Experimental Study on Seismic Performance of Elevated Pile-cap Foundation of Bridges

Seismic behaviour of high-rise pile cap foundation is investigated in this paper. Pseudo-static tests of two full-scale reinforced concrete elevated pile-cap foundations in dry sand with details representative of the current Chinese design under combined axial compression and reversed cyclic lateral displacement were finished. The square piles in the group foundations were set in a 2×2 pattern with a nominal spacing of three-pile side length centre to centre. Aboveground height was the main test parameter. The particular interests are the failure mode, the lateral strength and stiffness, global load-displacement hysteretic loops, depth-to-maximum-moment and plastic hinges development mechanism of the test specimens. Pushover analysis was also performed to study the behavior of the experimental specimens. The test program was intended to provide the experimental basis for evaluation of seismic performance of elevated pile cap foundation.