Case History Evaluation of Laterally Loaded Piles

This paper examines seven case histories of load tests on piles or drilled shafts under lateral load. Since the current design software to estimate lateral load resistance of deep foundations requires p-y curves. The first approach used was correlative whereby soil parameters determined from in situ tests standard penetration test (SPT) and cone penetration test (CPT)] were used as input values for standard p-y curves. In the second approach p-y curves were calculated directly from the stress deformation data measured in dilatometer (DMT) and cone pressuremeter tests. The correlative evaluation revealed that, on the average, predictions based upon the SPT were conservative for all loading levels, and using parameters from the CPT best predicted field behavior. Typically, predictions were conservative, except at the maximum load. Since traditionally SPT and CPT correlation-based p-y curves are for “sands” or “clays,” this study suggests that silts, silty sands, and clayey sands should use cohesive p-y curves. For the directly calculated curves, DMT derived p-y curves predict well at low lateral loads, but at higher load levels the predictions become unconservative. p-y curves derived from pressuremeter tests predicted well for both “sands” and “clays” where pore pressures are not anticipated.