Study on horizontal bearing capacity of pile foundation in high-piled wharf under gradient soil surface

For calculating the lateral bearing capacity of pile foundation, the existing high-piled wharf design method is always based upon the hypothesis of horizontal ground surface of common natural foundation. However, there has been no mature methods for the lateral bearing capacity of pile foundation with inclined ground surface. In order to reveal the working mechanism of high-piled wharf pile foundation on slope, the lateral bearing behavior of a single pile on slope through laboratory model tests is studied. Through analyzing the test results, a series of modified calculation formulas are put forward to confirm the lateral bearing capacity of different inclined grounds based on the pile performances with horizontal ground surface, including the maximum moment of pile and its location, displacement of pile-top and ground surface. Meanwhile, a modified formula of soil spring stiffness considering both ground surface slope and pile depth is derived, and it provides a theoretical basis for designing and calculating the foundation of high-piled wharf with inclined ground surface.