Evaluation of Lateral Capacity of Pile Foundation in Layered Soils

This paper examines the lateral capacity of pile foundations embedded in layered soils. The main aim is to determine the lateral load at which the maximum bending moment occurs while keeping serviceability within acceptable limits. Piles were modelled with a fixed length of 20 m, with diameters ranging from 0.8 m to 2.0 m to examine the influence of cross-sectional size. A deflection limit of 1% of the pile diameter served as the governing criterion. Lateral capacities were initially estimated using the provisions of IS 2911, Part 1, Section 2, then verified through numerical simulations with L-Pile and Plaxis 3D software. The comparison illustrates how soil layering influences pile response, showing that increasing the diameter significantly enhances lateral resistance along the pile. The findings provide practical guidance for selecting appropriate pile dimensions in layered profiles, ensuring sufficient lateral performance and controlled deflections.