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Behaviour of Laterally Loaded 1-g Single Model Pile in Soft
Clay with Sloping Ground

Comportement des pieux chargés latéralement modèle unique de 1 g dans l’argile molle avec sol
en pente

R. Deendayal, K. Muthukkumaran, T.G.Sitharam

R. Deendayal*1, Department of Civil Engineering, NIT, Tiruchirappalli, India. E-mail: deendayal@nitt.edu

K. Muthukkumaran2, Department of Civil Engineering, NIT, Tiruchirappalli, India.
T.G. Sitharam3, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.

ABSTRACT: In this paper, the results obtained from the tests conducted on a single model aluminium pile embedded in soft clay
(Consistency index Ic=0.42) with sloping ground, and subjected to static lateral loads under free pile head conditions are presented
and discussed. A series of laboratory model tests has been carried out on instrumented aluminium model pile of outer diameter of
25.46 mm and wall thickness of 1mm. The single model pile was embedded on sloping ground of 1V:1H, 1V:1.5H, 1V:2H, 1V:3H
and 1V:5H with different embedment length to diameter ratios (L/D= 20, 25 and 30). To quantify the effect of slopes, the tests were
also carried out on horizontal ground surface. From experimental results, the lateral load carrying capacity of pile, load–deflection
response of pile at pile head, effect of slopes and embedment length on pile capacity and bending moment profile along the pile shaft
was studied. The experimental results has been compared with those obtained from finite element analysis PLAXIS 3D and found to
be good agreement.

RÉSUMÉ : Dans cet article, les résultats obtenus par les tests réalisés sur un tas d’aluminium modèle unique intégrée dans l’argile
molle (indice de cohérence Ic = 0,42) mansardée au sol et soumis à des charges latérales statiques sous pile gratuit conditions de tête
sont présentées et discutées. Une série de tests de laboratoire modèle a été effectuée sur pieu modèle instrumenté en aluminium de
diamètre extérieur de 25,46 mm et épaisseur de paroi de 1mm. Le tas de modèle unique a été incorporé sur une pente au sol de 1V:1
H, 1V:1.5 H, 1V:2 H, 1V:3 H et 1V:5 H dont la longueur d’enfoncement différents ratios de diamètre (L/D = 20, 25 et 30). Afin de
quantifier l’effet des pentes, les essais ont été effectués également sur la surface du sol horizontal. Des résultats expérimentaux, la
capacité de charge latérale du pieu, réponse contrainte – déformation du pieu à tête de pieu, effet de pentes et de la longueur
d’enfoncement sur la capacité de la pile et le profil le long du fût du pieu de moment de flexion a été étudiée. Les résultats
expérimentaux a été comparé avec ceux obtenus par ele finie...
KEYWORDS: Model pile; soft clay; sloping ground; lateral load; finite element analysis

