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Effect of pile cap elevation below ground surface on lateral resistance of pile
groups-experimental study

Article in International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering · January 2009

DOI: 10.3328/IJGE.2009.03.01.21-28

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 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

ISSN: 1938-6362 (Print) 1939-7879 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/yjge20

Effect of pile cap elevation below ground surface

on lateral resistance of pile groups-experimental
study

Basuony El-Garhy, Maher El-Nemr & Ibrahim Shalaby

To cite this article: Basuony El-Garhy, Maher El-Nemr & Ibrahim Shalaby (2009) Effect of pile
cap elevation below ground surface on lateral resistance of pile groups-experimental study,
International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 3:1, 21-28, DOI: 10.3328/IJGE.2009.03.01.21-28

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 21
Basuony El-Garhy, Maher El-Nemr, and Ibrahim Shalaby
1* 2 3

Effect of pile cap elevation below ground

surface on lateral resistance of pile
groups-experimental study

Abstract: This paper presents the results of experimental study on model piles to show the effect of pile cap elevation below
the ground surface and pile spacing on lateral resistance of single pile and pile groups driven in sand. Thirty five tests were
performed on single piles and 2 × 2, 3 × 3, 4 × 4 pile groups at pile spacing equal to 3D and 5D with pile cap located at different
elevation below the ground surface. Five cases for pile cap elevation were considered: case 1, bottom of pile cap in contact with
the ground surface; case 2, top of pile cap at the ground surface elevation; case 3, bottom of pile cap below the ground surface
at a depth where Df /t equal 2; case 4, bottom of pile cap below the ground surface at a depth where Df /t equal 3.33; and case
5, bottom of pile cap below the ground surface at a depth where Df /t equal 6.67. In all the studied cases, the pile tips located at
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the same elevation. The results of the tests show that the lateral carrying capacity of single pile and pile groups increase as the
pile cap depth below the ground surface, Df , increases and as the spacing between piles in the group increases.

Keywords: model tests; Lateral load; single pile; pile group; elevation of pile cap; pile cap resistance.

1 INTRODUCTION
Pile caps are usually massive concrete blocks poured directly
on the soil after the piles for the group have been driven.
Most of pile caps may be partially or fully embedded in
the soil. However, the contribution of pile caps to lateral
resistance of pile groups is often neglected in the design.
Neglecting cap resistance can result in conservative estimates
of pile groups deflections and lateral loads. The behavior of
pile groups subjected to lateral loads can be estimated more
accurately in design if the lateral resistance of pile caps is
understood.
In the literature, a few tests have been conducted to
measure the resistance of pile caps to lateral loads. In most of
*Corresponding Author
Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of
1
Engineering, Minufiya University, Shebin El-Koom, Egypt.
Tel: (+967) 734545564; Fax: (+967) 1374013;
E-mail: belgarhy@hotmail.com
Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering Department,
2 below the ground surface at pile spacing of 3D and 5D. The
Faculty of Engineering, Minufiya University, Shebin El-Koom, Egypt.
Tel: (+2048) 223-5696; Fax: (+2048) 223-5695;
E-mail: profelnemr@hotmail.com
Graduate student, Civil Engineering Department,
3
Faculty of Engineering, Minufiya University, Shebin El-Koom, Egypt.
E-mail: ishalaby@hotmail.com
these tests, the cap resistance was found to be as large as the
lateral resistance provided by the piles in the group (Beatty
1970; Kim et al. 1979; McVay et al. 2000; Budiman and Ahn
2005; Rollins and Cole 2006; Rollins et al. 2006). However,
the results of the tests didn’t provide sufficient information
for developing a method for including cap resistance in
design calculations. Mokwa and Duncan (2001) performed
full-scale lateral-load tests on single piles and pile groups
with pile caps embedded in stiff natural soil and backfilled
with granular soil. The results of these tests showed that pile
caps provide significant resistance to lateral load. A static
lateral load test on a full-scale 3 × 3 pile group driven in
saturated low-plasticity silts and clays with a gravel backfill
compacted in place on the backside of the cap was performed
by Rollins and Sparks (2002). The results showed that the
passive resistance contributed about 40% of the total lateral
resistance of the pile group.
The experimental research presented herein was planned
to study the behavior of laterally loaded single piles and pile
groups with pile caps embedded in sand at different depths
principal objectives of the experimental tests were: (1) to
study the effect of pile cap depth below the ground surface
(i.e., the distance from the ground surface to the bottom of
pile cap, Df , as shown in Figure 1) on the lateral resistance
of single piles and pile groups, (2) to study the effect of pile

