Centrifuge test of non-linear soil–pile response using 1:50 scale reinforced concrete pile

This study aimed to clarify the highly non-linear behaviour of a soil–pile system and proposes a small-scale reinforced concrete (RC) pile model for use in centrifugal tests. Horizontal static loading centrifugal tests were conducted on 13 small-scale RC pile models at 50g centrifuge acceleration to illustrate the reproducibility of a full-scale RC pile. The experimental results show that the maximum flexural strength of a small-scale RC pile can be estimated accurately as a function of the full plastic moment M_u. The current design formula for the maximum shear strength Q_s in the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) standard is applied to full-scale RC members, while the final fracture mode of the proposed small-scale model corresponds to its estimation. Horizontal static loading centrifugal tests were conducted on a soil–pile system consisting of dry sand and a small-scale RC pile model. Furthermore, the experimental results for the soil–pile system correspond well to the ultimate strength for flexural fracture proposed by Broms and that for shear fracture according to the AIJ standard. The experimental results obtained in this study for the proposed small-scale RC pile model are valid for use in assessing a soil–pile system's maximum strength and final fracture mode.