Nonlinear finite element analysis of four-pile caps supporting columns subjected to generic loading

Rafael Alves de Souza, Daniel Alexander Kuchma, Jung Woong Park and Tulio Nogueira Bittencourt

Abstract

The paper presents the development of an adaptable strut-and-tie model that can be applied to the design or analysis of four-pile caps that support axial compression and biaxial flexure from a supported rectangular column. Due to an absence of relevant test data, the model is validated using nonlinear finite element analyses (NLFEA). The results indicate that the use of the proposed model would lead to safe and economical designs. The proposed model can be easily extended to any number of piles, providing a rational procedure for the design of wide range of pile caps.

Key Words

pile caps; strut-and-tie models; flexure strength; shear strength; concrete design.

Address

Rafael Alves de Souza; Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade Estadual de Maringa, Av. Colombo, 5790, Bloco C67, CEP 87020-900, Maringa - PR, Brazil Daniel Alexander Kuchma and Jung Woong Park; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2114 Newmark Laboratory, 205 N. Mathews Ave., 61801, Urbana - IL, USA Tulio Nogueira Bittencourt; Departamento de Engenharia de Estruturas e Fundacoes, Escola Politecnica da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, trav.2, n.271, Cidade Universitaria, CEP 05508-900, Sao Paulo - SP, Brazil

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