Centrifuge model testing to ascertain vertical displacements of a pile under cyclic lateral loads

摘要

Piles,as the basic components that support superstructures,are inevitably subjected to cyclic lateral loads.The lateral response(deformation and capacity)of a pile under a cyclic lateral load has been well documented.However,little attention has been given to its vertical displacement.In this study,centrifuge model tests were conducted to study the vertical displacements of a pile under cyclic lateral loads.It was found that a pile may settle during cyclic lateral loading.Meanwhile,the ultimate settlement of the pile was larger when the vertical load or the amplitude of the horizontal displacement was greater.All the observations can be explained by the loss of mobilized shaft friction and the transmission of the unbalanced force to the pile tip.