Three-dimensional analysis of pile caps

A general three-dimensional elasticity solution of pile caps with symmetrically placed column and piles has been presented and illustrated by application to pile caps with two and four piles. The solution of the governing differential equations of three-dimensional elasticity theory has been expressed in the form of a Galerkin vector. The components of the Galerkin vector for a rectangular block, expressed as a double Fourier series satisfying the governing biharmonic equation, developed by Iyengar and Prabhakara, have been used. The solution of pile caps involves superposition of two three-dimensional elasticity solutions. The first solution pertains to a rectangular block subjected to symmetrical patch loading on opposite faces, while the second solution pertains to a rectangular block subjected to anti-symmetric patch loading on opposite faces. Numerical results of pile caps with two and four piles are given for several cases. No attempt seems to have been made so far for the rigorous three-dimensional analysis of pile caps. © 1992.