Response of piles to inclined uplift loads Influence of the soil-pile interface

This paper presents a three-dimensional finite element analysis of the response of piles to inclined uplift loads. It deals with the influence of the soil-pile interface on this response. Calculations are carried out for several load's inclinations and different conditions at the soil-pile interface. The concept of the "critical depth" at the soil-pile interface is investigated. Analyses show that the lateral behaviour of the pile is independent from both the load's inclination and the interface condition, while both the load's inclination and the soil-pile interface largely affect the axial response of piles.