ABSTRACT

Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation (BNWF) method is a simplified approach that can account for nonlinear PSI and is commonly used in professional geotechnical engineering and research practices as well. In the BNWF method, pile is modeled as a series of discrete beam-column elements resting on a series of springs and dashpots representing the stiffness and the energy dissipation through the soil layers (Kimiaei et al. 2004). Generally, BNWF models are efficient and reasonably precise methods that can account for various complicated conditions in a simple manner. For example, Novak et al. (1978) and El Naggar & Bentley (2000) have used BNWF models for the piles subjected to lateral dynamic loads.