In-situ static vertical loading test on rectangular diaphragm wall in loess subgrade

An in-situ static vertical loading test of rectangular diaphragm wall in loess subgrade, for which a self-balanced method was employed, was performed firstly at home and abroad. According to the testing results and based on the physico-mechanical properties of loess, load transfer characteristics of the rectangular diaphragm wall in loess subgrade were analysed in detail. The results indicated: bearing characteristics of rectangular diaphragm wall in loess subgrade behaved the properties of end support friction piles; bearing capacity of rectangular diaphragm wall in loess subgrade consisted of lateral frictional resistance and end resistance; development of lateral frictional resistance and end resistance of diaphragm wall were related to the factors, such as the relative displacement of the diaphragm wall and loess, the physico-mechanical properties of loess and so on; the load sharing ratio of end resistance of diaphragm wall was 40.3 percent while reaching the ultimate load; the lateral resistance of diaphragm wall was increasing gradually with the augment of the relative displacement of diaphragm wall - loess, but with different increment in loess layers; the maximum axial force of diaphragm wall located the position of loading, with the development of the lateral resistance of diaphragm wall in loess layers, the axial force was decreaing while the distance of the load box is increasing.