Performance-based design for the retrofit of piled foundations of road and rail bridges subjected to seismic loading: single pile under lateral loading in sand

The main objective of the research project is to develop a rationalized pilegroup retrofit design method, accounting for nonlinear soil-foundation response and allowing for full mobilization of pilegroup moment capacity in a controlled and quantifiable manner. This is achieved by developing: (a) deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing the nonlinear behavior of pilegroups; and (b) innovative techniques for refined assessment of the in-situ state of the existing pilegroup, reducing the related uncertainties: an essential step for rationalized retrofit design. The objectives of the project are achieved by combining: (i) physical modelling in the state-of-the-art centrifuge facilities of the newly-established Center of Excellence in Centrifuge Modelling of ETH Zurich; and (ii) advanced numerical modeling, employing thoroughly validated constitutive models for the soil and for structural elements. This dataset contains the raw data of a centrifuge campaign on the response of single piles under lateral loading in dense sand