Response of laterally loaded pile in soft clay on sloping ground

This paper presents the results of static lateral-load test carried out on a single aluminium model pile embedded in soft clay (consistency index, Ic = 0.42) on a sloping ground. A series of laboratory model tests had been carried out on the instrumented aluminium pile with outer diameter of 25.46 mm on a sloping ground of varying slopes (1V:1H, 1V:1.5H, 1V:2H, 1V:3H and 1V:5H) and with varying embedment length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) of 20, 25 and 30. To quantify the effect of slopes, the tests were also carried out on a horizontal ground surface. From the experimental results, the lateral load-carrying capacity of the pile, load–deflection response of the pile at pile head, effect of slopes and embedment length on pile capacity and bending-moment profile along the pile shaft were studied. The experimental results have been compared with those obtained from finite element analysis PLAXIS 3D and found to be in good agreement.