# Load-Bearing Performance of a Reinforced Fill Structure with Pile Penetration
## 5 Analysis of Results
### Lateral Displacement Analysis
#### 5.1.1 Impact of Different Structure Types  
The vertical load-lateral displacement curves for different structural types are shown in Figure 5. The corresponding lateral displacements for different structural types at the ultimate load of 17.5 kN for the pure sand structure are detailed in Table 7.  
Figure 5: _Cont_. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{3}{*}{**Condition**} & \multirow{3}{*}{**Structure Type**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Vertical Load Is the Horizontal Displacement Corresponding to 17.5 kN/mm**} \\ \cline{3-6}  & & **Slope Bottom D** & **In the Slope C** & **In the Slope B** & **Top of Slope A** \\  & & **Station** & **Station** & **Station** & **Station** \\ \hline
1 & Sand & 5.92 & 8.34 & 8.93 & 3.94 \\
2 & Flat grain cotton cloth & 2.46 & 9.32 & 10.21 & 1.30 \\
3 & Pile & 1.92 & 4.48 & 5.66 & 2.49 \\
4 & Both plain cotton cloth and pile & 0.85 & 2.57 & 3.24 & 1.12 \\
5 & Both plain cotton cloth and pile & 0.70 & 2.46 & 3.27 & 2.20 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 7: Lateral displacements for different structural types (at a vertical load of 17.5 kN). Figure 5: Vertical load–lateral displacement curves for different structure types. Based on the findings presented in Figure 5, it is evident that the lateral displacement variations at various measuring points on the slope surface (Point A at the slope top, Point B at the slope middle, Point C at the slope center, and Point D at the slope bottom) follow a consistent trend across the five conditions: condition 1 > condition 3 > condition 2 > condition 4 > condition 5. The trend of lateral displacement remains the same, slope center > bottom of slope > top of slope. With the increase in the vertical load, the lateral displacement of the slope surface for each condition increases, the increase of the lateral displacement of the measuring point in the slope increases, the trend of the lateral displacement of the measuring points on the slope surface is more obvious, and the maximum lateral displacement corresponding to the limit load of the five conditions are all at the middle of the slope. At the ultimate load of 17.5 kN for the pure sand structure, the lateral displacements of the measured points at the top of the slope A, the measured point in the middle of the slope B, the measured point in the middle of the slope C, and the measured point at the bottom of the slope D are 3.94 mm, 8.93 mm, 8.34 mm, and 5.92 mm, respectively. The lateral displacements at point A at the top of the slope were reduced by 67%, 37%, 72%, and 44%, respectively; at point B in the middle of the slope by \(-\)14%, 37%, 64%, and 63%, respectively; at point B in the middle of the slope by \(-\)12%, 46%, 69%, and 71%, respectively; and at point D at the bottom of the slope by 58%, 68%, 86%, and 88%, respectively. A comparative analysis shows that, under the action of the vertical load, the slope surface of condition 1 gradually produces the deflection outward, \"the lateral deformation at the top and bottom of the slope is small, and the lateral deformation in the middle of the slope is large\". Due to the friction between the horizontal reinforcement and sand, the lateral deformation of the soil body has a limiting effect, with the increase in load, the friction between the horizontal reinforcement and sand gradually increases, thus improving the structural capacity and overall stability, but due to the middle of the structure between the reinforcement and sand, friction is obviously less than the upper load, so the middle of the slope in condition 2 (with reinforcement without pile) is a larger deflection produced by the \"bulging phenomenon\". In the condition 3 structure, the vertical stresses borne by the soil are smaller due to the compression of the piles and the exertion of the pile lateral frictional resistance, resulting in a smaller amplitude of deflection and overall lateral displacement of the slope.