An Approach for Capacity Calculation of Shaped Pile Group Under Uplift Load

Model tests were conducted to investigate the behavior of a special-shaped pile group (2×1, and 2×2) and a single pile under uplift loading. A theoretical method was developed to estimate the ultimate uplift capacity of the special-shaped pile group based on a unified composite failure surface. The method was validated by the current model test results and those published in the previous literatures. The predicted uplift capacities generally agree well with the measured test results, showing that the method is suitable for the estimation of uplift capacity of both special-shaped pile groups and equal diameter pile groups.