Loads are transmitted to the piles through the origin of the coordinate axis. Factors for Group Loadings may be specified. Program output includes shears, moments, and axial forces for each pile for multiple load conditions. Deflections at the centroid of the cap as well as arbitrarily chosen points in space also are printed. An equilibrium check of the vertical forces as well as a summary of maximum and minimum axial loads and the governing load cases are output for each pile.
Diagnostic information is displayed if abnormal loading or geometric conditions are encountered.
This program is intended to accommodate the majority of problems encountered in the design of pile groups. The general direct stiffness method for three-dimensional pile foundations is utilized. This allows for a variety of features and configurations which are described in this section. Also described are the limitations and difficulties which are inherent in the general topic of pile group design and pile-soil interaction. The interaction of the pile with the subgrade may be considered or neglected through the specification of a subgrade modulus, k s .