Measured and Predicted Response of Tapered Piles under Combined Vertical Compression-Lateral Loading in Loose and Dense Sand

ABSTRACT The research focuses on investigating the response of reinforced cement concrete tapered piles under combined loading. The study comprises 56 model tests, which are then validated through numerical analysis using PLAXIS 3D. Specifically, the investigation examines the capacity of tapered piles with different taper angles in cohesionless soils at two density conditions. Unlike previous studies that assumed simultaneous loading, this research applies the loads sequentially since the loads considered in different load combinations do not act simultaneously in practice. The results show that the pile capacity increases with an increase in taper angle under both independent and combined loading. The results reveal that there exists a critical taper angle of approximately 1.0°, beyond which the axial capacity of the pile tends to reach an asymptotic value. However, the ultimate lateral load continues to increase even beyond this critical taper angle, indicating different critical taper angles for axial and lateral loading. The taper angle is found to have a considerable effect on pile bending moment and depth of fixity.