performance of Single Batter Piles Embedded in Laterally Spreading Ground

Abstract

The seismic performance of batter piles is still the least investigated in comparison to vertical piles, though batter piles may offer a prospective solution in case of laterally spreading ground. In this study, a comprehensive investigation is presented for the performance of a single batter pile (both positive and negative) in comparison to the vertical pile considering spreading ground movement. Beam on Nonlinear Winkler foundation (BNWF) approach is considered for modelling the soil-pile systems, and models are developed in the open-source programmer OpenSees. The study considers a three-layer soil profile with a liquefiable layer sandwiched between a non-liquefiable surface crust and the base layer. The following five critical parameters were considered to be uncertain in considering the effects of uncertainty on performance: batter angles, thickness of liquefiable layer, ground slope, relative density of liquefiable layer, and slenderness ratio. An exhaustive probabilistic investigation through response surface methodology was carried out to evaluate the effects of different uncertain parameters on the performance of the pile foundations. The study indicated that the performance of negative batter piles is superior to the vertical and positive batter piles. Further, prediction equations for maximum pile head displacement and bending moment have been developed for piles with different batter angles. The study is supposed to be helpful for practising design engineers to adopt batter piles in seismic conditions. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.