الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The main goal of the present investigation work is to study the load-settlement behavior of vertically loaded free-standing single piles and pile groups with rigid cap, different configurations, lengths, and pile spacing embedded in sand soil. The modulus of elasticity of sand soil increases linearly with depth. The experimental load-settlement curves were used to validate three different methods usually used for predicting the load-settlement curves of pile groups. These methods are: (1) Randolph equation; (2) Lee equation; and (3) Hybrid finite element load transfer and elastic continuum model. Good agreement was obtained between the results of Randolph and Lee equations and the experimental results for the single piles and pile groups with different configurations and different L/D and S/D ratios. Studying the effect of the different parameters such as pile spacing, pile length on the load-settlement behavior, efficiency, and stiffness of pile groups is presented. In additions an extended experimental program is carried out to investigate the effect of the order of installation of piles in the group on the load-settlement behavior of the pile groups with different configurations (3x3), (4x4), and (5x5). Finally the effect of removing the central pile from (3x3) pile group on the load-settlement behavior is studied. |