Lateral Pier / Pole

Embedment of a laterally loaded post/pole — IBC 1807.3.2 constrained & non-constrained.

Soil strength values (c, φ, γ, lateral-bearing) must come from a project-specific geotechnical report — the pre-filled defaults are illustrative placeholders, not safe assumptions.

Design diagram — updates live with your inputs

Load & Geometry

Lateral load P (lb)

Load height above grade (ft)

Post width / diameter (in)

Soil & Conditions

Lateral bearing value (psf/ft) IBC Table 1806.2 (per ft of depth)

Constrained at grade Yes Restrained by slab/pavement (IBC 1807.3.2.2)

Allowable increase 2.0 permitted for isolated poles (IBC 1806.3.4)

Design

Provided embedment (ft) Optional — checks vs required

IBC 2021

Validation, assumptions & limitations Download validation report (PDF) ↗

This calculator is verified by 4 independent tests comparing its output against closed-form statics, NDS/SDPWS design-standard values and published worked examples. Full case-by-case results are in the PDF report.

Assumptions

Lateral soil bearing increases linearly with depth (S per ft of depth).
Non-constrained = free at grade; constrained = restrained at grade.
Allowable lateral bearing may be doubled for isolated poles (1806.3.4).

Limitations

Lateral-bearing value is from IBC Table 1806.2 — a geotechnical INPUT.
Rigid-pier (not p-y) method; deflection at grade is not computed.
No surcharge, slope or layered-soil effects.

Results are for preliminary design and must be confirmed by a licensed engineer against the current adopted code and project-specific conditions.