Grouping of Piles and Load-Carrying Capacity

The load-carrying capacity of piles can be significantly influenced by various factors, including the type of piles and their arrangement. In the case of grouping piles, the load-carrying capacity is not reduced for both friction piles and end bearing piles. Let's understand why.

Friction Piles
Friction piles rely on the frictional resistance between the pile and the surrounding soil to transfer the load. When friction piles are grouped together, the individual frictional resistance of each pile is combined, resulting in an increased overall load-carrying capacity. This is because the contact area between the piles and the soil is increased, allowing for greater frictional forces to be developed. Therefore, grouping friction piles does not reduce their load-carrying capacity.

End Bearing Piles
End bearing piles, on the other hand, transfer the load to a stronger layer of soil or rock at their base. When end bearing piles are grouped together, each pile contributes its own load-carrying capacity to the overall capacity. As a result, the load-carrying capacity of the group is not reduced. The combined capacity of the end bearing piles is determined by the sum of the individual capacities of each pile. Therefore, grouping end bearing piles does not decrease their load-carrying capacity.

Combining Friction and End Bearing Piles
In some cases, a combination of friction and end bearing piles may be used. When these piles are grouped together, the load-carrying capacity is determined by both the frictional resistance and the end bearing capacity. Similar to the individual pile types, grouping the combination of friction and end bearing piles does not reduce their load-carrying capacity.

In conclusion, the load-carrying capacity of both friction piles and end bearing piles is not reduced when they are grouped together. Grouping piles allows for the combined capacities of each individual pile to contribute to the overall load-carrying capacity. This is beneficial in situations where higher loads need to be supported or where soil conditions may vary across the site.