International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (2009) 3: (21-28) J. Ross Publishing, Inc. © 2009
DOI 10.3328/IJGE.2009.03.01.21-28
 22 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

Table 1 Details of the experimental program for single piles

GS and pile groups
Df
t Studied cases Number
Pile of tests
Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5
spacing
Single pile with pile cap (5x5 cm) 5
2x2 2x2 2x2 2x2 2x2 5
D f = depth of pile cap below GS piles piles piles piles piles
3x3 3x3 3x3 3x3 3x3 5
t = thickness of pile cap 3D
piles piles piles piles piles
4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 5
Figure 1. Definitions of parameters
Figure 1. Definitions of parameters piles piles piles piles piles
2x2 2x2 2x2 2x2 2x2 5
piles piles piles piles piles
spacing on the lateral resistance of pile groups, and (3) to
acquire data that can be used to develop a rational procedure 3x3 3x3 3x3 3x3 3x3 5
5D
piles piles piles piles piles
for estimating the contribution of pile cap to the lateral resis-
4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 5
tance of pile groups with pile caps embedded in sand. piles piles piles piles piles

base as shown in Figure 3. The tank dimensions were selected

2 EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
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to ensure no effects of the boundary walls on the behavior of

The testing program consists of thirty five experiments for
single piles and pile groups. The configuration of the tested
pile groups are 2 × 2, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4 at pile spacing of 3D and
5D. The detailed experimental program is shown in Table 1.
For the tested single piles and pile groups, five cases for the
depth of pile cap below the ground surface were considered.
Case 1, the bottom of the pile cap in contact with the ground
surface; case 2, the top of the pile cap at the ground surface;
case 3, the bottom of the pile cap below the ground surface at
a depth where Df /t equal 2; case 4, the bottom of the pile cap
below the ground surface at a depth where Df /t equal 3.33;
and case 5, the bottom of the pile cap below the ground sur-
face at a depth where Df /t equal 6.67. These cases are shown
in Figure 2. In all the studied cases, the piles tips were at 60
cm depth below the ground surface. Therefore, the lengths of
the piles were different in each case as shown in Figure 2.
3 DESCRIPTION OF MODEL COMPONENTS
AND TEST PROCEDURE
The following sections present the detailed description of the
model components (i.e., tested soil, model piles, pile caps,
measuring devices) and test procedure.
3.1 Steel Tank
The tank was steel box of dimensions 1.0 m (length) × 1.0 m
(width) × 1.0 m (height). The steel tank resting on a movable
rolling frame base and stiffened by four horizontal stiffeners
(i.e., ∟ 40 × 40) at 0, 20, 50, and 85 cm levels from the bottom
the piles. In all the experiments, the distance from the piles
to the tanke wall greater than 12 times the pile diameter in
the direction of loading and in the perpendicular direction,
the distance from piles to the tank wall grater than 4 times
the pile diameter. Therefore, the edge effects is insignificant
according to the cerateria of Prakash and Sharma (1990).
3.2 Main Frame
The dimensions of the main frame were 1.5 m (clear width)
× 2.15 m (clear height), and consists of two vertical columns
and horizontal beam. Each column has cross section of
CHANNEL NO. 140 mm and fixed in the concrete floor as
shown in Figure 3.
3.3 Loading System
A hydraulic jack was used to generate vertical load. To con-
vert the vertical load generated by the hydraulic jack to hori-
zontal load at different levels of pile caps, an anchor table was
designed as shown in Figure 3. The hydraulic jack was used
manually to produce the specified load increment.
3.4 Tested Sand
The soil medium used in the present study was sand. Based
on the grain size distribution curve, the tested sand classi-
fied as poorly graded sand, SP, according to the unified soil
classification system (USCS). The direct shear tests were car-
ried out on the tested sand following the ASTM standard to
determine the angle of internal friction. The angle of internal
friction was measured to be 41.5 degrees at bulk density
 Effect of pile cap elevation below ground surface on lateral resistance of pile groups-experimental study 23

t GS Df GS

60 cm 58.5 cm
Foundation Foundation
sand sand

Case 1: t = 1.5 cm Case 2: D f / t = 1.0

GS GS
Df Df

57 cm Foundation 55 cm Foundation
sand sand
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Case 3: D f / t = 2.0 Case 4: D f / t = 3.33

