Experimental study on partially tapered belled piles subjected to inclined load in sand

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the present investigation, several experiments are carried out on statically inclined compressive loads on model aluminium partially tapered belled piles (PTBP) and bored piles (BP). The partially tapered bell is formed by providing outer extension angle alpha (α) as 3°, 5° and 7° at the middle of every model pile. These tests are carried out on 1 × 1and 1 × 2 pile groups having L/D of 12, 17, and 22. The model piles tested in the relative density of medium dense (Rd = 39.5%) and dense sand (Rd = 70%) with spacing to diameter ratio (S/D) of 3, 4, and 5 to both BP and PTBP. The comparisons between PTBP and BP test results are expressed in the form of load-deflection curves. The effect of pile geometry, outer extension angle, pile spacing, and influence of relative density are carefully investigated. From the investigation, it is found that the optimum value of the L/D ratio is 22, α is 7° and the S/D ratio is 5Db, (Db is PTBP base diameter) this configuration achieved 41.46% greater load carrying capacity in the dense state of sand bed as compared with the medium dense state of sand bed with the same configuration.