RSPile Pile Analysis Software

Tutorial 1 Axial Pile Analysis

• Multi-layer model
• Soil types for axially loaded piles
• Pile properties
• Axial loading conditions
• Export data to Excel
RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

Introduction
This tutorial will demonstrate how to analyze a single pile in multiple soil layers under axial
loading.

The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 1 Quick Start – Axial Pile
Analysis.rspile2 data file. All tutorial files installed with RSPile can be accessed by selecting
File > Recent Folders > Tutorials Folder from the RSPile main menu.

Program Interface
The RSPile modeler provides two distinct views:
• The Plan View is a top-down view of the ground surface.
• The 3D View enables easy visualization of results in three dimensions.

The Sidebar at the right of the screen provides a variety of viewing controls and the contour
legend. By default, both views and the sidebar are visible, but their relative sizes can be
scaled as desired.

Model Set-Up
When the RSPile program is started, a new blank document is already opened, allowing you
to begin creating a model immediately.

Note on sign convention: In RSPile, the default ground surface is at depth = 0, depth is
positive downwards, and compressive stress is positive.

Open the Project Settings dialog. This is you can change the analysis type, tolerance,
number of iterations allowed, and the number of pile segments to be used in the analysis.

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

Set the Pile Analysis Type to Axially Loaded Pile. Notice that in addition to the Axially
Loaded and Laterally Loaded options, under the Individual Pile Analysis header we also have
an Axially / Laterally Loaded option. We have provided the Axially / Laterally Loaded
analysis type specifically for RSPile integration with Slide.

With regards to the Analysis Settings, keep in mind that larger values of Pile Segments and
Number of Iterations will increase the computation time, as calculations are performed at
every node down the length of the pile. We will keep the default values for now.

Click OK to close the dialog.

TIP: The default units for RSPile are metric. To change this setting, select the Analysis menu
and choose Units.

Soil Properties
Select Define Soil Properties dialog from the toolbar. In this dialog you can define the
properties related to the Q-z, t-z, and p-y curves. There is a tab for each analysis type (Axial,
Lateral, Driven) as well as for datum dependency. The Datum Dependency tab allows users
to control linearly varying properties.

While you can click through all tabs, you will only be able to edit material information that is
relevant to the Pile Analysis Type selected in the Project Settings.

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

Enter the following soil properties:

Soil Property 1:

• Name = Clay
• Unit Weight = 17 kN/m3
• Soil Type = API Clay
• Undrained Shear Strength = 22 kPa
• Remolded Shear Strength 15 kPa
• Maximum Unit Skin Frictino = 1,000,000 kPa
• Maximum Unit End Bearing Resistance = 1,000,000 kPa

Soil Property 2:

• Name = Sand
• Unit Weight = 20 kN/m3
• Soil Type = API Sand
• Friction Angle = 35 degrees
• Coefficient of Lateral Earth Pressure = 1
• Bearing Capacity Factor = 40
• Maximum Unit Skin Friction = 1,000,000 kPa
• Maximum Unit End Bearing Resistance = 1,000,000 kPa

Click OK to save your input and exit the dialog.

Soil Layers
Select the Edit All Boreholes dialog from the toolbar.

RSPile supports multiple boreholes and non-horizontal soil strata. When multiple boreholes
are defined, the program will automatically interpolate between the boreholes. In this
tutorial, we will model horizontal soil strata with a single borehole.

The default soil column has a single layer and is located at (0, 0). To change the Location,
enter coordinates for X and Y. We will keep it (0,0) here.

To add another layer below the first, select Insert Layer Below. The Name column will fill in
by soil property sequence.

Layers are defined by thickness by default, but may be defined by top and bottom
elevation. This may be changed by toggling Define Layers by Thickness.

Specify the following layer thicknesses:

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

The Soil Layer Column on the right side of the dialog will update automatically as layer
thicknesses are defined.

Click OK to save your input and exit the dialog.

Pile Properties
Select the Define Pile Properties dialog from the toolbar.

Select Pile 1 and enter the properties displayed in the table below.

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

Click OK to save your input and exit the dialog.

