Analysis of the laterally loaded piles under different soil and loading conditions

In this study, lateral load bearing capacity and the exchange of the rotation point depth and lateral load capacity of the short pile placed in homogeneous and layered sandy soil conditions by vertical and inclined, lateral loads applied at a certain height above sand surface, were examined with small scale laboratory model tests. In addition; the experimental test results, were compared with the two-and the three-dimensional numerical analyses, adhering to the test program. As a result, the soil density effects the lateral load capacity of the short pile significantly and the depth of the rotation point occurs on the short pile, affected from the density of the soil around the pile and the placement angle of the pile. The exchange of the rotation point of depth, changes the passive pressure distribution along the pile. Thus, the lateral load capacity of the vertical and/or inclined pile is affected by this situation. Compared with experimental results, modeling the present study by three-dimensional analysis programme, yielded successful results. According to the approximate methods obtained from the result of the two-dimensional numerical analysis, to predict the lateral load capacity of the short rigid pile, sufficient compliance was observed for the different pile angle and soil conditions.