4.2.

3 NUMBERS, SPACING AND ARRANGEMENT OF PILES

The number of piles required in bridge foundation is obtained by dividing the total vertical load acting
on the foundation by the safe bearing capacity of a single pile. The spacing of piles shall be considered in
relation to the nature of ground, the types of piles and the manner in which the piles transfer the
load to the ground. Generally, the centre-to-centre spacing of under-reamed piles in a group should be
at least 1.5 times the diameter of the under-ream. For bored cast-in-situ piles, a minimum spacing of 2.5
times the diameter of pile is recommended for piles deriving their capacities mainly from the end
bearing stratum (end bearing piles). On the other hand, piles deriving their bearing capacity primarily
from friction(friction piles) shall be sufficiently apart to ensure that the zones of soils from which
the piles derive their support do not overlap to such an extent that their bearing values are reduced.
Generally the spacing in such case shall not be less than 3 times the diameter of the pile.

The arrangement of piles in a foundation depends upon the number of piles to be installed in the
foundation. Wherever conditions permit, the piles should be arranged in the most compact geometric
form in order to keep the stresses in the pile cap to a minimum. Some geometric forms are shown
Fig. 4.10 Typical arrangement of piles in a group

Piles in foundation can be arranged in a grid pattern, where the spacing between the piles in
longitudinal as well as transverse direction of the bridge remains the same. After fixing the arrangement
of piles in a group, the dimensions of the pile cap are determined. A clear overhang of 100 mm to 150
mm should be provided in the pile cap beyond the edge of the outermost pile in the group. A minimum
of three piles shall be provided in pile group. If the numbers of piles provided in the foundation are
three, then the connection of the pile cap with the piles is assumed to be hinged connection i.e. pile cap
can transmit only forces and not the moments, from pier to the piles. If the number of piles in the pile
group exceeds three, then a rigid connection is provided between the piles and the pile cap i.e. the pile
cap is able to transmit both forces and moments, from pier to the piles. The group capacity of piles is
found by assuming the pile group to behave as a deep footing.