Bearing capacity of rigid piles under eccentric and inclined loads

Abstract

The ultimate bearing capacity of instrumented vertical single rigid model piles in homogeneous loose sand and soft clay under vertical eccentric and central inclined loads has been investigated. The results of these load tests provide a more realistic lateral soil pressure distribution on the pile shaft and better theoretical estimates of pile capacity under pure moment and under horizontal load. For intermediate eccentricities and inclinations of the load, the bearing capacity can be obtained from simple interaction relationships between the axial load and moment capacities and between the axial and horizontal load capacities, respectively. The influence of lateral soil pressures due to installation of displacement piles in clay is examined in relation to the ultimate load of the pile. The analyses are compared with the results of model tests and some field case records. Key words: bearing capacity, clay, eccentric loading, horizontal load, instrumentation, model test, pile, sand.