Various Aspects of Detailing of Reinforcement in Two-Pile Cap Concrete

Abstract

Of the many types of pile caps, two-pile cap (TPC) born by two piles is extensively used. Notwithstanding being a very extensively used structural member, there is no generally accepted procedure for design of pile caps. Of the very few available methods of design, sectional force method, endorsed by IS 456:2000 (Indian Standard code of practice for plain and reinforced concrete. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi [1]), and IRC 21:2000 (‘Standard Specifications and Code of Practice for Road bridges’ section: III Cement concrete (Plain and Reinforced). The Indian Road Congress [2]), is generally in use in India. In this method, design for flexure, two-way shear and bearing is done by standard methods. The aforementioned codes provide specifications for identification of one-way shear on pile caps, but little experimental research is reported to date, on the validity of the specifications contained in the codes. The research presented in this paper fills the void. The seven TPCs tested to failure have shown that the specifications of the code are valid. The concurrence of specifications of the codes since their inception and test results have been established for the first time by the current tests.