M MAHMOUD's scientific contributions

This Paper investigates the behaviour of single unrestrained (free-headed) scale model piles installed vertically in a cohesionless seabed sand, subjected to static lateral loading. Water jetting techniques were used to install the piles and vibratory compaction produced uniform beds of saturated sand for testing. A displacement-controlled hydraulic jack was used to apply lateral loading. A study is made of some of the parameters which influence the lateral load capacity of single piles; these are breadth, depth of embedment and the cross-sectional shape of the pile. Variations of lateral load with the above parameters show that the behaviour of laterally loaded piles is essentially controlled by all of these parameters. In order to illustrate these relationships further, test results are presented in terms of Broms' dimensionless groups H/γ′KpB3 and L/B for different stages of loading corresponding to different pile head lateral displacement ratios (x/B). The variation of H/γ′KpB3 and L/B is non-linear, with the degree of non-linearity becoming more pronounced with increasing values of x/B. Experimental curves of H/γ′KpB3 against L/B show good agreement with Broms' design chart, with the latter corresponding to an x/B value of approximately 40%. Furthermore, the experimental curves agree very well with recent field test results reported in the published literature.