Behaviour of flexible batter piles under inclined loads in layered soil

The behaviour of single free-head model flexible vertical and batter piles under central inclined loads in two-layered soil is investigated. The bearing capacity of the piles is found to depend on the layered structure, load inclination, and pile batter. The theoretical estimates obtained from semiempirical relations agree well with the test results. Previous displacement equations for flexible batter piles in elastic isotropic soil are modified for piles in anisotropic layered soil using an effective embedment depth of equivalent rigid piles. Practical equations for horizontal and vertical displacements of flexible batter piles are presented on the basis of resultant influence factors that are related to the batter angle, load inclination, and distribution of soil modulus with depth. The observed horizontal and vertical displacements of the piles are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical estimates, which are also supported by the results of some field cases. Key words : bearing capacity, deformati...