Comparison of lateral response of pile group in series and parallel arrangement near sloping ground

Abstract

Several studies have been presented till now to predict the behaviour of piles subjected to lateral load located in horizontal ground. However, the effect of nearby slope on pile response is not thouroughly investigated yet. Assessment of pile response encountering sloping ground is still a challenging task. In the present study, experimental investigations were planned to examine the behaviour of pile group near sloping ground. The paper presents the results of series of 26 tests in medium sandy soils considering three ground slopes and four edge distances from the slope crest. Similarly, pile group response for horizontal ground condition was obtained for quantification of effect of sloping ground. Displacements and bending moments had considerable increment for pile group near slope. As the edge distance was increased, pile response was approaching to level ground case. From the measured bending moments, the p–y curves and p-multipliers were established for pile group near slope.