A method for the evaluation of ultimate lateral load capacity of pile foundation

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for the evaluation of ultimate lateral load capacity of pile foundation by using increment load method considering the plastic behavior of pile structural members during analysis process. This method is an extension root of previous works “Nonlinear analysis of single pile under axial and lateral loading using p-∆ curves by transfer matrix method”. A generic example of plane frame pile-supported wharf comprising of three vertical steel tubular piles embedded in medium sand stratum with slope 2 to 1 underneath will be performed based on the elastic-plastic analysis. The purpose is to present the procedure for evaluating the ultimate lateral load capacity of pile bent and to prove the reliability about the fundamental of mechanics of proposed method.