Analysis of the link embedded in the glass block foundation

Abstract

In precast reinforced concrete structures, the connection between column and pile cap is generally carriedout through a socket, which consists in a cavity in the cap for embed and adjust the column andsubsequent fill the empty space between these elements with cast-in-place concrete. The design methodsfor this connection are based on the type of walls surface (smooth or rough), as wells as on the magnitudeof the eccentricity of the normal load (small, intermediate or large). In addition, the socket can be built asexternal, partially embedded or fully embedded. This work presents a theoretical analysis through theStrut-and-Tie Method on pile caps with two, three and four piles, with fully embedded socket, smoothsurface walls and normal load with large eccentricity. The main focus of this research is proposearrangements of truss of the Strut-and-Tie Methods for these models, which were based on theoretical andexperimental studies of the literature carried out on external socket and pile caps of monolithic structures.After determining the geometry of the pile caps, the proposed Strut-and-Tie Methods were applied.Through the software CypeCAD 2010, the forces in the elements of the idealized struss were calculated.Besides, the reinforcement was determined and the compression stress of the struts was verified, whosedimensions were carefully evaluated. The results were suitable and are detailed through figures andtables. Finally, this work led to a practical and consistent design method for pile caps with fullyembedded socket, smooth walls and large eccentricity of normal load, since the conception of theproposed models was created from well based studies of the literature and the calculated internal forceswere compatible with the type of the elements (tie or strut) of the idealized truss.