Rational Approach to Lateral Load Tests on Single Piles with Measurement of Titling at Pile Top

This paper describes lateral load tests on single piles, with additional instrumentation to maximize the data measured, along with comparisons between the measurements and predictions and back analysis. An additional lateral displacement measurement by the displacement sensor just above the line of force on the test pile was introduced to obtain the tilt at the pile top level, which is computed based on the difference in the lateral movement over the vertical distance between the displacement sensors. Prediction by numerical modelling, using p-y curve approach, is then compared with the measurements in terms of load-movement response as well as the tilting at pile top for six load tests, and results are presented, demonstrating how it can enhance the soil parameters or models used in the analysis. The numerical analysis also verified that groundwater level has significant influence on the pile response, in the p-y approach especially in sandy soil conditions.