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Probabilistic buckling analysis of axially loaded piles in liquefiable soils

Traditionally piles are designed as laterally-loaded beams. However, recent research (Bhattacharya et al 2004, T.K.Hseih award) has demonstrated that axial load alone can cause slender piles to fail (buckling instability) if soil surrounding the pile liquefies in an earthquake i.e. piles are axially loaded long columns. This mechanism is not considered in most codes of practice and will be incorporated in Eurocode (reference draft committee Z.Lubkowski). There are many pile-supported buildings in seismic areas designed based on earlier codes of practice that need retrofitting. This paper proposed a methodology (also implemented in MATLAB code) to identify existing unsafe pile-supported structures.