Characteristics of horizontal bearing capacity of rigid pile composite foundation

The three-dimensional nonlinear elastic finite element method has been developed to study the horizontal bearing capacity behavior of the rigid pile composite foundation subjected to different vertical loads. The influence of the different cushion layer thicknesses and ground property on the horizontal bearing capacity behavior of the rigid pile composite foundation is analyzed. The distribution law of bending moments and deflections along the pile subjected to horizontal load is also obtained. The study results show that vertical load changes the failure mode of the composite foundation under horizontal load, which influences the horizontal bearing capacity of composite foundation. With the cushion layer thickness at proper level, the horizontal load transferred to piles would be decreased and the pile would be safer.