Model Experiments on Pile Behaviour in Loose-Medium Dense Sand under Combined Uplift and Lateral Loads: Fid-Bau Portal

Model Experiments on Pile Behaviour in Loose-Medium Dense Sand under Combined Uplift and Lateral Loads

Ayothiraman, R. / Reddy, K. Madhusudan

Piles are subjected to various loads (vertical, lateral and uplift) simultaneously rather than independently. This indicates that the combined loading analysis is essential to understanding the actual pile behavior rather than independent loading -namely, vertical-compressive, vertical-uplift and lateral loading. However, it is observed that the understanding of pile behaviour in combined loading is simulated with a combination of vertical-compressive and lateral; but, the vertical-uplift with lateral loading has not been simulated. Hence, an experimental program is carefully planned to understand the interaction of the soil-pile system to combined uplift and lateral loading in loose to medium-densesand (RD = 40%). Aluminium model piles with different length-to-diameter ratios are used in the testing. Tests were conducted to measure pile behaviour under independent uplift and lateral loadings to assess their ultimate capacities, respectively. Then, lateral load tests were conducted by keeping the constant uplift load on pile head, to study the effect of uplift load on lateral behaviour of piles embedded in sand. Tests were conducted for different magnitudes of constant uplift load, i.e. 40%, 60% and 80% of ultimate load. It is observed from the results that there is significant variation in lateral load-pile head deflection behaviour as well as the ultimate lateral capacity under combined loading compared to independent and independent loading, which need to be considered appropriately in the practical design.