Answers to the comments of Foreigner Examiner

Comment-1
There are few corrections which have made in the thesis. I have marked these in the margins of
the soft copy.
Ans:
The corrections suggested by the Examiner has been incorporated in the thesis.
Comment-2
Candidate can explain bit more details how the various properties of the pile materials have been
determined.
Ans:
The properties of model and field pile.
Model pile material and its dimension are selected based on the similitude law (Wood et al
2002)
(Scaling
law)
4+
EmIm / EpIp = 1/n
PVC
EpxIp/Em x Im = n4.5
2x105* 1.16x108 / 2758 * 25384.8 = n4.5
n = 16.8
Aluminium
Ep x Ip/Em x Im = n4.5
2x105* 1.16x108 / 70x103 * 13472 = n4.5
n = 9.4
Steel
Ep x Ip/Em x Im = n4.5
1* 1.16x108 / 1* 13472 = n4.5
n = 7.4

Comment-3
Some of the reference mentioned in the thesis and the list of reference are not matching, there are
so many reference are mentioned in the thesis are missing in the list of references.
Ans:
References and citations have completely checked and all the reference mentioned in the thesis
has been included in the reference list.
Comment-4
The reference should be formatted correctly for consistency
Ans:
All the references have been formatted as per the suitable reference format.
Comment-5
Fig.5.4 and 5.5 is not clear specially wording and dimensions
Ans:
The wording and dimensions are corrected in Fig, 5.4 and Fig. 5.5 in the thesis book.
Comment-6
In clay sample, It mentioned 46% clay, Remaining percentage is silt or some portion of fine sand
is also present?
Ans:
In clay sample, 46% clay and remaining 54% is silt.
Comment-7
If possible candidate can try any FE analysis software like PLAXIS or LPILE or more robust
FLAC or ABAQUS to check the experimental results.
Ans: Numerical analysis is carried out by using LPILE. The details of software results and fig
are included in the thesis.

Answers to the comments of Indian Examiner

Comment-1
Typographical grammatical error.
a. abbreviations of relative density is not consistent throughout the thesis some places it is
written Dr, some place it is D. Kindly make it uniform with preferably, D.
Ans: abbreviations of relative densityDr is corrected in the thesis
b.Page 37, figure title single pile instead of piles.
Ans: corrected single pile in page 37
c. page 82,Randolph et al instead of Randolphet
Ans: corrected page no. 82 , Randolph et al
Comment-2
Dimensional analysis is carried out in scale down the field piles and three different material has
been selected namely, PVC, aluminum and steel to represent different field piles (of different c/s
and type). Therefore, the generalized conclusions for the lateral behaviour of pile in different soil
type need proper justifications.
Ans:
Though three different materials are used for model piles, the effects of modulus ratio (E p/Gs)
(Youngs modulus of pile material Ep to shear modulus of soil Gs) on lateral response of piles, are
considered in arriving at conclusions for different soil types. In addition EI is in arriving
considered in selecting materials and dimensions of model piles.
Comment-3
For lateral capacity on sand tests with higher relative density as well would have been better.
Moreover the RD 30% appears to be too low.
Ans:
To study effect of loose sand on behavior of piles (ex. Piles in loose marine sand) tests are
conducted at relative density of 30%. However, tests are also conducted with relative density of
50% (medium sand).

Comment-4
Pile capacity in clay, details are not provided on the sample and test setup preparation. Moisture
content etc. As moisture plays crucial role. Details are expected.
Ans: The schematic sketch of the lateral load test setup on pile group embedded in clay is shown
in Fig. 3.10. Clay is mixed in separate chamber with required amount of water (water content w
= 43.5%) to get the required consistency (Ic = wL w/IP = 32%) of clay. The soil is allowed to
saturate for two days. After placing the model pile in the center of the test chamber using
template, uniformly mixed clay is placed and packed in the chamber in layers of 100 mm
thickness and tamped with template in order to remove entrapped air to ensure homogeneous
condition. Clay samples are taken at various depths. The water content, density, undrained shear
(vane shear test) strength tests are conducted on the collected soil samples to confirm the
homogeneity of the prepared clay bed. Embedded length to diameter (L/D) ratio of the pile is
varied from 15 to 40. Spacing in the direction of loading to diameter (S/D) ratio is varied from 3
to 7. Spacing in the direction perpendicular to loading is kept as 3D. All the tests are conducted
at soft consistency of clay (Ic = 0.32). The lateral load test setup on pile group embedded in clay
mentioned in the section 3.5.3
Comment-5
After each load increment, 30min is kept uniformly for all three different soil types to allow the
deflections to stabilize. For mentioned clay, 30min is good enough.
Ans:
Yes, based on the observations from the tests, 30 min is kept uniformly for all three different soil
types.

Comment-6
The Broms criteria for ultimate capacity of different soil type is considered is 20% of the pile
dia.This criteria is for field scale and do the author looked into the effect of scaling. Morever,
using same 20% for all soil types and characteristic need clarification.
Ans:

Detailed literature review was conducted and application of Broms criteria for ultimate capacity
of different soil type is considered is 20% of the pile dia is well established.

Comment-7
Applying the same criteria for single and pile group and also to sloping ground also need proper
justifications
Ans:
Detailed literature review was conducted and application of Broms criteria for ultimate capacity
of pile group and slope is justified.
Comment-8
Group efficiency for different S/D ratio for 50% RD is not seen. Though known effect of RD on
efficiency would have given better insight`
Ans:
Group efficiency for different S/D ratio for 50% RD is mentioned in the table 4.2 in page no.43
Comment-9
Thesis contains an extensive and important laboratory studies on the lateral capacity of pile and
pile groups in different soil types, But. It appears that most of the conclusion drawn are in the
similar line with the earlier finding. Therefore a highlight on the salient new finding and new
insight into the pile capacity studies may be highlighted.
Ans:
Bending behavior of flexible piles in soft clay and moment distribution among piles in soft clay
have not been studied earlier.
Though numerical studies reported in literature, no experimental studies have been conducted on
behavior of piles under simultaneous application of vertical and lateral loads
This research work focused on important factors (presence of vertical load, surcharge, sloping
profile, roughness, modulus ratio) on affecting lateral response of piles which have not been
studied in detail.

Comment 10
Quality of most of the photograph for the experimental set up etc ( e.g fig 3.9,5.18 etc) are not
good. All pictures may be checked for formatting and replaced accordingly.

Ans:
corrected for all pictures properly.

Comment-11
The consistency and infirmity of the all plots and graphs are very important and should be
carefully checked.
Ans:
All plots and graphs are once again checked in the thesis book

Comment-12
if would be good if the abstract of the thesis is elaborated little more and the detailed about
extends 1.5 2 pages.

Ans:
the abstract of the thesis is elaborated to 1.5 pages .