BEHAVIOR OF PILE-SUPPORTED DOLPHINS IN MARINE CLAY UNDER LATERAL LOADING

Pile-supported dolphins are designed for significant amounts of latera l loads. In this paper, the results obtained from tests carried out on model groups of piles to support dolphin-type structures are presente d and discussed. Load tests have been conducted on instrumented model pile groups embedded in a marine clayey bed (liquid limit = 82% and pl astic limit = 32%). The spacing between piles, number of piles in a gr oup, and arrangement of pile group with respect to the direction of la teral loading have been varied. The results indicated that the capacit y of pile group not only depends on the spacing between the piles, but also on the arrangement of piles in the group. The experimental progr am was further substantiated by a simplified analysis using a three-di mensional finite-element technique. The lateral group efficiencies obt ained from the present investigation are compared with the published l iterature and found to be in good agreement.