MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOTING ON PILES

CAPACITY OF PILES IN A GROUP UNDER AXIAL LOAD

Where
P
R
n
Pile cap

=
=
=

load per pile

total structural load
total number of piles in a group

d = 300mm
bar cover = 75mm
pile cover = 150mm

CAPACITY OF PILES IN A GROUP UNDER AXIAL LOAD MOMENT

Where
pile spacing

Pile edge distance = 0.45m

= 0.75m minimum spacing
= 3 x diameter of pile (usual spacing)
Figure 1. Minimum Requirements for Footing on Piles

CAPACITY OF PILES IN A GROUP

Pile cap
Distributes column loads to piles
Reinforced concrete cap encasing all the pile heads that enables piles to
function as a group
Serves as spread footing but the capacity is disregarded
Pile Group
Under a concentric load, all piles in the group are assumed to take equal axial
loads.
Based on theory, model tests, and field measurements, piles in one group do
not take equal loads
Center piles take less than the outer piles and the corner piles are subject to
maximum loads

Mx
My
x2
y2

=
=
=
=

moment along x-axis

moment along y-axis
pile distance from the center of gravity of the pile group along x-axis
pile distance from the center of gravity of the pile group along y-axis

NSCP Specifications:
415.6.3 Computation of shear on any section through a footing supported on piles
shall be in accordance with the following:
415.6.3.1
Entire reaction from any pile whose center is located dp/2 or more
outside the section shall be considered as producing shear on that section.

415.6.3.2
Reaction from any pile whose center is located dp/2 or more inside
the section shall be considered as producing no shear on that section.
415.6.3.3
For intermediate positions of pile center, the portion of the pile
reaction to be considered in producing shear on the section shall be based on
straight-line interpolation between full value at dp/2 outside the section and zero
value at dp/2 inside the section
Note: dp = diameter of pile

Sample Problems
1) A footing supports a 0.4m x 0.4m column carrying a dead load of 628.5 KN and
a live load of 1000 KN. The footing is supported by piles to be spaced at 0.9m
o.c. If fc = 20.7MPa and fy = 276 MPa, determine the:
a) Required no. of piles if allowable load for pile is 200 KN and the footing
weight is 10% of the load
b) Footing dimensions if square footing is to be used
c) Ultimate load per pile
d) Maximum moment in the footing
e) Beam shear and punching shear in the footing
f) Average effective depth of the footing
2) A 3.4m x 4.6m x 0.5m pile cap is supported by 12 piles in a 3x4 pile arrangement
spaced at 1.2m on centers. It is to carry a pier load of 760 KN and a longitudinal
moment of 180 KN-m. Assume a soil backfill 1.2m thick. Consider concrete
weighs 23.6 KN/m3 and soil is 18.2 KN/m3.
a) Approximate the total vertical load to be carried by the pile group.
b) Determine the maximum pile reaction.
c) Determine the minimum pile reaction.
d) If a transverse moment of 120 KN-m is added to the above-mentioned
loads, find the maximum pile reaction.
3) A cluster of piles supporting a bridge pier consists of 6 rows of piles each.
Spacing of piles in both directions is 0.9m. The resultant is 0.3m off the center
in the direction of the smaller dimension of the cluster and 0.225m off the
center in the other direction. The total load in the group is 2400KN. Find the
load carried by the most stressed pile.
4) A wall footing is
supported on 3 rows of
piles
spaced
0.3m
transversely. Piles on
the front and second
row are longitudinally
spaced at 0.9m o.c,
while on the third row, is
at 1.8m o.c. If the
footing carries a load of
120 KN/m, and is acting
at the center row of the
piles, find the load per
pile.