Behavior of Axially Loaded Pile Groups Subjected to Lateral Soil Movement

Response of a pile due to lateral soil movement and axial load has been investigated extensively by the authors. Typical results deduced from single pile tests in sand are presented previously in terms of effect of pile diameter, soil movement profile, sliding depth and magnitude of axial load. In this paper, a brief description of the apparatus was presented. Results from two model tests were reported, which were conducted on two instrumented pile groups embedded in sand subjected to a uniform lateral soil movement at a sliding depth of 0.57L (L = pile embedment length). Analysis revealed the effect of the direction and depth of soil movement, together with the magnitude of axial load, which are illustrated via profiles of bending moment, shear force, soil reaction, and pile deflection along instrumented piles in groups at various stages.