Prediction of Lateral Load Response for a Pile Group

A full-scale lateral load test of a pile group consisting of 16 (4 by 4) prestressed 76-cm-square concrete piles was conducted at Roosevelt Bridge, Stuart, Florida, during the summer of 1996. Presented are (a) in situ test results, (b) various p-y curves from these tests, and (c) comparisons of various computer predictions (FLPIER, GROUP, and PIGR3D) using p-y curves tempered with results from a single-pile load test. From these comparisons, the best Class A prediction is made for the 16-pile group using FLPIER with nonlinear pile properties; p-y multipliers of 0.8, 0.4, 0.3, and 0.3 for the leading, middle, and trailing two rows, respectively; and dilatometer test—pressuremeter test p-y curves. This prediction suggests that an average load per pile of 280 kN will produce a deflection of 0.1 m (63 kips/pile at a deflection of 3.9 in.) for the test group.