DRIVE

Drive is a one-dimensional dynamics program which analyses stresses and displacements during pile driving. The model used in the program consists of discrete masses joined to one another by springs and to the ground by springs and dashpots. All springs and dashpots may have specified maximum and minimum forces. When these are used the springs exhibit hysteresis.

The program is useful for predicting whether the pile is capable of handling stresses arising during pile-driving, without debonding and yielding.

Program features include:

The program operates by taking small time steps and recording the dynamic state of each mass and spring at the end of each time step. The maximum and minimum forces in the connecting springs are also recorded.

The idealization of the pile into masses and springs is not performed by the program and should be performed by the user. Simons and Randolph (1984) give some useful formulae.

The results obtained at the end of one run may be used as data for subsequent run.

The time histories of displacement, velocity and acceleration can be obtained for any desired mass in a tabular or graphical format. The user also has the option of exporting the results in CSV format.

For a full technical description of the program please refer to the Drive Manual.