Abstract
Abstract There are many methods for designing pile caps, but there is still no consensus on which one provides the best approach for the practical engineers. In Brazil, many structural designers use the classical Blévot method; however, the applicability of the method has been questioned after the revision of the NBR 6118 standard for design of concrete structures in 2014. To support structural designers, a strut-and-tie model has recently been developed that relates the classical method to the most current concepts of strut-and-tie models. The theoretical bearing capacity of four-pile cap obtained through several strut-and-tie models are compared with experimental tests. The results show that this recently developed model is suitable for the design of deep pile cap.
Highlights
Pile caps are tridimensional structural elements whose function is to transfer the forces in the column to a set of piles
The results show that this recently developed model is suitable for the design of deep pile cap
The Fusco Method [5] can be considered a consistent adaptation of the Blévot method and allows using the prescriptions of NBR 6118 [4] without exaggerating in conservatism, it does not follow the modern concepts of strut-and-tie models (Schlaich et al [20] and stress fields (Muttoni et al [21])
Summary
Pile caps are tridimensional structural elements whose function is to transfer the forces in the column to a set of piles. In order to align the normative prescriptions with the design methods of pile caps, a new method was developed and presented by Santos et al [3]. This method is based on a strut-and-tie model that mixes the classical and the Fusco methods in a consistent way following the modern concepts of strut-and-tie models and stress fields. This comparative study indicates the suitability of the recently developed model, and possible improvements are outlined
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