Axial soil–pile interaction in a transversely isotropic half-space

A rigorous integral equation formulation is presented for the axisymmetric load-transfer analysis of a thin-walled pile embedded in a transversely isotropic half-space under axial load. By virtue of a set of ring-load Green’s functions for the pile and one for the half-space, the problem is shown to be reducible to a pair of Fredholm integral equations. Through a mathematical analysis of an auxiliary pair of Cauchy integral equations, the inherent singularities of the contact stress distributions are rendered explicit. With a direct incorporation of the singular nature of the resultant load transfers, the numerical solution of the integral equations is shown to be possible by an interpolation of regular functions only. Typical results for various material and geometrical conditions are presented, including a comparison with past classical solutions, to illustrate the effects of transverse anisotropy on the load-transfer process.