Evaluating the Lateral Capacity of Flexible Pile Group Subjected to Lateral Load in Sloping Ground

The lateral capacity of pile group found on a stable slope reduces as the foundation faces reduced passive resistance. An experimental 1g model and numerical study is carried in to evaluate the reduction in the lateral capacity of pile and pile group in slope. The parameters varied are shear strength (30, 50, 100 and 150 kPa) with a spacing of 3 and 4 times the pile diameter in a slope of 1V:2H, 1V:2.5H and 1V: 3H and various pile positions (at the crest, 1R and 2R, where R- stiffness factor) from the slope crest. When the steepness of the slope and the relative stiffness factor increase, the capacity reduces to a maximum of 42%. The bending moment is high for lower consistency and spacing and it is high for higher slope angle and larger stiffness factor. The depth of maximum bending moment increases when the pile moves along the slope. A non-dimensional chart is proposed to find the lateral bearing capacity of the pile group with the above-studied conditions for prescribed displacement.