Development of Combined Loading Apparatus for Physical Modeling

Abstract

The new loading apparatus was designed and constructed to investigate the behavior of model foundation under combined loading conditions. Air cylinders were used to generate applied loads, the load and displacement were determined via load cells and linearly variable differential transducers (LVDTs) respectively. The key aspect of the new system is that the system can be highly applicable for any combination of vertical, horizontal and moment loadings and the displacement paths can be generated and applied to model foundations with precise force, position and direction. A number of combined loading tests of pile foundation and improved pile foundation were conducted on sand to evaluate the expected performance of the newly developed loading apparatus.