Model tests on single piles in soft clay

Laboratory model tests in soft clay were conducted to investigate the behav iour of single piles subjected to lateral soil movements ('passive' pile), and to determine the ultimate soil pressure acting along the pile shaft. A specially designed apparatus for the tests was manufactured and calibrated. Reasonably consistent soil samples were prepared for the tests by a consol idometer. The limiting soil pressures acting along the model pile shaft wer e measured by pressure transducers. The ultimate soil pressure was then det ermined based on the maximum value of the limiting soil pressures acting al ong the pile shaft. The ultimate soil pressure obtained from the single pas sive pile tests was 10.6s(u) (where s(u) is the undrained shear strength of the clay) and agreed well with those from the literature.