1. INTRODUCTION

In the case of coastal and offshore structures, pile foundation
are used extensively supporting axial loads and lateral loads
for variety of structures including high rise buildings,
transmission towers, power stations, offshore structures and
highway and railway structures. When these structures are
supported on deep foundations, the foundations have to be
designed for lateral loads. It is found that at various sites in the
coastal region, the top layer is soft clay with varying thickness
of 5.0 to 25m (Boominathan and Ayothiraman 2007). Most of
these structures are constructed in soft clay with gentle sloping
ground. These structures are subjected to lateral load due to,
violent wind action, wave action, earthquake and impact of
ships. Lateral loads are in the order of 10–15% of the vertical
loads in case of onshore structures and 25–30% in case of
coastal and offshore structures (Rao et al. 1998).An early
research on single pile shows that the ultimate capacity of pile
was estimated assuming the deformations would be acceptable
if an adequate factor of safety against ultimate failure was used
to determine the allowable load capacity. The work of Matlock
and Reese (1960) can be considered as one of the first attempts
to understand laterally loaded pile behaviour. They have
developed the solutions for soil reaction, bending moments and
deflections for both short and long piles. Broms (1964)
developed a solution for the ultimate lateral resistance of the
pile assuming the distribution of lateral pile soil pressure and
considering the statics of the problem. Poulos and Davis (1980)
illustrated the influence of the pile soil system's relative
stiffness on the behaviour of a single pile in terms of a relative
stiffness factor (Krc)=EpIp/EsL4, where Ep=modulus of elasticity
of pile material; Ip= moment of inertia of pile section;
Es=average soil modulus; and L=depth of embedment of pile.
The pile is said to be rigid if Krcis greater than 10-2 and flexible
if Krcis less than 10-2. Rajashree and sundaravaduveli (1996)
reported analysis of laterally loaded pile in soft clay, idealizing
the pile as beam element and the soil by non-linear inelastic
spring element, modelled with elasto- plastic sub elements. Rao
et al. (1996) carried out tests on model groups of piles to
support dolphin-type structures. Static load tests have been
conducted on instrumented model pile groups embedded in a
marine clayey bed. The spacing between piles, number of piles
in a group, and arrangement of pile group with respect to the
direction of lateral loading have been varied. Rao et al. (1998)
conducted experiments on pile groups and studied the influence
of parameters like flexural rigidity of pile material, embedment
length of pile and arrangement of piles on the behaviour of
laterally loaded pile groups.Ng et al. (2001) studied the
influence of laterally loaded sleeved piles and pile groups of
slope stability. The stability of the slope was evaluated using the
strength reduction technique. Ilyas et al.(2004) conducted a
series of centrifuge model tests to examine the behavior of
laterally loaded pile groups of 2, 2×2, 2×3, 3×3, and 4×4 piles
with a center-to-center spacing of three or five times the pile
width in normally consolidated and over consolidated kaolin
clay. Boominathan and Ayothiraman (2007) carried out the
static and dynamic lateral load tests on model aluminium single
piles embedded in soft clay to study their bending behaviour.

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 Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Seoul 2017

