Study of the Lateral Load Carrying Capacities of Piles in Layered Soils using PLAXIS 3D

Lateral load carrying capacity of piles is largely neglected area during the design of piles, due to various reasons like the high cost and lack of experts for carrying out insitu lateral load tests, lack of an appropriate theoretical method for the analysis etc. Thus, the lateral load carrying capacity of piles is an unresolved problem. Most studies related to the uncertainties of the lateral load capacities of piles have been done in homogeneous soils. But the response of layered soils to lateral behavior of piles is less explored. This paper studies the effect of laterally loaded piles in layered soils using PLAXIS 3D.