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Volume 30, Issue 1
(January 2007)
ISSN: 1945-7545
Methods for Deriving p-y Curves from Instrumented Lateral Load Tests With the developments of new deep foundation systems and construction techniques, such as high capacity micro-piles, large diameter piles or drilled shafts, existing p-y criteria that were developed previously for small diameter piles or shafts may no longer be adequate. Deriving p-y curves from lateral load tests on instrumented deep foundations is critical for further refinement or developing pertinent p-y criteria for these new applications. However, there is a lack of a consistent and well verified method for deducing the p-y curves from lateral load tests measurement data. Four existing methods are evaluated using the measured results of eight full-scale field tests on fully instrumented drilled shafts as well as four hypothetical numerical simulation results. It is found that the p-y curves deduced by the piecewise cubic polynomial curve fitting method, when input into the LPILE (or COM624P) computer program, provides the smallest error on the prediction of deflections of a drilled shaft under the applied lateral loads. A procedure for determining an optimum strain gage spacing for instrumentation in a lateral load test to derive representative p-y curves is recommended. Finally, a parametric study has shown that the errors of the deduced p-y curves are mainly due to inaccurate moment profiles from strain gage readings. Accurate estimate of moment-curvature relationship of a reinforced concrete shaft is therefore essential to the accuracy of the deduced p-y curves from strain data.
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Paper ID: GTJ100317 | ||