The results indicated that the maximum dynamic bending bending moment M for each strain value can be obtained by
moment of pile in soft clay is about 1.5 times higher than the using equation (1)
maximum static bending moment.Muthukkumaran et al. (2008) ∗ (1)
conducted the laboratory experiments on sand with different Where C– bending constant (1 micro strain =30.453 N-mm)
relative densities to study the effect of slope angle on lateral ε – Strain (micro strain).
load capacity of pile and pile groups and studied the effect of
relative density on bending moment, lateral soil resistance and 3. EXPERIMENTAL SET UP AND TEST PROCEDURE
lateral deflection due to surcharge load and finally developed p-
y design curve in non–dimensional form. Georgiadis and The dimension of test tank is decided based on influence zone
Georgiadis (2010) carried out three-dimensional finite element of soil mass from pile. It is 10 times the pile diameter in the
analyses to study the behavior of piles embedded in cohesive direction of loading for piles under static lateral load (Poulos
sloped ground under undrained lateral loading conditions. New and Davis 1980; Rao et al. 1998). Hence, the static lateral load
p-y criteria for static loading of piles in clay are proposed, tests are conducted in a test tank having dimension 2m × 1m ×
which takes into account the inclination of the slope and the 1m placed on a loading platform. The static lateral load is
adhesion of the pile-slope interface. Georgiadis and Georgiadis applied by means of dead weights placed on a hanger connected
(2012) carried out three-dimensional finite element analyses to a flexible steel wire, strung over a frictionless pulley
using Plaxis 3D and presented the response of laterally loaded supported by a loading platform as shown in the Fig.1.The clay
piles of different geometries, installed at several distances from sample was collected from coastal district of Tamil nadu (India)
slopes of various inclinations. From analysis, p–y curves are for present study. The laboratory tests like sieve analysis,
developed for the case of undrained lateral loading of piles near hydrometer analysis and Atterberg limits and were carried out
the crest of clay slopes and implemented the p-y curve into a to classify the soil. And the undrained shear strength of the clay
commercial subgrade reaction computer code to perform a was also determined by conducting the laboratory vane shear
series of parametric numerical analyses. Sawant and Shukla test. The complete physical properties of soil are presented in
(2013) carried out three-dimensional finite element analysis to Table 1.
investigate the effect of edge distance from the slope crest of a
laterally loaded pile embedded in clayey soil of soft to medium
consistency in the sloping ground for different slope angles and
pile lengths. Muthukkumaran (2014) conducted the laboratory
model tests to study the effect of slope and loading direction on
laterally loaded piles in cohesionless soil. From the
experimental investigation, it is observed that if the pile is
placed 15 times the pile diameter away from the slope crest
within the embankment, the influence of slope in the lateral-
load capacity is almost negligible under both forward and
reverse lateral load.
From the literature it is clear that only very few limited research
works have been carried out on piles subjected to lateral load in
sloping and the behaviour of pile embedded on crest of soft clay
requires further study. Therefore, this paper aims to fill this gap
through a comprehensive experimental investigation carried out
on single piles embedded in soft clay under static lateral load.
Fig.1 Experimental set-up
2. MODEL PILE INSTRUMENTATION
The clay sample was collected from coastal district of Tamil
An aluminium pipe pile having a length of 810mm and outer
nadu (India) for present study. The laboratory tests like sieve
diameter of 25.46 mm with 1 mm wall thickness was used as a
analysis, hydrometer analysis and Atterberg limits and were
model pile. The modulus of elasticity (E=5.0117x 104N/mm2)
carried out to classify the soil. And the undrained shear strength
and flexural rigidity of the pile (EI=2.885 x 108 N-mm2) were
of the clay was also determined by conducting the laboratory
obtained by conducting simple bending test. To get the accurate
vane shear test. The complete physical properties of soil are
results, different loading cases were considered. The moment of
presented in Table 1.
inertia of the pile (I) was estimated as 5756.45mm4and
Poisson’s ratio () as 0.3.The model pile (aluminium pipe) was Table 1. Physical properties of soil
instrumented with electrical resistance type strain gauges
having gauge length of 3 mm, gauge factor (K) of 2 and Properties Values
resistance (R) of 120 ohms. The strain gauges were pasted on
one side of pile with its axis parallel to the pile axis forming full Gravel 0%
bridge. The strain gauges were placed at a minimum spacing of Sand 5.1%
50mm apart with bottom gauge placed 50mm above the pile toe Silt 38%
and top gauge placed 60mm below the pile head. Strain gauges
were calibrated for bending moment along the pile length by Clay 56.9%
conducting a simple bending test considering simply supported Specific Gravity(G) 2.61
ends. The strain response was found to be linear with the
bending moment for the applied load for all the strain gauges Liquid Limit (LL) 75%
pasted in the pile. The calibration constant was obtained from Plastic Limit(PL) 35%
the slope of the straight line. An average value of linear Unit Weight of soil(γ) 17.8 kN/m3
response of all the strain gauges has been taken as bending
constant and found to be 30.453 N-mm per micro strain. The Undrained shear strength (Su) 10 kN/m2

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 Technical Committee 104 / Comité technique 104

different slopes.
The soil is classified as fat clay (CH) as per ASTM D2487-06.
The clay was mixed in a separate mixing tank with the required
amount of water to get the soft consistency (Consistency index
Ic=0.42) of a typical clay deposit in coastal region of Tamilnadu
(India) and kept for two days for homogeneous mixing. In the
present study, the clay bed was prepared similar to the
procedure adopted by Rao et al. (1998) and Chandrasekaran et
al. (2010).

