Lateral Load Analysis of Groups of Piles and Drilled Shafts

Abstract

Current procedures for designing groups of piles for lateral loading require the use of a computer or extensive manual computations. This paper presents a simple method (the group amplification procedure) for estimating pile group deflections and maximum bending moments based on the theories of Poulos, and Focht and Koch. The method is applicable to groups of drilled shafts as well as groups of piles. Group lateral deflections and the maximum bending moment in the most severely loaded pile in the group are estimated by multiplying the values for single piles by amplification factors (which have values larger than unity). Lateral deflections and maximum bending moments calculated using the group amplification procedure have been found to be in good agreement with values measured in field load tests.