Abstract
Finite element solutions have been available to problems in engineering for a long time. Application of these solutions to problems in practice is tedious and time consuming. Attempts are constantly being made to obtain much simpler and easily applicable alternative solutions. The SPALLOP method for predicting the ultimate lateral load capacity was developed by Dr. Briaud at Texas A&M University. The SPALLOP method is both a simple and an accurate tool for predicting the ultimate lateral load that the pile will resist and the lateral deflection at working loads. As a part of the research, 47 case histories of piles subjected to lateral loads were studied. Pressuremeter tests were conducted in the soil surrounding these piles and then lateral load tests were carried out. A database was created and includes profiles of limit pressure, load-deflection curves, soil modulus, predicted load, and the predicted deflection. The case histories selected are from various locations ranging from the national geotechnical experimentation sites at Texas A&M University to tests conducted in France. The piles have lengths ranging from 2 to 20 m and diameters ranging from 0.3 to 1.3 m. The. piles are of different shapes and materials. The SPALLOP was applied to each pile in the database and the results are compared to the actual load tests. After studying the results recommendations have been made to modify the equation to increase the accuracy of prediction.
Donthireddy, Srinivas (1995). Simple pressuremeter approach to lateral loads on piles. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1995 -THESIS -D66.