Behavior of Pile in Sloped Grounds Under the Influence of Surcharge Loads

Abstract

In general, the pile foundations have extensive applications, and predominantly, pile is using at a place where large axial forces are transfers between superstructure and ground. In some cases, like an earthquake zone, liquefaction zone, structures in a massive wind zone, retaining structures, to increases the slope stability, etc., the primary role of the pile is to transfer both vertical and horizontal (lateral) forces. Based on the different applications of the pile foundations, it is showed as the study on the responses of the pile foundations due to axial and lateral forces are equally important. Many works of literature are available for the analysis of pile responses due to axial force, lateral forces and their combinations. The literature also indicates a lack in the studies of pile behaviors due to lateral soil movements, especially lateral soil movement due to the surcharge load. This present study is about the lateral responses of a free head pile in homogenous sandy soil medium at slope crest, under the influences of varying surcharge loads, ground slopes and relative densities of soil. Consider the varying surcharge loads at two different locations (A and B) with a constant span of 5 m to study its effects on the pile. The loading position A starts immediately from the end of the active wedge, and the loading position B starts from 10 m away from the end of the active wedge. Both the surcharge loading positions will ensure with and without interactions between the pressure bulb of surcharge loads and active wedge. This study considers the varying ground slope as (1V:1.5H, 1V:2H and 1V:2.5H) and relative densities of soil as 70%. Develop the two-dimensional finite element models with standard fixities boundary conditions in PLAXIS 2D and calculating the lateral responses of the pile at slope crest (bending moment and deflections) by considering various lateral forces (surcharges load and ground slopes) on it.KeywordsSurcharge loadsRelative density of soilSloped groundLateral soil movementHomogeneous sandy soilPLAXIS 2D