A Laterally Loaded Pile Database

A database was developed at the University of Florida that serves as a depository for the results of lateral load tests on single drilled shaft and driven pile foundations. Current design software for laterally loaded deep foundations (FLPIER, LPILE) utilizes the p-y method to estimate the foundation lateral load resistance. Input parameters used to develop these curves are typically obtained from insitu tests (SPT, CPT) correlations. This paper presents the structure of the database and its current 24 SPT and 6 CPT case histories. In addition, an evaluation of predictions using input soil parameters from SPT and CPT correlations vs field measured values is presented. The comparisons showed that 4 different SPT correlations for φ coupled with 3 different k-values, all produce similar results. Therefore, little difference exists between the SPT correlation combinations. Albeit, the estimated k value has a greater effect on deformation. Similar combinations of CPT correlations also show little effect among the commonly used correlations. SPT predictions are quite conservative at low load levels; and remain conservative at high load levels. Also, the scatter is high. CPT evaluations gave unconservative predictions. In addition, the scatter (standard deviation) for both methods is high.