Bearing capacity analyses of laterally loaded barrette piles with model tests

All structures are directly influenced by the soil conditions. The importance of soil-pile interaction is crucial for both existing and future structures. Because soil conditions are not always ideal from engineering perspective, alternative solutions are required to ensure the safety and durability of structures. For such cases, alternative solutions have been developed, and one of the most commonly preferred methods among these solutions is deep foundation systems. Rectangular-section barrette piles, a type of deep foundation, are known to have a larger surface area compared to circular-section piles, enabling them to carry higher loads on the same soil. In recent years, the application of rectangular-section barrette piles, which offer various advantages over circular-section piles, has noticeably increased. This thesis investigates experimentally the effects of the pile embedment depth to the pile width (Hg/B) ratio and the ratio of pile length to pile width (L/B) of laterally loaded model barrette piles, in two different soil conditions. For this purpose, a total of 24 laboratory tests were conducted. The variables considered in the modeling of the piles include: pile width (B), pile length (L), pile height (H), pile embedment depth (Hg), load application distance (e), load application angle (β), soil density (Dr %), and pile surface roughness. Lateral loads were applied to the model barrette piles, and the resulting load-displacement values were analyzed through graphs. It was observed that as the ratio of pile embedment depth to pile width (Hg/B) increases, as the lateral load capacity shows a significant increase. In loose soil, the effect of pile surface roughness was found to be much more markable than in dense soil. Additionally, as the ratio of pile length to pile width (L/B) increases, a positive effect on lateral load capacity was observed