| dc.description.abstract | The design of pile caps as transition elements between the upper structure
load and the pile foundation system is highly dependent on the mechanical
characteristics of the supporting soil. Pile caps play a critical role in pile
foundation systems, functioning as structural elements that transfer loads
from superstructure columns to a group of piles beneath. Soil variability,
both vertically and laterally, poses a significant challenge in foundation
design, particularly in pile group systems where load distribution relies
on the collective behavior of the pile cap. In soft clay conditions,
differences in subsoil stiffness often lead to eccentric load transfer due to
uneven pile reactions, generating additional bending moments and
increasing the structural reinforcement demand. This study aims to
evaluate the influence of soil elastic modulus (E) variation on the flexural
reinforcement requirements of pile caps, using eccentricity as a derived
analytical parameter. The elastic modulus values ranged from 1.75 MPa
to 45 MPa, based on the classification of in-situ soft clay conditions. A
static analytical approach was employed to calculate load eccentricity,
resulting bending moments, required steel area, and corresponding
reinforcement weight. The results show that a decrease in E significantly
amplifies eccentricity and bending moments, leading to up to a fourfold
increase in reinforcement requirements under extremely soft soil
conditions. At the lowest E value, the required reinforcement reached
1714.68 mm² with a weight of 258.80 kg, while at the highest E value, it
dropped to only 146.97 mm² and 28.76 kg. These findings underscore the
necessity of explicitly incorporating soil stiffness into pile cap design to
ensure structural efficiency and to avoid overdesign. | en_US |
