Abstract: The influence of inclination angle and slenderness ratio, and especially vertical load, on the lateral response of single batter pile with cap was studied through 3-D finite element analysis. Results show that 1) under horizontal load, the lateral deformation of negative batter pile is larger than that of plumb pile, followed by positive batter pile. The difference of lateral deformation between batter pile and plumb pile increases with the increase of the inclination angle. The effect of slenderness ratio on the lateral deformation of batter pile is insignificant under the same condition; 2) the angle of batter pile affects only the value of moment along pile body under horizontal load. The position of the maximum moment of the pile is constant; 3) vertical load is favorable to decrease the lateral deformation of negative batter pile and increase the lateral deformation of positive batter pile; 4) the maximum moment of negative batter pile decreases as the increasing of vertical load, but it is in contrary with the positive batter pile.

Key words: batter pile, horizontal bearing performance, numerical analysis, slenderness ratio, inclined angle, vertical load