Finite Element Analysis of a Laterally Loaded Battered Pile Group Foundation

This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) model that was developed to numerically simulate the full-scale lateral load test on a batter pile group foundation conducted on M19 pier of the I-10 Twin Span Bridge. The results of 3D FEA were compared with the measured field data from lateral load test and those predicted using the FB-MultiPier software. The soil resistance profiles, deduced from the FE model, were used to generate the p-y curves at different depths. The results of FE analysis show that the predicted lateral deformation profiles are in good agreement with the In-Place Inclinometer (IPI) measurements; and the estimated moments are also in good agreement with the moments calculated from strain gauge measurements. The results of FB-MultiPier showed good agreement with the measured lateral deformations near the pile head; however the deflection drifts away from measured values as depth increase. The moments obtained from the FB-MultiPier analysis are in good agreement with moments calculated from the strain gage data.