GS
Df

Foundation
50 cm sand

Case 5: D f / t = 6.67

Figure 2. Studied cases of pile caps elevations below the ground surface (not to scale)

Figure 2. Studied cases of pile cap elevations below the ground surface (not to scale)

of 18 kN/m3 . The relative density test was also carried out
to determine the maximum and the minimum sand unit
weights. The maximum and the minimum unit weights of
the tested sand were measured to be 18.97 kN/m3 and 16.36
kN/m3, respectively. For the natural unit weight of 18 kN/m3,
the relative denisty of the tested sand was calculated to be
66%. Therefore, the tested sand was calsified as dense sand
according to the Egyption code (2001).
3.5 Model Piles
The model piles used in the test experiments were steel hol-
low pipes of 10 mm outside diameter and 1.5 mm wall thick-
ness. The modulus of elasticity of the steel pipe is 2.135x108
kN/m2 as determind from the data sheet of the technical
department of the manifactured company. The minimum
length of the piles used in the present experiments were 50
cm as shown in Figure 2. Therefore, the piles is considered
 24 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Main Frame
Hydraulic
jack
Dial
Pile group gauge
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Anchor
table Steel tank
1.0x1.0x1.0
Figure 3. Photo shows the model components
to behave as long pile according to the cerateria of Matlock
and Reese (1961).
3.6 Pile Caps
A rigid steel plates of 15 mm thickness were used for caps.
The piles were embedded enough and fixed rigidly to the
caps so that no rotation takes place in the pile head. The caps
were punched at equal spaces of 3D and 5D (where D = pile
diameter) center to center to represent the different configra-
tion of pile groups. The dimensions of the caps for the tested
single piles and pile groups are presented in Table 2.
3.7 Measuring Devices
One dial gauge of 0.01 mm accuracy was mounted over
the test model to measure the lateral deflection of the caps
located at different elevations below the ground surface. To
overcome the problem of measuring the lateral deflections of
pile caps below the ground surface, a very smooth solid cir-
cular steel bar of 8 mm diameter passes through a hole in the
wall of the tank was used. Five holes were punched in the wall
Table 2 Dimensions of the caps for the tested single piles
and pile groups
Dimensions of pile caps (mm)
Piles configration
S/D = 3 S/D = 5
Single Pile 50 x 50
2 x 2 Pile group 60 x 60 80 x 80
3 x 3 Pile group 90 x 90 130 x 130
4 x 4 Pile group 120 x 120 180 x 180
of the tank for the five tested cases of cap elevations. A speci-
fied device consists of two arms was used to fix the dial gauge
as shown in Figure 3. The first arm was connected at one of
its end to a small magnetic steel cubic which was used to fix
the device to the wall of the tank. The dial gauge was fixed
to the second arm and the two arms were connected to each
other by a movable articulated joint. The movable articulated
joint system has the ability to support the dial gauge at any
elevation where the second arm has been enabled to move
forward and backward along the first arm and also rotate
around it in all directions.
3.8 Test Procedure
The test was started by placing the sand in the steel tank in
layers. The maximum layer thickness was 100 mm. The total
height of the tank was divided into intervals from the inner
side by making signs every 100 mm height to help to put a
specified weight in a known volume to get the required sand
density of 18 kN/m3 by compaction. A pre-weighted quantity
of sand was compacted in the tank and the compaction con-
tinued until the soil fill the first 100 mm height. A steel arm
with circular plate of 150 mm diameter and 8 mm thickness
was used for compaction. The process was repeated until
reaching the test tank height (i.e., 950 mm). The last layer
was 50 mm thickness to avoid soil overflowing during the
compaction preocess. Wooden template was used for each
pile group to keep the pile spacing equal to the designed pile
spacing. The piles were installed into the tested sand by driv-
ing. A steel hammer weighting 0.005 kN was used to achieve
uniform stroke for the pile driving to reach the required
elevation. To avoid flattening of the pile head during driv-
ing, a nut was attached to the top of the pile. The verticality
of the piles were checked during driving process by using
spirit level in both x and y directions. After driving all piles
of the group, the cap was fixed to the piles by using two nuts
for each pile one above and the other below the pile cap. The
load increment was 0.05 kN per pile in the group and the
loading continues till reaching the failure load. Each load
increment was maintained for a minimum of 10 minutes.
 Effect of pile cap elevation below ground surface on lateral resistance of pile groups-experimental study 25

