Two-Phase Approach for the Analysis of Laterally Loaded Pile Groups in Sandy Soils

Abstract

In this study, a new hybrid method is suggested for the analysis of laterally loaded pile groups in sandy soils. In the proposed method, a pile group is replaced by an equivalent single pile (ESP) using the concept of two-phase material. Perfect bonding hypothesis and linear elastic behavior are assigned in the application of the two-phase approach. The ESP is analyzed by employing an appropriate single-pile p-y method to obtain a bending moment profile of the laterally loaded pile group. The proposed approach is evaluated by the results of full-scale and centrifuge experimental tests. Good agreements between measured and computed bending moment profiles approved the adequacy of the proposed approach. The properties of the ESP depend on the flexibility factor and slenderness of each pile, as well as pile spacing in the group. The effect of all these parameters is reflected in a factor named κ-multiplier. The effects of various parameters on the κ-multiplier is investigated by parametric studies. Generally, the proposed method provides a simple procedure to analyze the complicated problem of laterally loaded pile groups.