Centrifuge model tests on piled raft foundation in sand subjected to lateral and moment loads

Piled raft foundation has been widely recognized as a rational and economical foundation system with the combined effects of raft and piles. However, the behavior of laterally loaded piled raft foundation has not been well understood due to the complicated interaction of raft–ground–piles. A series of static horizontal loading tests were carried out on three types of foundation models, i.e., piled raft, pile group and raft alone models, on sand using a geotechnical centrifuge. In this paper, the influences of relatively large moment load and rotation on the overall performance of laterally loaded piled raft foundation were examined. From the centrifuge model tests, it is found that the vertical displacement due to horizontal loads is different between piled raft and pile group foundation, and this vertical displacement has significant influences on the performance of laterally loaded piled raft foundation. The horizontal resistance of the pile part in the piled raft foundation is higher than those observed in the pile group foundation due to raft base contact pressure. The vertical displacement of the foundation due to the horizontal loads affects the vertical resistances of piles, which results in the different mobilization of moment resistances between the piled raft and pile group foundations.