LATERAL LOAD TESTS ON PILES IN BRIDGE EMBANKMENTS

Field lateral load tests were performed on embankment piles at three bridge sites in northern California. The investigation included determination of lateral load-deflection behavior of individual vertical embankment piles, correlation of test results with theoretical solutions, and determination of experimental values of n sub h, the constant of horizontal subgrade reaction (or k, the subgrade modulus), for bridge embankment conditions. The pile tests showed that a linear variation of horizontal subgrade modulus with depth (k equals (n sub h) x) is a reasonable approximation; values of n sub h varied from 10 to 65 lb/cu in. (2.7 to 17.6 N/cc), with higher values for the stiffer embankment; results suggest a simple rough approximation, n sub h approximately equal to N, where N is the average blows per foot from standard penetration tests within the depth of the embankment; a fixed-head pile resists approximately twice the lateral load as a free-head pile at the same lateral deflection of 0.25 in. (0.64 cm); the computed effective length of the embankment test piles varied from 8 to 12 ft (2.4 to 3.7 m); a compacted fill of 12 ft (3.7 m) provides the major support for a laterally loaded pile and the influence of the underlying natural deposit is negligible.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1974/517/517-007.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=LATERAL+LOAD+TESTS+ON+PILES+IN+BRIDGE+EMBANKMENTS&author=J.+Paduana&author=W.+Yee&publication_year=1974
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• Supplemental Notes:
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• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • Paduana, Joseph A
  • Yee, Wilfred S
• Conference:
  • 53rd Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1974-1-21 to 1974-1-25
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 77-92
• Monograph Title: PERFORMANCE OF EARTH RETAINING STRUCTURES AND PILE FOUNDATIONS
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 517
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Coefficient of subgrade reaction; Deflection; Depth; Embankments; Field tests; Length; Loads; Structural tests; Support piles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pile length
• Old TRIS Terms: Pile lateral loads; Pile tests; Vertical piles
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00084129
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023610
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 22 1975 12:00AM