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 It is found that the assumption of the rigid pile-cap is no longer valid when L/D 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.