Response of pile groups in clays under lateral loading based on 3-D numerical experiments

Abstract

The response of laterally loaded pile foundations may be significantly important in the design of structures for such loads. Although simplified numerical methods are reliable for evaluating the response of a single pile under horizontal load, their application is questionable for assessing the response of pile groups. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence of the interaction between the piles of a group fixed in a rigid pile cap, in clayey soils, on both the lateral load capacity and the stiffness of the group. For this purpose, a parametric three-dimensional nonlinear numerical analysis, allowing for the nonlinearities of the interaction between soil and piles as well as the effect of pile-soil separation, was carried out for different arrangements of pile groups. The response of the pile groups is compared to that of the single pile. The influence of the number of piles, the spacing and the deflection level to the group response is discussed. Furthermore, the contribution of the piles constituting the group to the total group resistance is examined. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.