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Hydraulic gradient similitude method for geotechnical modelling of pile group subjected to static lateral load

University of British Columbia

The thesis considers the problem of vertical pile group response to lateral static loads. There are various solutions available for single pile response to lateral loads. These solutions have been verified against a large database obtained from field experiments and model experiments. For pile groups very few theories have been proposed and due to the comparatively smaller database available it is not possible to develop and test a sound theory for predicting the pile group response to lateral loads. This thesis is aimed at obtaining a database for response of pile groups comprising of two piles subjected to lateral static loads. Tests were carried out in the Hydraulic Gradient Similitude Device in order to bring the stress state in the soil to the field stress level. For testing purposes three cases were considered, single pile, single pile adjacent to a loaded pile, and a pile group of two piles. The single pile test results showed that the test results were repeatable and reliable. The tests on a single pile adjacent to a loaded pile showed that the position of the pile with respect to the loaded pile has a strong influence on the response of the pile. The unloaded pile in the direction of the loading and in front of the loaded pile is most effected. At a spacing of 2 diameters bending moment developed is up to a maximum of 20 percent of bending moment developed in single pile. This percentage decreases rapidly with increasing spacing. If the unloaded pile is located behind the loaded pile or is at 90° to the loading direction, it essentially picks up very little load from the loaded pile. The installation of two piles densities the soil in between. In case of pile groups, the load sharing among the piles is based on the pile location and the interaction effect is not reciprocal. The lead pile, i.e. the pile in the direction of load, shares maximum load with trail pile sharing smaller load.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-01-09

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3450

Civil Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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