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Reinforced Concrete Sections
Here we'll explore the Concrete Designer dialog. We'll first quickly set up the basics of the model, then specify the reinforced concrete section.
1.0 Setting up the initial model
- In the Project Settings
make sure:
- Units = Imperial.
- Pile Analysis Type = Laterally Loaded.
- In the Soil Properties dialog (Soils > Soil Properties
), define the following:
- In the Edit Boreholes dialog (Soils > Borehole Editor
), define the following soil profile. We are using only a single borehole for this example.
# | Name | Colour | Soil Type | Unit Weight (lbs/ft3) | Strain Factor | Undrained Shear Strength (psf) |
1 | Clay | Soft Clay Soil | 96 | 0.02 | 32 |
# | Name | Thickness | Top Elevation | Bottom Elevation |
1 | Clay | 55 | 0 | -55 |
2.0 Defining the pile section material properties and reinforced concrete section
- Open the Define Pile Section Properties dialog by selecting Piles > Pile Section Properties
. Here we'll define a circular reinforced concrete section.
- From the Cross Section dropdown, select Circle. Set the Diameter to 3.42 ft.
- From the Section Type dropdown, select Reinforced Concrete.
Note that the Design button is now available. - Set the Compressive Strength to 34,000 psf.
Pile Section Properties dialog - Reinforced Concrete Section - Click on the Design button.
2.1 Concrete Designer
The Concrete Designer has 4 tabs, allowing users to fully define a reinforced concrete section. For more detailed information, we have the following help topics:
By default, the concrete section is not reinforced.
- In the Reinforcement tab, click on the Add
icon to add a reinforcement and define the following pattern:
- Rebar Size = US Std. #9
- Pattern type = Radial
- Number of Bars = 14
- Angle from X Axis = 0
- Distance from Center (in) = 13
- Check the Add Casing box and enter the below properties:
- Casing Thickness (in) = 0.5
- Yield Stress of Casing (psf) = 420,000
- Elastic Modulus of Casing (psf) = 200,000,000
- Finally, we'll add an I-beam to the center of the pile using the I-beam tab. Define the I-beam as shown in the figure below:
- Type = American Steel
- W 12x72
- Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes. Click OK to exit the Define Pile Section Properties dialog and save your changes.

We will now add a casing in the Casing tab. This tab allows the user to add a casing and to specify the necessary parameters.
3.0 Defining the pile type and loading
We can now specify the pile loading.
- Select Piles > Add Pile
to open the Add Single Pile dialog.
- In the Geometry tab, click on the Edit
icon for Pile Type 1 and specify a Length of 50 ft.
- Click OK to return to the Geometry tab. Leave everything else as the default values.
Add Pile - Loading - In the Loading tab, add only a Moment Y of 50,000 lb-ft.
- Click OK to exit the dialog and save your changes.
- You'll now be prompted to place the pile. Enter 0,0 in the command prompt in the bottom right of the screen and then press Enter.
- Save and Compute
to see the results.
You have now defined a reinforced concrete pile.