Bearing Capacity and Deformation Behaviour of Branch Pile

The working mechanism of branch pile under vertical load is studied based on digital image correlation method in model test. Bearing capacity and deformation characteristics of equal-diameter pile and branch pile are obtained during the analysis. The study results show that the bearing capacity of branch pile is higher than that of the equal-diameter pile. The displacement field around equal-diameter pile is divided into the pile side and pile tip deformation regions, destruction pattern of single pile is similar to the Meyerhof's destruction pattern. Soil beneath branch generates a shear sliding surface under the ultimate load, and the soil beneath pile tip shows a pricking destruction pattern.