LATERAL RESISTANCE OF A SHORT RIGID PILE IN A TWO-LAYER COHESIONLESS SOIL

The behavior of a laterally loaded short rigid pile founded in a two-layer sand soil profile has been investigated. For this purpose, a series of model tests were carried out on model piles. The effects of the elasticity modulus, dilatancy and interface behavior of the sand have been explored numerically by performing a series of three-dimensional non-linear finite-element analyses. The lateral load capacities in the layered sand conditions have been calculated using the methods proposed by Brinch Hansen (1961) and Meyerhof et al. (1981). The results obtained from experimental studies, numerical analyses and a conventional method were compared with each other. The results proved that the parameters investigated had a considerable eject on the behavior of short rigid piles subjected to lateral loads. It was also shown that the value of the ultimate lateral load capacity could vary significantly, depending on the methods used.