STUDY OF ECCENTRIC LATERAL LOADING ON ROCK SOCKETED PILE GROUP

Abstract

Piles must always be built to carry lateral loads in addition to compressive and tensile stresses. In the present study, a 2 × 2 steel pile group is framed in poorly graded soil subjected to eccentric lateral load. A gradual load of 0 to 10 kN is applied on the steel pile group socketed in the M50 grade of concrete mass. The depth of socketing is varied from 0 to 3D to determine the optimum depth of socketing. The effect of eccentricity on lateral deflection is observed along the pile length. A total of 12 numerical models are formulated to simulate the pile subjected to lateral eccentric loading. The increase in depth of socketing (120 to 360 mm) increases the lateral deformation at the centroid of pile cap. The increase in eccentricity from 0 to 240 mm decreases the lateral deformation at the centroid of the pile cap and vice versa. The pile head deflection reduces consistently as eccentricity varies from 0 to 240 mm for the set of selected depth of socketing. The optimum lateral deflection is observed at depth of socketing of 120 mm for LS R > 4.The results obtained for the present study are compared with codal provisions validating the study with minimal rock's effect in soil covers. The evaluation of lateral load bearing capacity of rock socketed pile group plays a vital role in the development of foundation design embeds in geomaterials.