Combined Effect of Vertical and Horizontal Loads on the Behavior of Pile Foundations in Layered Soils

Abstract

AbstractPiles are generally used to carry both vertical and horizontal loads. For small lateral loads, the piles response is evaluated separately without considering their possible interaction of both lateral and vertical loads. In the construction of several offshore structures, the lateral loads are comparatively high where the combined effect of both vertical and lateral loads should be taken into account. As in practical conditions the natural soils are stratified and for the construction of high-rise buildings, pile foundations are to be used which emphasizes to analyze the behavior of piles in layered soils considering the combined effect of vertical and horizontal loads. In this study, numerical analysis was carried out considering the soil continuum behavior and non-linearity using the finite element geotechnical software Plaxis 3D. Single pile behavior subjected to combined lateral and vertical loads in case of layered soils has been discussed. It can be noted that by considering the effects of both these loads, it would lead to a more safe and cost-effective pile foundation design.KeywordsLateral loadsPlaxis 3DLateral pressurePile foundation