ABSTRACT

Pile foundations of offshore structures are subjected to significant lateral loads. The effect of load eccentricity has been demonstrated by conducting tests on model piles. A method has been proposed to estimate the load-deflection behaviour of piles at different eccentricities. For cyclic load application the deflections and moments in the piles are observed to stabilize after some cycles depending on the load level. Corrleations have been proposed to predict the depth at which maximum moment occurs and the depth below which moments are negligible. The post cyclic behaviour of piles has been explained in terms of the changes in the soil strength behaviour.

1. INTRODUCTION

In the field of ocean engineering, pile foundations are extensively used in supporting several structures. These pile foundations are frequently subjected to lateral loads due to wind and wave action and ship impacts. In many of these cases, lateral load is quite significant and the safety of these structures depends on the ability of the supporting piles to resist the large lateral forces. Many solutions to predict deflections and bending moments in the piles under lateral load have been proposed by several investigators. Hansen (1961) proposed a method of predicting ultimate lateral load of rigid piles based on the theory of plasticity. Broms (1965) presented a method for estimating ultimate lateral load and deflection at ground line for both rigid and flexible piles and in this method an assumption has been made for the pressure distribution at failure. Reese (1956) presented non dimensional solutions for laterally loaded piles using subgrade reaction concept. However, in most of these methods, the nonlinear response of the soil to the lateral load is not considered in the analysis. The analysis of laterally loaded piles is frequently carried out using uncoupled nonlinear load transfer p-y curves.

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