Introduction

Welcome to “Lateral analysis with LPile and RSPile: From theory to practice”, the fourth course  in the “Geotechnical Engineering: From Theory to Practice” series. Check Dr. ElMouchi’s three previous courses: Bearing Capacity: From Theory to Practice, Settlement Analysis with Settle3 Software: From Theory to Practice, and Deep Foundations – Axial Analysis with RSPile Software: From Theory to Practice.

With around 18 chapters and more than 135 instructional videos and around 380 PPT slides, this course is the most comprehensive and practice-oriented training available on laterally loaded pile foundations, combining rigorous geotechnical theory, hands-on numerical modeling, and real-world design experience using two Software LPile and RSPile.

Laterally loaded piles are critical for the stability and performance of structures. Despite their importance, lateral pile behavior is often misunderstood or oversimplified in design practice. This course bridges that gap by walking you through the full design process—from understanding how piles resist lateral loads, to interpreting advanced soil–structure interaction models such as the p–y method, and finally applying these concepts in professional software environments.

Over the span of 18 chapters and more than 135 instructional videos and around 380 PPT slides, you’ll develop a complete understanding of:

• The mechanics of laterally loaded piles and the principles behind ultimate (ULS) and serviceability (SLS) performance.
• Classical analytical methods such as Brom’s method, closed-form elastic solutions, and the most accurate and advanced method p–y curve modeling.
• Modern nonlinear soil models for clays, sands, silts, loess, and rock — including Matlock (1970), Reese (1975), API RP 2A (2010), Rollins et al. (2005), and Liang et al. (2009) and more!!!
• The use of p–multipliers, pile group effects, scour, fixity depth, and slope/batter adjustments, all within a code-based framework consistent with CFEM (2023), CHBDC (CSA S6-25), and AASHTO (2024).
• Step-by-step demonstrations using RSPile and LPile, showing how the same geotechnical principles translate across software platforms through over 20 hands on examples.

A key feature of this course is its dual-software approach, giving you confidence to interpret results, troubleshoot models, and make informed engineering decisions regardless of the tool used. You will perform manual calculations, verify analytical models, and simulate real-world design cases, ensuring that your learning directly translates to professional application.

Whether you’re a geotechnical engineer aiming to elevate your design practice, a structural engineer seeking to understand soil–structure interaction, or a foundation specialist working on bridges, offshore structures — this course will give you the clarity, confidence, and technical depth to handle any lateral pile analysis challenge with precision.

Q1. What is the purpose of introducing two software programs for lateral pile analysis?

A1: The course uses two of the most widely adopted software tools worldwide for lateral pile analysis. The goal is not just to teach software operation, but to help you understand the core principles behind the analysis so you can confidently use any program in the future. By learning through two tools, you’ll see that the theory and workflow are software-independent, giving you true flexibility in practice.
Also, this course aims to “raise the bar” — few others go this deep into the practical and theoretical aspects of lateral pile behavior.

 Q2. Is this course only for LPile and RSPile users? What if I use different software?

A2: No. The course is not limited to LPile or RSPile.
It focuses on fundamental concepts, manual calculations, and practical interpretation — all of which apply to any lateral pile analysis program (e.g., AllPile, Group, Oasys, etc.).

 Q3. Why are RSPile and LPile used specifically in this course?

• RSPile: Rocscience provides a free 14-day full-feature trial, perfect for completing all course exercises. You can access it by signing up through their RocPortal.
  https://www.rocscience.com/software/rspile
• LPile: Produced by Ensoft, LPile does not usually offer trial versions, but you can download a demo mode from their website for limited use. https://www.ensoftinc.com/products/lpile/

These two programs together give you a balanced understanding of different interfaces, modeling assumptions, and analysis outputs.

Q4. Does Ingeo Expert provide LPile or RSPile licenses?

A4: No license version is provided with the course. However, Rocscience’s 2-week free trial provides ample access time to complete the software-based portions of the course.

Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental behavior of laterally loaded piles under static and cyclic conditions.
• Apply Brom’s method, p–y curve modeling, and closed-form analytical solutions for lateral pile analysis.
• Identify and select appropriate p–y models for different soil and rock types, including clays, sands, silts, loess, and weak to strong rock formations.
• Interpret and model soil–structure interaction using both RSPile and LPile software with confidence.
• Evaluate the effects of installation method, fixity depth, scour, slope, and pile batter on lateral performance.
• Incorporate group effects through the use of p-multipliers and understand code-based approaches from CFEM (2023), CHBDC (2025), and AASHTO (2024).
• Develop a comprehensive workflow that connects geotechnical analysis outputs with structural design requirements for safe and optimized pile foundations.

Limited places.

Module Week (1)

• – Chapter (1) Introduction (3 Videos)
• – Chapter (2) Selection of Deep Foundation Type (5 videos)
• – Chapter (3) Brom’s Method – ULS (Nominal Lateral Resistance) (10 videos)

Module Week (2)

• – Chapter (4) Non-Linear Pile and p-y model (14 videos)
• – Chapter (6) Simplified Closed Form Solution (3 Videos)
• – Chapter (6) Other Methods for Laterally Loaded Piles (3 Videos)

Module Week (3)

• – Chapter (7) Pile Response to Lateral Loading (6 Videos)
• – Chapter (8) Geotechnical Design Parameters for Lateral Pile Analysis (4 Videos)
• – Chapter (9) p-y Models for Clayey Soils (14 Videos)

Module Week (4)

• – Chapter (10) p-y Models for Sandy Soils (15 Videos)
• – Chapter (11) p-y Models for Silty Soils (5 Videos)
• – Chapter (12) p-y Models for Rock (13 Videos)

Module Week (5)

• – Chapter (13) Other p-y Models (3 Videos)
• – Chapter (14) p-y curves for Layered Soils (Georgiadis Method) (1 Video)
• -Chapter (15) Factored Lateral Resistance (3 Videos)

Module Week (6)

• – Chapter (16) Additional Design Consideration (21 Videos)
• – Chapter (17) Lateral Analysis of Pile Group (8 Videos)
• – Chapter (18) Structural – Geotechnical Design Cycle (3 Videos)

Dr. Ahmed ElMouchi (PhD, PEng)

A Geotechnical Engineer Who Has Walked Your Path

This section is meant to show you how competent your professor is — so yes, you’ll see plenty of accomplishments here. But this course wasn’t built to impress; it was built to help.

I created this course because I was once exactly where you are — looking for clarity in a field full of complexity. I know the questions you’re asking, because I’ve asked them myself. And I promised myself that when I figured it out, I’d help others do the same.

This course took over a year to build — not because the content was hard to gather, but because I wanted to make sure it speaks to your level, your pace, and your goals. I hope you feel that in every chapter.

Your Instructor at a Glance

• – Discipline Team Lead – Geotechnics – Arcadis, Canada Inc.
• – Sessional Instructor, University of British Columbia (UBC) — ranked among the top 50 universities worldwide
• – 13+ Years of Experience in geotechnical engineering, including major projects across 3 continents
• – PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, UBC – Specialized in soil stabilization and soft ground behavior
• – 10 peer-reviewed papers on tunnel engineering, soft soils, and numerical modelling
• – Award-winning educator, trained in learning design and teaching methods
• – Fluent in advanced geotechnical software, including PLAXIS 2D/3D, RSPile, Settle3, Slide2, and more

A Global Perspective with Local Precision

Dr. Elmouchi’s project portfolio includes landmark international infrastructure such as:

• – Kudai Tunnels, Saudi Arabia – NATM tunneling in hard rock
• – Cairo Metro, Egypt – Soft ground tunneling under urban zones
• – Hodgson Slide Mitigation, BC, Canada – Complex slope stabilization for highway infrastructure
• – Selkirk Mountain Bridge Piles, Highway 1, BC – Axial and lateral pile design in mountainous terrain

He has also led geotechnical design for public buildings, slope stabilization works, highway projects, and foundation systems under seismic and challenging soil conditions throughout Canada.

Not Just a Practitioner — A Dedicated Educator

As a sessional instructor at UBC, Dr. Elmouchi has taught multiple geotechnical engineering courses to undergraduate and graduate students, focusing on bridging the gap between academic theory and field practice. He is formally trained in learning design and curriculum development, ensuring that this course is:

• – Clear and digestible
• – Purposefully paced
• – Centered around practical outcomes

His teaching reflects the same attention to clarity and rigor that defines his consulting work.

