Lateral resistance of a pile installed near a reinforced slope

Abstract

Carpet shreds and carpet shred–soil mixtures can be used as alternative backfill material in many geotechnical applications. In this study an experimental testing programme was undertaken using small-scale model tests with the goal of evaluating the lateral resistance of a single pile located near a reinforcing sandy slope. A broad series of conditions including unreinforced cases was tested by varying parameters such as: carpet shred content (i.e. ratio of the weight of the shreds to weight of dry sand), aspect ratios of carpet shreds (ratio of length to width), pile distance from the slope crest, relative density of sand, angle of the slope, embedded length, skin friction and the cross-section of the pile. The carpet shred content and aspect ratio were found to influence the lateral resistance of a single pile located near the reinforcing sandy slope. The optimum carpet shred content and aspect ratio of carpet shred were 1·5 and 3 respectively, and with these values a good improvement in lateral resistance of piles was reached.