• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.193-205
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• 2001

In this study the behavior of pile groups is investigated experimentally. Special attention is given to the load transfer characteristics of pile groups and to the evaluation of the group effects under vertical and horizontal loadings. In the laboratory experiments, vertical and lateral loadings were imposed on model piles in sand. Model piles made of PVC embedded in Joomoonjin sand were used in this study. Pile arrangements($2\times2,\; 3\times3$) and pile spacings(2.5D, 5.OD, 7.5D) were considered. Load-transfer curves(t-z, q-z and p-y curves), load-deflection curves and group interaction factors were obtained from the experimental results. The group interaction factors under both vertical and horizontal loadings were proposed for the cases of $2\times2\; and\; 3\times3$ pile groups with varying ratios of pile spacings. p-multipliers in this study were found for the individual piles in $2\times2\; and\; 3\times3$ pile groups.