DESIGN OF LATERALLY LOADED PILES USING PRESSUREMETER TEST RESULTS.

The possibility of using the pressuremeter test curve as a p-y curve for input in the finite difference program in order to predict the behavior of laterally loaded piles is investigated. The evaluation is made by using elasticity and plasticity theory, laboratory model tests in clay and in sand, full scale pile load tests at three stiff clay sites, two soft clay sites, and one sand site. It is found that this method leads to results which are conservative if the pressuremeter is inserted in a hand-augered hole and unconservative if soil displacement takes place during the probe insertion. It is shown that two curves are necessary to describe the behavior of a pile element: a friction-lateral displacement curve (f-y) and a front resistance-lateral displacement curve (q-y). The pressuremeter gives a good measure of the q-y curve and may provide elements of data necessary to obtain the f-y curve.

DESIGN OF LATERALLY LOADED PILES USING PRESSUREMETER TEST RESULTS. Conference Paper