• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 1995

Load testis are executed on model reticulated root piles (RRP) to figure out the optimum slanting angle in the piles installation. One set of model RRP consists of 8 slanting piles which are installed in circular patterns forming two concentric circles, each of which is made by 4 piles. Each pile which is a steel bar of 5m in diameter and 300mm in length is coated to become a pile of 6.5mm in diameter. The slanting angle of the model RRP varies from 0$^{\circ}$ to 20$^{\circ}$ Comparing ultimate bearing capacities of the model RRP of different installation angles, it is observed that the ultimate capacities of the RRP increase as the installation angle increases until 15$^{\circ}$, and the optimum slanting angle of the RRP is around 15$^{\circ}$ The ultimate bearing capacity of the 15$^{\circ}$-RRP is found to be 22% bigger than that of the vertical RRP and 120% bigger than that of the circular surface footing whose diameter is same with the circle formed by outer root piles'heads. However, it is noticed that when the slanting angle of the RRP is increased over 15$^{\circ}$, the ultimate capacity starts to be reduced. The ultimate capacity of 20$^{\circ}$-RRP is even smaller than that of the vertical RRP by as much as 5%. From the observation of the load settlement curve obtained during the RRP load tests, it is known that as the slanting angle gets bigger the load -settlement behavior becomes more ductile.