Experimental Study of Laterally Loaded Pile Group in Square Arrangement near Sloping Ground

Abstract

The prediction of the pile response near a slope has not been fully explored and remains challenging for designers. In this study, an experimental investigation is planned to explore the behavior of laterally loaded pile groups near sloping ground. This study will report the outcome of a series of 23 tests in sandy soils under three different relative densities, three ground slopes, and four positions of the pile group from the crest of the slope. Similarly, the response of a pile group in the level ground case will be examined to investigate the effect of sloping ground. The pile response in the form of displacements and moments will be considered for comparison. Compared with the leveled ground case, noticeable changes in the pile response were observed for the pile group near a slope. Pile deflection and maximum moments substantially increased for the pile group near a slope. As the edge distance from the slope crest increased, the pile response approached that of the level ground case. From the bending moment data at each load level, p–y curves, p-multipliers, and reduction factors are derived for sloping ground conditions.