Behavior of laterally loaded small scale barrettes in sand

This paper aims to investigate the response of laterally loaded rectangular cross sectional barrettes. Twenty-eight model tests for laterally loaded barrette were investigated to study the effect of sand relative density, aspect ratio of pile cross section, loading direction and load eccentricity. Based on this study, the lateral resistance of the barrette that loaded in the direction of major axis is higher than that loaded in the direction of minor axis. Sand relative density has significant effect on the lateral capacity of the barrettes. The ratio of the lateral capacity of the barrettes loaded in the direction of major axis compared to the barrettes loaded in the direction of minor axis is reduced as the sand relative density increases. Increasing the flexure stiffness of the barrette cross section causes a reduction in the lateral displacement of the barrette head. Increasing load eccentricity causes a significant reduction in the barrette lateral resistance.