CYCLIC LATERAL LOADING OF PILES IN SOFT CLAY

Abstract

A series of model pile tests was carried out to study the pile response to cyclic lateral loads in soft clay. The piles were instrumented with strain gauges so that bending moments developed along the pile could be determined. In addition, the pile head lateral displacement and rotation were simultaneously recorded. The results obtained from the cyclic lateral pile tests were compared to numerically predicted pile response. The numerical analysis treated the pile as an elastic beam on non-linear springs whose characteristics were developed on the basis of the test results and depended on the number of stress cycles. The measured and predicted pile responses were also compared to predictions made using soil reaction criteria proposed by others, which proved to be less satisfactory. (A)