The optimum installation angle of reticulated root piles

In order to investigate the influence of installation angle of reticulated root piles(RRP) on their bearing capacities, model tests with various installation angles(0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25°) are carried out. According to the test results, optimum installation angles for compressive and uplift loadings are 12° and 13°, respectively, and their capacities are increased by 13% in compression tests and by 21% in uplifting tests compared to those of vertical RRP’s. It is also appreciated that increase of the size of the installation angle makes the load-settlement behavior more hardened when compressive load is applied. For lateral loading, RRP’s response is heavily influenced by the displacement level. At low displacement level(lmm), lateral load capacity increases as the installation angle is increased. But the value of the optimum installation angle decreases as the displacement level is increased. It is found to be 17.5° at 6mm lateral displacement. Dans le but d’examiner l’influence de la disposition angulaire des RRP sur leurs capacites portantes, des tests sur modele ont ete effectues pour differentes dispositions angulaires (0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, et 25°). Selon les resultats des tests, les dispositions angulaires optimales pour des forces de compression et de soulevement sont, respectivement, de 12° et 13°; comparées aux RRP verticaux, leurs capacites portantes sont ameliorees de 13% et 21%, respectivement, pour les tests de compression et de soulevement. L’augmentation de la disposition angulaire renforce le comportement au tassement pour des charges compressives. Pour des forces laterales, les deplacements influencent fortement la reponse des RRP. Pour de petits deplacements (1mm), la capacity de la charge laterale augmente en proportion de la disposition angulaire. Cependant, la disposition angulaire optimale decroit si le deplacement augmente, et celle-ci est de 17,5° pour un deplacement lateral de 6mm.