Bearing Characteristics of Sheet Piles Subjected to Vertical Monotonic and Quasi-Static Cyclic Load in Saturated Clay Ground

Recently, with the development of new piling methods, steel sheet piles can be penetrated into various grounds with high quality and precision. Though the piles for deep foundations are usually pipe piles, sheet piles could become an alternative. However, the bearing capacities of sheet piles have not been clarified fully yet. In this research, a series of vertical monotonic and quasi-static cyclic load tests on model steel sheet piles in a saturated clay ground have been conducted. The test results show that excess pore water pressures generated during the pile installation and static loading, as well as cyclic loading significantly influenced the bearing capacities of the sheet piles in the saturated clay ground. Furthermore, the sheet piles can provide pull-out resistance for the superstructure during an earthquake, and they would be a promising alternative to deep foundations in areas with high levels of seismic activity.