Lateral load tests to examine large-strain (seismic) behaviour of piles

Three different 406 mm diameter piles were tested with lateral, vertical, and moment loadings. The purpose of the full-scale field tests was to assess the ability of the piles to withstand large lateral deformations that may be caused by earthquake-induced soil liquefaction. Two concrete shaft piles were tested to failure with lateral displacements at the pile top of up to 300 and 650 mm and pile curvatures of up to 0.16 and 0.35 rad/m, respectively. The third pile, a concrete-filled steel pipe shaft pile, reached a maximum lateral displacement at the pile top of 550 mm and a curvature of 0.08 rad/m without failure or significant distress. It is concluded that stronger piles that push through the soil may tolerate larger lateral displacements than weaker piles and that reducing the spiral reinforcing pitch from 150to 100 mm on concrete piles greatly increases the pile ductility. Key words : lateral load test, piles, reinforced concrete, concrete-filled pipe, seismic, liquefaction, pile curvature.