Effect of vertical loads on pile group response subjected to lateral cyclic loading with different configuration of piles: experimental study

Abstract

Many previous studies have mainly investigated only the effect of cyclic loading on the behaviour of group pile without taking in to account the influence of axial load in the other mean (without the effect of vertical load on the behaviour on the group pile), which is represented most realistic case. In addition, due to the large number of variables in soil and piles, which make these studies not fully understood, so deep studies of the behaviour of the group pile is needed. This study aiming to knowing the effect of axial load and piles shape on the performance of piles group under cyclic loads and identifying the best configuration of piles also to study the effect of pile spacing on lateral displacement under pure and combined loading. by developing cyclic laboratory system that can test the pile of group. Aluminium pile with slenderness ratio L/D of 40 in-groups (1×2), (2×1) is used in this study. The most important results explained that the presence of vertical loads on the pile group cap according to allowable vertical load capacity and the pile shape have positive effect. Where it is reducing the lateral displacement of the head group pile a rounded of 60 %and 30% respectively.