Group Action of Piles:
Piles are always used in groups.
This is to ensure that the structural load from a member like a column or a
wall lies within the zone of influence of foundation. If single driven pile is
used as foundation, one cannot be certain that pile would be located centrally
below the foundation element as quite often pile moves laterally during
driving. Resultant eccentricity of loading may result in development of bending
stress and pile may fail. So, minimum number of three pile is used under a
column. The load is transferred to pile in group through a reinforced slab or
beam called pile cap. When pile cap stand clearly above the ground level the
pile group is called free standing pile group.
The pile spacing mainly controls
the behavior of pile groups. The spacing should not be too small so that
upheaval of ground surface takes place during driving into dense or
incompressible material. On the other hand, if spacing is too large uneconomic
pile cap may result. When driving pile in sand, it is advisable to begin at the
center of a group and then proceed outwards to avoid problems of ground
tightening.
The
load carrying capacity of a group of piles is given by
(Qu)g=Nqu𝑛
where,
(Qu)g=
Load carrying capacity of pile group
N = number of piles
qu=
allowable load per pile
n = group efficiency

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