Pile Pier Foundation Property Page 1 of 2

Pile Pier Foundation Property

Use the Pile Pier Foundation form to define the material, dimensions and soil properties for a pile pier
foundation property. This property can be assigned to a joint using the Draw > Isolated Foundation
command.
The pile pier will be modeled as line objects. The pile pier will be discretized based on the elevation of the
soil layers. All the pile line objects are assigned with line springs in the local 2 and 3 (transverse) directions
of the line object to provide the horizontal support, and a line spring in the local 1 (longitudinal) direction of
the line object to provide the vertical support (friction between pile and soil).

The spring constant of the horizontal line spring is equal to the corresponding soil modulus multiplied by the
pile diameter.

The spring constant of the vertical friction line spring is equal to the soil modulus Ks multiplied by the shear
factor from the corresponding soil layer and the circumference of the pile. If the length of the pile exceeds
the depth of the specified soil layers, then the property from the deepest soil layer will be used for the
exceeding length of the pile. The point support condition at the end of the pile can be defined under the
End Spring field.

◾ General:

◦ Name: The name of the foundation property.

◾ Pile Pier:

◦ Material: Specify a previously defined material for this property.

◦ Diameter, D: The diameter of the pile.
◦ Length, H: The vertical pile length measured from the joint to the tip of the pile.
◦ End Spring: The values of the point restraints or spring constants at the pile tip (bottom) that
represent the lateral and vertical subgrade modulus of soil. To edit these values, click the
item “End Spring” and then click the “…” button. This will display the Pile End Restraint
form.

◾ Soil Properties:

◦ Soil Cover, Sc: The distance above the top surface of the footing to the top of soil, where soil
layers start.

◦ Layer Properties: The values of the modulus of subgrade reaction in the soil layers. To edit
these values, click the item “Layer Properties” and then click the “…” button. This will display
the Soil Layer Properties form.

◾ Model 3D:

◦ Use the controls in this region to control the 3D display of the defined foundation property.

Access the Pile Pier Foundation Property form as follows:

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Pile Pier Foundation Property Page 2 of 2

1. Click the Define > Foundation Properties command to bring up the Advanced Foundation
Properties form.

2. Click the Add New Foundation button to display the Add Foundation Property form. Then
click the Advanced Foundation Properties form, select Pile Pier and click OK. Alternatively,
highlight the name of a previously defined foundation in the Foundation area and click the Add
Copy of Foundation or Modify/Show Foundation button to display the Pile Pier Foundation
Property form.

See Also:

Draw Isolated Foundation

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