Pile Foundations Question

[TCsaw]

Hi all, I am currently trying to follow the online tutorial for the SAP2000 Automated Seismic Design of Bridges, and when it gets to the Pile foundations it barely discusses how they modeled it...

If any of you can point me in the right direction please do so, or if you can answer these next few questions please do.

In the tutorial, it says to apply a weld constraint to the bottom of the column to the center of the planer object. Which I have tried but once I try to attach the piles to the same planer object at the same point I loose one or the other constraints. i.e. once I run the model either the column is free from the pile cap or the pile is free.

Which constraints should I use to attach the piles to the pile cap?

How should I model the pile cap?

Thanks

 

[cocojo]

Hello TCsaw,

I have the same problem as you. Did you get the solution to your question? Please let us know.

 

[masomenos]

Why do you need to use constraints at all? Just model your piles as equivalent springs, or model them explicity with frame elements connecting centerline to the pile cap. It would help if you posted your model or a drawing.

 

[engidude]

try this:
1.draw center point of footing by projecting from end of column
2.use weld-link to connect teh center point of footing to end of column
3. switch to Z=center of footing.
4. replicate other points( top of piles)from the center point( of footing).
5. draw piles.
this instruction is from a CSI training, but I did not try it out yet because i don't think the response wil be more accurate if we make the model more complicated. since RESPONSE SPECTRUM is just "stick" model

 

[engidude]

try this:
1.draw center point of footing by projecting from end of column
2.use weld-link to connect teh center point of footing to end of column
3. switch to Z=center of footing.
4. replicate to get other points( top of piles)from the center point( of footing).
5. draw piles.
this instruction is from a CSI training, but I did not try it out yet because i don't think the response wil be more accurate if we make the model more complicated. since RESPONSE SPECTRUM is just "stick" model

 

[engidude]

try this:
1.draw center point of footing by projecting from end of column
2.use weld-link to connect teh center point of footing to end of column
3. switch work plane to Z=center of footing.
4. replicate to get other points( top of piles)from the center point( of footing).
5. draw piles.
this instruction is from a CSI training, but I did not try it out yet because i don't think the response wil be more accurate if we make the model more complicated. since RESPONSE SPECTRUM is just using a "stick" model