Influence of Vertical Loads on the Response of Laterally Loaded Piles In Medium Stiff Clay

This paper investigates the influence of vertical loads on laterally loaded piles. It includes laboratory model tests of steel piles embedded in medium stiff clay and a parametric study. The laboratory tests were performed at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Khartoum in Sudan. The parametric study considers the effects of different values of the vertical load and the length–to-diameter (L/d) ratio of the pile on the pile behavior. The performance of pile considered will include the ultimate lateral capacity of pile, the pile head deflection, load-maximum moment curves and the shear force along the length of the pile.