Research-Driven. Practice-Proven.

During his PhD, Dr. Elmouchi managed the Geotechnical Materials Laboratory at UBC Okanagan, supervising graduate students and conducting advanced soil testing and analysis. His research — funded by NSERC — focused on the geotechnical behavior and stabilization of peaty soils, producing a widely respected body of work on compressibility and settlement control.

 Recognitions and Professional Involvement

• – University Graduate Fellowship, UBC (2018, 2019, 2020)
• – NSERC PhD Scholarship Recipient (2018–2021)
• – Volunteer with Engineers & Geoscientists BC (EGBC)
• – Active member of VGS, CGS, and ISSMGE
• – P.Eng. designation in British Columbia, and working toward PE licensure in the U.S.

 A Message From Dr. Elmouchi

“I’m not here to just teach you how to calculate resistance. I’m here to help you think like a designer — someone who understands the soil, not just the software. You’re building a skillset that the industry needs more than ever. I’m proud to help you build it.”

The course is delivered online through our easy-to-use Virtual Campus platform. For this course, a variety of content is provided including:

– eLearning materials
– Videos
– Interactive multimedia content
– Live webinar classes
– Texts and technical articles
– Case studies
– Assignments and evaluation exercises

Students can download the materials and work through the course at their own pace.
We regularly update this course to ensure the latest news and state-of-the-art developments are covered, and your knowledge of the subject is current.

Live webinars form part of our course delivery. These allow students and tutors to go through the course materials, exchange ideas and knowledge, and solve problems together in a virtual classroom setting. Students can also make use of the platform’s forum, a meeting point to interact with tutors and other students.

The tutoring system is managed by email. Students can email the tutor with any questions about the course and the tutor will be happy to help.

This course is designed for professionals and students who want to bridge the gap between geotechnical theory and modern design practice. It is ideal for:

• – Geotechnical engineers aiming to advance their skills in the analysis and design of laterally loaded piles using modern tools and methods.
• – Civil engineers working on bridge, building, offshore, or slope stabilization projects where lateral loading is a key design consideration.
• – Structural engineers seeking to understand how pile–soil interaction affects structural design and performance.
• – Geology or earth science graduates involved in geotechnical or foundation-related work who wish to strengthen their understanding of soil behavior and pile response.
• – Site and field engineers looking to transition from investigation and construction roles into design and analysis positions.
• – Consultants and contractors involved in foundation design who want to integrate software-based geotechnical modeling with code-compliant design workflows.
• – Graduate students or early-career professionals preparing to work in the fields of geotechnical design, research, or consultancy.

Once a student finishes the course and successfully completes the assignments and evaluation tests, they are sent an accreditation certificate. The certificate is issued by Ingeoexpert to verify that the student has passed the course. It is a digital certificate that is unique and tamper-proof – it is protected by Blockchain technology. This means it is possible for anyone to check that it is an authentic, original document.

You will be able to download the certificate in an electronic format from the Virtual Campus platform. The certificate can be forwarded by email, shared on social networks, and embedded on websites. To see an example, click here.

Completing Lateral Pile Analysis with Two Software: LPile and RSPile – From Theory to Practice will significantly enhance your professional value and open new career opportunities in geotechnical and structural engineering. With a strong focus on both theoretical knowledge and applied design using industry-standard software, this course will prepare you for roles that demand confident decision-making in deep foundation design.

By completing this course, you will be able to:

• – Take full ownership of Lateral pile design in consulting, construction, or multidisciplinary engineering environments.
• – Collaborate more effectively with structural engineers by providing clear, design-ready geotechnical input based on realistic p-y mechanisms and software-backed evidence.
• – Move into more senior roles, such as senior geotechnical engineer or foundation design lead, by demonstrating your command of both the theory and the tools used in modern deep foundation practice.
• – Work more efficiently with software like LPile and RSPile, giving you a competitive edge when applying for positions in firms that value advanced modeling capabilities.
• – Broaden your service offerings as a consultant by including detailed pile design, group analysis, and lateral load-transfer modeling in your project scope.
• – Support quality assurance and field performance evaluations by understanding how to interpret lateral pile load tests and correlate them to design assumptions.