Abstract
Experimental investigations on model single piles, line pile groups (2 X 1) and square pile groups (2 X 2) subjected to axial compressive load were conducted in a specially designed triaxial cell with enlarged dimensions in marine clay at vertical and horizontal stress conditions. The variables used in this experiments were embedment length to diameter ratio (L/D = 8.93, L/D = 17.5), spacing of piles in a group (4D, 5D, 6D), controlled horizontal (σH), vertical (σV) stresses (0.03 N/mm2 and 0.06 N/mm2) and pile group geometry / configuration. Parametric study on the influence of the variables involved has been carried out on the load displacement response, tip, shaft, and total resistance and group efficiency of the pile groups. A statistical regression model, based on experimental results, is used to study the variation of efficiency of pile groups with spacing under different vertical and horizontal stress conditions.