The static axial behavior of tapered piles is studied through both laboratory and numerical methods. In total, 24 different tapered piles were constructed for different angulation tests in sands, which were conditioned at relative densities of 38% (loose) and 84% (dense). Physical tests and Mohr–Coulomb model based finite difference simulations agreed to within ±6% of the complete load‐settlement response, which calibrated and validated the numerical simulations. The main findings suggested that as taper angle and soil density increased, axial stiffness and bearing capacity increased as well, and that dense sand configurations resulted in capacities 2.4 to 3.1 times greater than loose sand for the same conditions. An optimal taper angle of 2.3°–4.5° was found for the greater part of the tests, and further added angle increases resulted in lower capacity from localized stress concentrations piling tip. Increasing the taper to length and diameter ratios (L/D) from 10 to 20 resulted in up to 60% increases in capacity, and excessive taper greater than 5° resulted in 18% reductions. These results improve the relative efficiency of load transfer in tapered piles constructed in sandy deposits and tapered piles constructed in sandy deposits.
Mohammadizadeh et al. (Thu,) studied this question.