This study aims to resolve the computational difficulties in finite element analysis of pilefoundations. Finite element mesh for the analysis of pile foundation includes nonlinear frame elements andthree-dimensional soil elements apart from interface elements to represent the soil-pile interaction. NonlinearFEM analyses with such 3D elements demand more powerful computation environment and takes longer timethan linear and two-dimensional analyses. This study explores the possibility of relaxing these computationalrequirements without compromising the accuracy of the analytical results. First, it is analytically proved thatwhen a nonlinear pile is subjected to lateral displacement, only a portion of pile length closer to the surface isactivated. Hence, the total number of elements and the computation time can be substantially reduced if theanalysis domain is restricted within the activated length. Next, a mesh condensation scheme is proposed forfoundation consisting of large number of piles, and its performance and accuracy is analytically verified. Theresults showed that the proposed mesh condensation technique significantly enhances the computationalefficiency without influencing the results.
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