Lateral STATNAMIC load testing of a pile group

Statnamic lateral load tests were performed on a full-scale pile group under free and fixed-head conditions. The dynamic resistance was typically 30 to 80% higher than the static resistance but distribution of load within pile group was similar to static case. The Unloading Point method was adapted to lateral load conditions and used to interpret the static response as well as the contribution of damping and inertia forces. The Unloading Point method was reasonably successful in matching the static response for the fixed-head tests, but inconsistent in predicting static resistance for the free-head tests. For the fixed-head tests, the calculations indicate that damping was largely responsible for the increased resistance observed during the dynamic testing.