Static Equilibrium of Screw Anchor Pile Under Lateral Load in Sands

Abstract

The screw anchor piles are installed in ground by screwing which is done with the help of torque motors. In this paper, the lateral load capacity of screw anchor piles is examined through an experimental investigation carried on model piles embedded in dry sand. The tests were carried on screw anchor piles with different number of helices provided in continuation. Lateral loads were applied at different height above the soil surface. The embedment length of screw anchor piles was also varied to study the behaviour of screw anchor piles under lateral loads. Some tests were conducted on plain shaft pile to compare the lateral load capacity of screw anchor piles with that of plain shaft piles. An empirical equation for computation of lateral loads has been developed considering lateral resistance, bearing resistance, uplift resistance and lateral resistance offered by soil in pile on the basis of experimental results. A theoretical model for predicting lateral load capacity of screw anchor piles in dry sand, consistent with the experimental findings has been developed in this study.