Timber Pile Grade Beam Connection

[RPizzi]

Does anyone have a good connection detail for connecting a 12" wide grade beam directly to a 12" timber pile? A 4' deep grade beam with 2' deep cap gives a depth of 6'. Groundwater depth is 5' below grade and I do not want to form caps in the wet and tremie concrete. Foundation is for multi family residential construction. Cost savings for forming and pouring 200+ pile caps would be significant to say the least. Are caps actually required by code?

Thanks,
RP

 

[cap4000]

I have been doing pile caps for 25 years and would not recommend your proposed pile to beam connection. I not sure if the code specifically addresses your proposed detail. I would go with a standard typical pile cap and "DAP" the concrete beam ends to meet the elevation. All your bottom of concrete would now be at elevation -4 ft. What kind of loads are on your grade beam anyway and what is your timber pile capacity??

 

[dik]

Do you have any significant uplift? I usually use straps secured to the sides of the timber piles and embed these into the concrete

Dik

 

[boo1]

I have seen steel rebar dowels used with smaller piles and wider pile caps in LA in residential applications.