300
1.6
Single pile
1.4 250

% Lateral load increase

Case 1
Case 2
1.2
Lateral Load (kN)

Case 3 200
1.0 Case 4
Case 5
150
0.8
0.6 100
Single pile
0.4 Load at 10 mm deflection
50
0.2 Load at 25 mm deflection
0
0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
0 20 40 60 80 100
Deflection (mm) Df/t

Figure 4. Load-deflection curves of single piles for the five cases of

Figure 4. Load-deflection curves of single piles Figure
Figure 5. Effect
5. Effect of Df onof D f loads
lateral on lateral loads
for single for
pile at 10 single
mm and 25
pile cap elevations mm lateral deflections
for the five cases of pile cap elevations pile at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections
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4 ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
The experimental results of load deflection curves for single
piles and pile groups are analyzed and discussed. To show
the effect of pile cap depth below the ground surface, Df, on
the lateral loads of single pile and pile groups at 10 mm and
25 mm lateral deflections, a non-dimensional relationships
are plotted between the lateral loads in terms of % lateral
load increase [Eq. (1)] and pile cap depth below the ground
surface in terms of Df /t (where t is the thickness of pile cap).
The values of 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections are con-
sidered acceptable deflections at working and ultimate loads,
respectively (Bowles 1996; McVay et al. 2000).
% Lateral load increase
Lateral load of case i  Lateral load of case 1
u 100
Lateral load of case 1
Where i = the case number
4.1 Single Piles
Five tests for the five cases of pile caps elevations were per-
formed on single piles with square caps of dimensions 5 × 5
cm. Figure 4 shows the load-deflection curves of single piles
for the 5 cases of pile cap elevations. As shown in Figure 4,
the lateral carrying capacity of single pile increases as the
pile cap depth below the ground surface, Df , increases. The
increase in the lateral resistance may be attributed to the
increase of passive resistance in the front of pile cap and the
increase of friction resistance on the top surface of the pile
cap as the Df increases.
Figure 5 shows the effect of pile cap depth below the
ground surface, Df , on the lateral load of single pile at 10
mm and 25 mm lateral deflections. Referring to Figure 5
it is observed that: (1) the lateral load increases approxi-
mately linear as the pile cap depth below the ground surface
increases and (2) the rate of increase in the lateral load at 10
mm lateral deflection larger than the rate of increase at 25
mm lateral deflection (e.g., at 10 mm lateral deflection the
percentage of lateral load increase for case 5 is 265% while
at 25 mm lateral deflection the percentage of lateral load
increase for case 5 is 195%).
4.2 2 x 2 Pile Groups
Ten tests were performed on 2 × 2 pile group. Five experi-
ments for the 5 cases of pile cap elevation at S/D ratio of 3
and the other five experiments at S/D ratio of 5. Figures 6 and
(1) 7 show the load-deflection curves of 2 × 2 pile groups for the
5 cases of pile cap elevations below the ground surface at S/D
ratios of 3 and 5, respectively. As shown in these Figures: (1)
the lateral carrying capacity of 2 × 2 pile group increases as
the pile cap depth below the ground surface increases and as
the pile spacing increases, (2) at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral
deflections, the increase of pile spacing from 3D to 5D causes
an increase in the lateral loads of 2 × 2 pile group from 7.3%
to 25.9% and from 8.8% to 17.6%, respectively.
Figure 8 shows the effect of pile cap depth below the
ground surface on the lateral loads of 2 × 2 pile group at 10
mm and 25 mm lateral deflections for S/D ratios of 3 and 5.
Referring to Figure 8, it is observed that: (1) the lateral load
increases approximately linear as the depth of pile cap below
the ground surface increases up to the pile cap depth of case
3, after that the rate of increase decreases, (2) the rate of
increase in the lateral load at 10 mm deflection greater than
the rate of increase at 25 mm lateral deflection (e.g., at 3D
pile spacing and 10 mm lateral deflection, the percentage of
 26 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

3.0 250

2.5

% Lateral load increase

200
Lateral Load (kN)

2.0
150
1.5
2x2 Piles
100
1.0 Case 1
Case 2 2x2 pile group

0.5
Case 3
50 Load at 10 mm deflection, S/D = 3
Case 4 Load at 10 mm deflection, S/D = 5
Load at 25 mm deflection, S/D = 3
Case 5
Load at 25 mm deflection, S/D = 5
0.0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Deflection (mm) Df/t

