Centrifuge testing of nonlinear soil–pile response using 1:50 scale reinforced concrete pile models

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the highly nonlinear behavior of soil–pile system and proposes small-scale reinforced concrete (RC) pile model for use in centrifugal tests. Horizontal static loading centrifugal tests were conducted on 13 small-scale RC pile models at 50-G centrifuge acceleration to illustrate the reproducibility of a full-scale RC pile. The experimental results show that the maximum flexural strength of a small-scale RC pile can be estimated accurately as a function of the full plastic moment Mu. The current design formula for the maximum shear strength Qs in the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) standard is applied to full-scale RC members, while the final fracture mode of the proposed small-scale model corresponds to its estimation. Horizontal static loading centrifugal tests were performed on a soil–pile system consisting of dry sand and a small-scale RC pile model. Furthermore, the experimental results for the soil–pile system correspond well to the ultimate strength based for flexural fracture proposed by Broms (1964) and those for shear fracture according to the AIJ Standard (2010). The experimental results obtained in this study for the proposed small-scale RC pile model are valid for use in assessing a soil–pile system's maximum strength and final fracture mode.