Analysis of Free Vibration Characteristics of Tapered Friction Piles in Non-homogeneous Soil Layers

This paper presents a new analytical model for estimating the free vibration of tapered friction piles. The governing differential equation for the free vibration of statically axially-loaded piles embedded in non-homogeneous soil is derived. The equation is numerically integrated by the Runge-Kutta method, and then the eigenvalue of natural frequency is determined by the Regula-Falsi scheme. For a cylindrical non-tapered pile, the computed natural frequencies compare well with the available data from literature. Numerical examples are presented to investigate the effects of the tapering, the skin friction resistance, the end condition of the pile, the vertical compressive loading, and the soil non-homogeneity on the natural frequency and mode shape of tapered friction piles.