Figure
Figure 6.6. Load-deflection
Load-deflection curves
curves for forgroup
2 x 2 pile 2x2atpile group
different cases Figure 8. Effect of Df on lateral loads for 2 x 2 pile group at 10 mm and
Figure 8. Effect of D f on lateral loads for 2x2 pile
ofat different
pile cases
cap elevations of= pile
(S/D 3) cap elevations (S/D = 3) 25 mm lateral deflections
group at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections
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3.5 6.0

3.0
5.0
Lateral Load (kN)

2.5
Lateral Load (kN)

4.0
2.0
3.0
1.5 2x2 Piles
Case 1 2.0 3x3 Piles
1.0 Case 2 Case 1

Case 3 Case 2

0.5 Case 4 1.0 Case 3

Case 4
Case 5
Case 5

0.0 0.0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 10 20 30 40
Deflection (mm) Deflection (mm)

Figure
Figure 7. Load-deflection
7. Load-deflection curves forcurves for
2 x 2 pile 2x2at pile
group group
different cases
Figure 9. Load-deflection curves for 3x3 pile group
Figure 9. Load-deflection curves for 3 x 3 pile group at different cases
of pile cap elevations (S/D = 5) of pile cap elevations (S/D = 3)
at different cases of pile cap elevations (S/D = 5) at different cases of pile cap elevations (S/D = 3)
lateral load increase for case 5 is 218% while at 25 mm lateral of 3 × 3 pile group from 9.8% to 19.8% and from 2.5% to 19%,
deflection, the percentage of lateral load increase for case 5 respectively.
is 130%). Figure 11 shows the effect of pile cap depth below the
ground surface, Df , on the lateral loads of 3 × 3 pile group
4.3 3 x 3 Pile Groups at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections and S/D ratios of
3 and 5. Referring to Figure 11, it is observed that: (1) the
Ten tests were performed on 3 × 3 pile groups. Five experi-
lateral load increases approximately linear as the pile cap
ments were conducted at S/D ratio of 3 and five experiments
depth below the ground surface increases from case 1 to case
at pile spacing of 5D. Figures 9 and 10 show the load-deflec-
4 then the lateral load slightly increases between case 4 and
tion curves at S/D ratios of 3 and 5, respectively. As shown
case 5, and (2) larger increase in lateral resistance observed at
in these Figures: (1) the lateral carrying capacity of 3 × 3 pile
smaller deflection, in case of 3D pile spacing and 10 mm lat-
group increases as the depth of pile cap below the ground
eral deflection, the percentage of lateral load increase for case
surface increases and as the pile spacing increases, and (2)
5 is 137% and at larger deflection (i.e. 25 mm), the percentage
at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections, the increase of pile
of lateral load increase for case 5 is 106%.
spacing from 3D to 5D causes an increase in the lateral loads
 Effect of pile cap elevation below ground surface on lateral resistance of pile groups-experimental study 27

6.0 10.0
9.0
5.0
8.0
Lateral Load (kN)

Lateral Load (kN)

4.0 7.0
6.0
3.0 5.0
3x3 Piles
4.0 4x4 Piles
2.0 Case 1 Case 1
Case 2
3.0 Case 2

1.0
Case 3
2.0 Case 3
Case 4 Case 4
Case 5 1.0 Case 5

0.0 0.0
0 10 20 30 40 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Deflection (mm) Deflection (mm)

Figure 10. Load-deflection curves for 3 x 3 pile group at different cases Figure 13. Load-deflection curves for 4 x 4 pile group at different cases
Figure 10. Load-deflection curves for 3x3 pile group Figure
of pile cap13. Load-deflection
elevations (S/D = 5) curves for 4x4 pile group
of pile cap elevations (S/D = 5)
at different cases of pile cap elevations (S/D = 5) at different cases of pile cap elevations (S/D = 5)
150 125
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% Lateral load increase

125 100
% Lateral load increase

100
75
75
50
50 4x4 pile group
3x3 pile group

Load at 10 mm deflection, S/D = 3

25 Load at 10 mm deflection, S/D = 3
25 Load at 10 mm deflection, S/D = 5
Load at 10 mm deflection, S/D = 5
Load at 25 mm deflection, S/D = 3
Load at 25 mm deflection, S/D = 3 Load at 25 mm deflection, S/D = 5
Load at 25 mm deflection, S/D = 5
0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Df/t Df/t

