A modeling study for load transfer mechanisms of slope stabilizing piles

A slice from an infinitely long row of piles in an inclined sand bed was simulated with an experimental test setup. The experimental setup consisted of a box in which model tests are performed, a pluviation system to prepare homogeneous and uniform loose sand bed, aluminum model piles, load and deformation measurement and data acquisition systems. The test box, having the biggest dimensions amongst the published boxes, enables tests on both flexible and rigid piles in one and two rows with fixed pile tip. The movement of the soil was controlled by an automatically operated support to facilitate the soil slid under its own weight, whereas the sliding soil was forced to make uniform or triangular displacement in the previous researches. The effects of spacing, stiffness, and head fixity of piles and inclination of slope on the moment and lateral soil pressure distributions acting on slope stabilizing piles were investigated with a series of model tests. The behavior of soil around piles, the effect of soil-pile displacements on the load transfer from soil to piles and the group behavior of piles were examined.Surficial soil displacements were also monitored and relative displacements between the soil particles were determined by recording time-lapse images throughout the test in order to observe the trace of soil arching mechanism on the soil surface.Real slope stabilizing piles constructed as double row were back analyzed. In the light of back analyses, the loads acting on pile rows, considering the loads calculated by theories based on plastic deformation were found out and the importance of pile socket length and third dimension effects were determined.