The horizontal capacity of circular and square sheet pile skirted foundations at various sand densities

Abstract

This paper presents the vertical and horizontal capacities of square and circular sheet pile foundations on various sand densities. The sheet pile foundation is a shallow footing that is skirted by sheet piles around the periphery. The skirt of the sheet pile foundation may lead the higher vertical and horizontal capacities than that of the shallow foundation. The results of vertical loading test from 1g test clearly demonstrate that both square and circular sheet pile foundations can substantially increase the vertical capacity of conventional shallow foundation on sand. The vertical capacity from the load-settlement characteristic of both square and circular sheet pile foundations were compared and discussed. Using the zero displacement concept of swipe test, a series of horizontal loading tests were then carried out with the aim of investigating the horizontal capacity of the foundation. The horizontal swipe tests performed with various sand densities were also carried out and discussed.