Behaviour Of Lateral Resistance Of Flexible Piles In Layered Soils

Abstract

Piles are structural members that are made of steel, concrete or timber.  They are used to build deep foundations and which cost more than shallow foundations.  Despite the cost, the use of pile is often necessary to ensure structural safety.  Some time piles are subjected to lateral load.   For example piles in Quay and Harbor structure.  Offshore structures have been built for oil production and for many other reasons in many parts of the world.  Their design involves the consideration of unusually large ratios of lateral load to vertical load, particularly in areas where severe storms occur.  The exact effect of the cyclic wave loading on the soil response conducted in analytical fashion is very complex.  It would be unrealistic to precisely follow in continuous fashion the path of this response.   The sources of lateral load on harbor structure are impact of ship and wave action and off shore structures are also subjected to wind and wave.  High rise building, tower are subjected to lateral load due to wind and earthquake forces.  So it is important to know the lateral load resistance capacity of pile foundation.  A key element in the design of laterally loaded piles is the determination of ultimate lateral resistance that can be exerted by the soil against the pile (Murff and Hamilton 1993).  For example, the ultimate lateral resistance is required for calculating p-y curves, which are used in the analysis of piles.  Several methods have been published for predicting the ultimate lateral resistance to piles in cohesion less soils (Brinch Hansen 1961; Broms 1964; Reese et al. 1974; Poulos and Davis 1980; Fleming et al. 1992).  However these methods often produce significantly different ultimate resistance values.  This makes it difficult for practicing engineers to effectively select the appropriate method when designing the laterally loaded piles in cohesion less soils.  In this thesis work lateral load carrying capacity of piles are calculated as per IS 2911 and the results obtained was compared with Broms method.