Analysis of the Behaviour of Vertically Loaded Pile Groups with a Rigid Cap in Layered Soils

Abstract

The behaviour of vertically loaded pile groups with a rigid cap in layered soils is investigated through an approach based on a simplified version of the boundary element method, as suggested by Poulos (1968) for the case of an homogeneous elastic half-space. Settlement estimates are obtained through a computer program.  The influence of the soil layering on the group effects as well as on the settlement of individual piles in the same group are also investigated in this research. Groups with common geometrical configuration resting on some basic soil profiles (single and double layered systems) have been considered. Under the practical point of view, the results indicated that the reduction factors are not significantly influenced by the soil layering, pile-stiffness factors and length-to-diameter ratios. An approximate method for estimating the settlement of pile groups in layered soil profiles, based on the settlement of a single pile in an homogeneous soil profile, is proposed in this work.