Shaking table test on effects of sand flow on pile in liquefied ground

A series of shaking table tests on the single pile in the liquefiable ground were designed and conducted. In these tests,the mass block on the pile cap,end fixing condition of the pile and the slenderness ratio were considered. The effects of liquefied soil flow on the dynamic response of tested single pile were studied. In the shaking tests,macroscopic phenomena,including sand boiling,soil flow and large displacement of pile cap were observed. Under the sinusoidal excitations,the unsymmetrical motions of the pile during the liquefied soil flow were analyzed and discussed. The acceleration of the pile's top and strain of pile shaft were asymmetric. When the end of pile was not fixed and a mass block was attached to the cap,effects of the liquefied soil flow on the dynamic responses of the pile were most significant. Based on the test results,it was concluded that the mechanical actions of the liquefied soil flow on the friction-type pile foundations were negative. These negative actions may be the important causes of the strength failure occurring near pile cap and the lean of pile shaft for the pile foundation in the liquefiable inclined ground.