Adding a Pile
Select Add Single Pile from the toolbar.

We have centralized all aspects of the pile definition in the “Add Pile” dialogs. For the
Axially Loaded, Laterally Loaded and Axially / Laterally Loaded analysis types the Add Single
Pile and Add Multiple Pile options are available. For the Grouped Pile Analysis type, the Cap
Designer must be used. In the Add Pile dialogs, users specify:

• Location – basic pile properties such as length and orientation are specified
• Loading – pile head loading definition
• Displacement – displacement profile or axial /lateral resistance analysis
• Multipliers – p-y, t-z, Q-z multipliers can be defined
• Advanced – advanced analysis options such as Pile Length Analysis (the availability
of the Advanced options varies based on pile analysis type)

See the RSPile help for more information on specifying p-y multipliers, displacements, and
advanced features.

Location
The Location tab allows users to specify the pile type, length and alignment of a single pile.
Alignment options include: elevation, ground slope angle, rotation angle, and orientation.
Orientation may be specified in one of two ways: Alpha/Beta angle, or Vector position.

Enter the following properties in the Location tab.

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

Loading

Select the Loading tab and add a new loading property by selecting the green plus sign .

RSPile provides users with the flexibility to analyze multiple piles in a single file, and the
Loading Property manager tracks all the pile head loads for the entire model. A different
Load Property can be defined for each pile, or the same Load Property can be used for all of
the piles in the file.

With regards to load type, two options are available: cyclic or static loading. If cyclic loading
is chosen, the number of load cycles may be specified, depending on the soil types used.

Axial Analysis only supports axial loading. Since we are looking at a single pile in this file we
will add one load property only. Specify the following value:

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

The Displacement, Multipliers, and Advanced tabs will be explored in later tutorials.

Click OK to save settings and close the dialog.

Placement
After clicking OK, RSPile will prompt the user to enter the (x, y) coordinates of the new
single pile. You may enter the location manually or click a point on the Plan View to place it.

Enter Location = (0, 0) and press enter. Your model should now look like this. Notice that
the soil column has now updated to reflect the strata.

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

Results Visualization
Save and Compute the file.

Results Visualization
RSPile allows for the 3D visualisation of results along the length of the pile.

By default, pile displacement in x-direction is shown. Pile Results may be toggled on or off
under View Controls in the sidebar.

Charts
Right-click on the pile and select Graph Pile.

The RSPile results section presents several default graphs and a table of results. You should
see the following:

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

Axial pile analysis generates two default graphs, including:

• Axial Displacement vs. Depth
• Axial Force vs. Depth

The sidebar contains the Chart Controls, which allow you to select what information is
displayed, and customize the appearance.

TIP: Results may be displayed in scientific notation or decimal form. To format the results,
select Number Format from the toolbar and select the desired form. The number of
decimals to be displayed may also be adjusted.

Export to Excel
From the Results tab you can export your data to Excel. Each data type is exported to its
own Sheet in the Excel file.

Info Viewer
The Info Viewer presents a formatted summary of input data and analysis results.

Go back to the model view and select the Info Viewer option from the toolbar. The Info
Viewer contains a summary of the model input data:

• Project Summary
• Soil Layers
• Soil Properties
• Pile Properties
• Pile Settings

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RSPile Tutorial Manual Tutorial 1: Quick Start – Axially Loaded Pile

The sidebar contains the Info Viewer Controls, which allow you to select what information is
displayed, and customize the appearance.

The data can be exported in a variety of ways: it may be manually copied, viewed in a
browser, printed, or the information may be saved as a .html file. Prior to printing the file,
results may be formatted to your specifications.

Select the Close Window option from the Info Viewer toolbar to close the viewer and
return to the model view.

Property Tables
To end this introductory tutorial, we will highlight the Drawing Tools included in RSPile.
These tools include addition of Soil and Pile Properties tables.

To add these tables to the model view, then select Tools > Add Tool > Soil Properties Table,
or Pile Properties Table. Click anywhere on the Plan View to add a table.

Once added, the tables may be edited, moved, or formatted as desired.

This concludes the Quick Start Tutorial. You may now exit the RSPile program.

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