Title: Rigidity of Reinforced Concrete Pile-Cap

Author(s): Lian Duan and Steven B. McBride

Publication: Concrete International

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Appears on pages(s): 42-44

Keywords: bridge foundations; deflection; finite element method; flexural strength; piling; reinforced concrete; rigidity; structural design; Design

DOI:

Date: 1/1/1995

Abstract:
To investigate the rigidity of reinforced concrete pile-caps, a typical highway bridge pile-cap was analyzed by a three-dimensional finite element GTSTRUDL model. The deflection shapes of the pile-cap and pile reactions with various length to thickness ratio of cantilever (L/D) have been studied extensively. It is found that the assumption of the rigid pile-cap is no longer valid when L/D > 2.2 is used to determine pile reactions. A limit of the length to thickness ratio (L/D) less than or equal to 2.2 may be used to provide the design assumption that the pile cap acts as a rigid member.