4. MODELLING OF PILE AND SOIL MEDIA

The finite element modelling and analysis has been carried out
using a software package, PLAXIS 3D FOUNDATION, a finite
element code for soil and rock analyses.The Mohr-Coulomb
analysis is quick and simple and secondly as the procedure
tends to reduce errors, hence the Mohr – Coulomb model is
used for the present analysis. The procedure to perform an
Fig. 3 Lateral load-displacement curves for L/D 20 for 1V:1H, 1V:2H
analysis with PLAXIS 3D Foundation includes the creation of a and 1V:5H slopes
geometry model, material properties, mesh generation, defining
and executing calculation and evaluation of results The Mohr- From this figures, it is observed that as L/D ratio increases, the
Coulomb model requires basically five parameters (Es, , c, , lateral load capacity increases significantly for both the cases
, ), which can be obtained from basic tests on soil samples. experimental and FE analyses(Plaxis 3D). It is also observed
The average undrained cohesive strength (Cu) of soil was that horizontal ground surface soil surface carries more load as
determined from laboratory vane shear test and found to be compare to sloping ground for all L/D ratios. This reduction in
10kpa. To represent the characteristics of the soil media as pile capacity for sloping ground is due to the reduction in
realistically as possible, the soil modulus has been related to the passive resistance of the soil infront of the pile.The variation of
undrained cohesive strength of clay and taken as Es=750Cu experimental and numerical results is about 5% to 9% for all the
(Gaba A.R. et al,2003).To avoid complication and better cases which is acceptable range.
calculation the value friction angle () and dilatancy angle is
taken as very small 0.5 degrees. The Poisson’s ratio() for 5.2 Effect of L/D ratio on pile capacity
undrained soft clay is assumed to be as 0.35 and the interface
strength reduction factor(Rinter) for soft clay is taken as 0.5. A Figs.4 show the typical variation of lateral load capacity of pile
convergency study is carried out for different sizes of mesh like with L/D ratios for 1V:1H and 1V:1.5H slopes.
very coarse, coarse, medium, fine and very fine. From the
convergency study it is observed that the very fine mesh size
shows very good agreement with the experimental values and
hence the very fine mesh size has been taken for the entire
analysis. Fig.2 show the typical discretization of finite element
mesh (very fine size mesh) for soil model of L/D 20 for 1H: 1V
sloping ground.

Fig.4 Effect of L/D ratios on pile capacity for 1V:1H and 1V:1.5H
slopes

From these figures, it is observed that the increase in L/D ratio

Fig.2 PLAXIS 3D generated very fine mesh for 1H: 1V slope (L/D 20)
5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.1 Load-deflection behaviour of pile
The lateral load behaviour of the single pile is studied by using
lateral load–deflection curves. The curves are drawn between
the lateral load and deflection at pile head. Figs.3 show the
Plaxis 3D comparison with experimental results for L/D 20 for
increases the lateral load capacity and decrease in L/D ratio
decreases the pile capacity irrespective of slopes. It is observed
that the lateral load capacity decreases when L/D ratio changes
from 30 to 25 or 30 to 20 for all the cases irrespective of
sloping ground surfaces.
5.3 Effect of slope on pile capacity
Fig.5. shows the effect of slopes on pile capacity for different
L/D ratios.

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 Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Seoul 2017
Fig.5 Effect of slopes on pile capacity for different L/D ratios
It is observed that when the ground surface changes from
horizontal to 1V:5H or 1V:3H or 1V:2H or 1V:1.5H or 1V:1H
slopes, the lateral load capacity are significantly reduces for all
the L/D ratios. The experimental results found to be good
agreement with finite element analysis (Plaxis 3D).
6. CONCLUSION
The results obtained from the experiments and FE analysis
using Plaxis 3D carried out on single model aluminium pileon
soft clay with sloping ground subjected to static lateral loads are
presented and discussed.
1. The lateral load capacity is significantly reduced when the
ground surface changes from horizontal to slope. The horizontal
ground surface soil carries more loads as compare to sloping
ground for all L/D ratios. This reduction in pile capacity for
sloping ground is due to the reduction in passive resistance of
the soil infront of the pile. When ground surface changes from
horizontal to 1V:5H or 1V:3H or 1V:2H or 1V:1.5H or 1V:1H
slopes; the percentage reduction in pile capacity is in the range
of 1.5 to 52 %, 1.2 to 47% and 2 to 37.5% for L/D 20, 25 and
30 respectively.
2. When ground surface changes from horizontal to 1V:5H
slope, the behaviour of pile is almost like horizontal ground
surface. The percentage reduction in pile capacity is in the
range of 1.5 to 2 % only and it is observed for all L/D ratios 20,
25 and 30. So, it is concluded that if slope angle is less than
1V:5H (11.30 degrees), the effect of slope is almost negligible
on lateral load pile capacity of pile in soft clay.
3. The increase in L/D ratio increases the lateral load capacity
and decrease in L/D ratio decreases the pile capacity. When
ground surface changes from L/D 30 to L/D 25, the percentage
reduction in pile capacity is in the range of 40 to 50% and when
ground surface changes L/D 30 to L/D 20, the percentage
reduction in pile capacity is in the range of 65 to 72 %
irrespective of sloping ground surfaces.
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