Horizontal Bearing Capacity of Suction Piles in Sand

Abstract

A series of centrifuge model tests was conducted to measure the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of suction piles. Three different pile lengths were tested in sand. Model piles were laterally loaded at different points along the pile length to evaluate the effect of the loading depth on the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of suction piles. Two tests were conducted for each loading point. Results from centrifuge model tests were then compared with the analytical predictions to determine the validity of the analytical solution in predicting the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of rigid suction piles loaded at various depths. Predicted values from the analytical solution compared well with the measured values from the centrifuge model tests.