Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps
Abstract Despite extensive research on reinforced concrete (RC) pile caps, the influence of column and pile configuration and dimensions on their shear performance remains unexplored. This study investigates the structural behavior of RC pile caps through experimental and numerical analyses, focusin...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05303-7 |
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| author | Sabry Fayed Moataz Badawi Ali Basha Mohamed Ghalla Yahia Iskander Saad A. Yehia |
| author_facet | Sabry Fayed Moataz Badawi Ali Basha Mohamed Ghalla Yahia Iskander Saad A. Yehia |
| author_sort | Sabry Fayed |
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| description | Abstract Despite extensive research on reinforced concrete (RC) pile caps, the influence of column and pile configuration and dimensions on their shear performance remains unexplored. This study investigates the structural behavior of RC pile caps through experimental and numerical analyses, focusing on how variations in column and pile geometry affect shear capacity. Two pile cap specimens (700 mm long × 300 mm wide) with heights of 250 mm (SB1) and 350 mm (SB2) were tested under shear-dominated conditions. Both were supported by two square piles (200 × 200 mm) and loaded centrally via a square column (200 × 200 mm). The study reports crack patterns, ultimate shear load, load-displacement behavior, elastic stiffness, and energy absorption capacity. A validated 3D finite element model was developed to parametrically analyze rectangular/circular columns and piles with dimensions ranging from 0.2d to d (where d = pile cap width). The findings indicate that failure modes were consistently shear-dominated and remained unaffected by variations in column or pile configuration and size. Increasing the rectangular column length from 0.2d to d enhanced the ultimate load capacity by 108% and energy absorption by 100%. Similarly, increasing the circular column diameter from 0.2d to d improved these metrics by 348% and 373%, respectively. Widening the rectangular pile from 0.2d to d resulted in a 34% increase in ultimate load capacity. Overall, the study demonstrates that larger column and pile dimensions significantly enhance shear performance, with circular configurations yielding superior improvements. These insights offer practical guidance for optimizing pile cap design. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07b171d61b6c4e46a896c66ff9aee515 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-07b171d61b6c4e46a896c66ff9aee5152025-08-20T02:37:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115112410.1038/s41598-025-05303-7Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile capsSabry Fayed0Moataz Badawi1Ali Basha2Mohamed Ghalla3Yahia Iskander4Saad A. Yehia5Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kafrelsheikh UniversityDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kafrelsheikh UniversityDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kafrelsheikh UniversityDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture, Umm Al-Qura UniversityCivil Engineering Department, Higher Institute of Engineering and TechnologyAbstract Despite extensive research on reinforced concrete (RC) pile caps, the influence of column and pile configuration and dimensions on their shear performance remains unexplored. This study investigates the structural behavior of RC pile caps through experimental and numerical analyses, focusing on how variations in column and pile geometry affect shear capacity. Two pile cap specimens (700 mm long × 300 mm wide) with heights of 250 mm (SB1) and 350 mm (SB2) were tested under shear-dominated conditions. Both were supported by two square piles (200 × 200 mm) and loaded centrally via a square column (200 × 200 mm). The study reports crack patterns, ultimate shear load, load-displacement behavior, elastic stiffness, and energy absorption capacity. A validated 3D finite element model was developed to parametrically analyze rectangular/circular columns and piles with dimensions ranging from 0.2d to d (where d = pile cap width). The findings indicate that failure modes were consistently shear-dominated and remained unaffected by variations in column or pile configuration and size. Increasing the rectangular column length from 0.2d to d enhanced the ultimate load capacity by 108% and energy absorption by 100%. Similarly, increasing the circular column diameter from 0.2d to d improved these metrics by 348% and 373%, respectively. Widening the rectangular pile from 0.2d to d resulted in a 34% increase in ultimate load capacity. Overall, the study demonstrates that larger column and pile dimensions significantly enhance shear performance, with circular configurations yielding superior improvements. These insights offer practical guidance for optimizing pile cap design.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05303-7Reinforced concrete pile capsColumn-pile configurationShear performanceFinite element modelingBearing capacity |
| spellingShingle | Sabry Fayed Moataz Badawi Ali Basha Mohamed Ghalla Yahia Iskander Saad A. Yehia Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps Scientific Reports Reinforced concrete pile caps Column-pile configuration Shear performance Finite element modeling Bearing capacity |
| title | Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps |
| title_full | Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps |
| title_fullStr | Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps |
| title_short | Effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps |
| title_sort | effect of column and pile configuration and dimension on shear performance of reinforced concrete pile caps |
| topic | Reinforced concrete pile caps Column-pile configuration Shear performance Finite element modeling Bearing capacity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05303-7 |
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