The functions of a pile cap are:

1. To distribute a single load equally over the pile group and thus over a
greater area of bearing potential,

2. To laterally stabilise individual piles thus increasing overall stability of

the group. And

3. To provide the necessary combined resistance to stresses set up by the

superstructure and/or ground movement.

Pile caps are thick slabs used to tie

a group of piles together to support

and transmit column loads to the piles.

10.2 Pile Cap Arrangement

Spacing of the piles in the pile group
The following should be considered when determining the spacing of the piles:

1. Overall cost of the foundation

2. Nature of the ground

3. Pile behaviour in the group

 4. Resulting possible heave or compaction of ground causing damage to
adjacent structures

5. Cost of pile cap

6. Size and effective length of ground beam

7. Type and size of pile

Piles should be placed in a suitable arrangement so that the spacing

between piles ranges from (2-3) D (pile diameter) in case of isolated pile
caps and (2-6) D in case of rafts supported on piles.

The C.G. of piles should be placed as far as possible in the C.G. of loads
transmitted from the structure to the group of piles.

In the case of presence of neighbors, piles should be away from the

property line by a distance not less than D or as the pile installation
method requires.

The projection of the pile cap should be 10-15 cm.

• Requirements for Pile Caps

Same as spread footings with the following additions:

1. Design must satisfy the punching shear in the vicinity of the individual
piles or shafts

2. The effective depth d must be at least 30 cm. This implies a minimum

thickness T of 40 cm.

3. The bearing force between the individual piles or shafts and the caps
must not exceed the capacity of either element.

• Pile Cap Reinforcement

The amount of pile cap reinforcement is governed by:

1. The loading on the pile cap,

2. The spacing of the piles, and

 3. The depth of the pile cap.

10.3 Load Distribution

For a simple understanding of the method, let us assume that the following
conditions are satisfied:

1. The pile is rigid

2. The pile is pinned at the top and at the bottom

3. Each pile receives the load only vertically (i.e. axially applied );

4. The force P acting on the pile is proportional to the displacement U due

to compression.

Ix = Io + A . X2

Eccentricity of load

( Single ) Eccentricity of load

( Double eccentricity)

Deviation of the piles

Most piling specifications permit a deviation in pile position of not exceeding
75 mm in any direction from the intended position. Additional deviations of
1:75 from the vertical piles and 1:25 from the designed rake for raking piles
are also permitted.

Thus, the pile cap should be large enough to accommodate those piles which
have deviated from the intended position. The pile cap should extend for a
distance of 100 to 150 mm outside the outer face of the piles in the group.

Location and Alignment Tolerance:

The pile head at cutoff elevation shall be within 50 mm of plan locations for
bent caps supported by piles, and shall be within 150mm of plan locations for
all piles capped below final grade. The as – driven centroid of load of any pile
group at cutoff elevation shall be within 5% of the plan location of the
designed centroid of load.

No pile shall be nearer than 100mm from any edge of the cap. Any increase in
size of cap to meet this edge distance requirement shall be at the Contractor’s
expense.
Piles shall be installed so that the axial alignment of the top 3m of the pile is
within 2% of the specified alignment. For piles that cannot be inspected
internally after installation, an alignment check shall be made before
installing the last 1.5m of pile, or after installation is completed provided the
exposed portion of the pile is not less than 1.5m in length. The Engineer may
require that driving be stopped in order to check the pile alignment. Aligned
section on a misaligned section shall not be permitted.

If the location and/ or alignment tolerances specified in the preceding

paragraphs are exceeded, the extent of overloading shall be evaluated by the
Engineer. If in the judgment of the Engineer, corrective measures are
necessary, suitable measures shall be designed and constructed by the
Contractor. The Contractor shall bear all costs, including delays, associated
with the corrective action.

10.4 Design of Pile Cap

Design Procedure:
A- Required Data:

Pile Data: 1- Pile diameter and length,

2- Pile allowable bearing capacity

Column Data: 1- Column load (N + M + H),

2- Column dimensions

B- Design Steps:

1- Determine required number of piles:

Notes:

In case of (N) only multiply by 1.1


In case of (M+N) multiply by 1.2

Number of piles used is rounded to the upper integer

2- Pile Cap Arrangement and Plane Dimension:

Piles should be placed in a suitable arrangement so that the spacing

between piles ranges from (2-3) D in case of isolated pile caps and (2-6)
D in case of rafts supported on piles, where D is the pile diameter.

The C.G. of piles should be placed as far as possible in the C.G. of

loads.

In the case of presence of neighbors, piles should be away from the

property line by a distance not less than D or as the pile installation
method requires.

The projection of the pile cap should be about 10-15 cm.

3- Pile Cap Preliminary Depth:

The depth of the pile cap could be preliminary estimated assuming an

allowable punching stress of 10 kg/cm2 on the column face.

4- Check Forces in Piles:

5- Check for punching shear:

6- Check for shear:

7-
Design for moment:

The critical section for moment is taken at the column face.

8- Check for Bond:

• The reinforcement used in resisting flexural moment should be checked

for bond stress acting on it.

• Shear at the same section of the bending moment is calculated.

NOTES:

Check IS CODES for the vakue of Punching ,shear and bond values.

Compied by Er.T.RangaRajan.