Figure 14. Effect of D on lateral loads for 4 x 4 pile group at 10 mm and

Figure 11. Effect of Df on lateral loads for 3 x 3 pile group at 10 mm and Figure 14. Effect of D f on lateral loads for 4x4 pile
f

25 mm lateral deflections 25 mm lateral deflections

group at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections
10.0
4.4 4 x 4 Pile Groups
9.0
Ten tests were also performed on 4 × 4 pile groups. Five
8.0
experiments of these tests were conducted at S/D ratio of 3
Lateral Load (kN)

7.0 and the other five experiments at pile spacing of 5D. Figures
6.0 12 and 13 show the load-deflection curves at S/D ratios of 3
5.0 and 5, respectively. As shown in Figures 12 and 13: (1) the
4x4 Piles
4.0 lateral carrying capacity of 4 × 4 pile group increases as the
Case 1
pile cap depth below the ground surface increases and as the
3.0 Case 2
Case 3 pile spacing increases, and (2) at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral
2.0 Case 4
deflections, the increase of pile spacing from 3D to 5D causes
1.0 Case 5
an increase in the lateral loads of 4 × 4 pile group from 2.3%
0.0 to 15% and from 2.4% to 3.8%, respectively.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Figure 14 shows the effect of pile cap depth below the
Deflection (mm) ground surface on the lateral loads of 4 × 4 pile groups at 10
Figure 12. Load-deflection curves for 4 x 4 pile group at different cases mm and 25 mm lateral deflections and S/D ratios of 3 and
Figure 12. Load-deflection curves for 4x4 pile group
of pile cap elevations (S/D = 3) 5. Referring to Figure 14, it is observed that: (1) the lateral
at different cases of pile cap elevations (S/D = 3)
 28 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

load at 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections increases as the
pile cap depth below the ground surface increases, (2) larger
increase in lateral load observed at smaller deflection, in case
of 3D pile spacing and at smaller deflection (i.e. 10 mm), the
percentage of lateral load increase for case 5 is 100% but, at
larger deflection (i.e. 25 mm), the percentage of lateral load
increase for case 5 is 80%.
5 CONCLUSIONS
Model tests were carried out on single piles and pile groups
driven in sand to study the effect of pile cap elevations below
the ground surface and pile spacing on the lateral resistance.
The following conclusions can be drawn from the study.
1. The lateral carrying capacity of single pile and pile
groups (i.e., 2 × 2, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4) increase as
the pile cap depth below the ground surface, Df,
Downloaded by [] at 23:36 20 December 2017
Matlock, H., and Reese, L.C. (1961). “Generalized solutions
for laterally loaded piles.” Transactions of ASCE, 127(1),
1220-1247.
McVay, M. C., Zhang, L., Han, S., and Lai, P. (2000).
“Experimental and numerical study of laterally loaded
pile groups with pile caps at variable elevation.”
Transportation Research Record, (1736), 12-18.
Mokwa, R. L. and Duncan J. M. (2001). “Experimental evalu-
ation of lateral load-resistance of pile caps.” Journal of
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE,
127(2), 185-192.
Prakash, S. and Sharma, H. D. (1990). Pile foundations in
engineering practice, John Wiley & Sons, NY.
Rollins, K.M., Olsen, R.J., Egbert, J.J., Jensen, D.H., Olsen,
K.G., and Garrett, B.H. (2006). “Pile Spacing Effects
on Lateral Pile Group Behavior: Load Tests.” Journal
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental. Engineering, ASCE,
132(10), 1262-1271.

increases and as the pile spacing increases but, the
increase due to Df is grater than the increase due to
pile spacing.
2. The percentage of lateral load increase due to the
increase of Df is a function of lateral deflection. At
10 mm lateral deflection the percentage of lateral
load increase greater than the percentage of lateral
load increase at 25 mm lateral deflection.
3. At 10 mm and 25 mm lateral deflections, the per-
centage of lateral load increase due to the increase
of Df decreases as the number of piles in the group
increases.
Rollins, K. M., Sparks, A. E. (2002). “lateral resistance of full-
scale pile cap with gravel backfill.” Journal Geotechnical
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