Structural design of reinforced concrete piles

What the tool calculates

• Minimum reinforcement: the greater of 0.15·Nd/fyd and 0.4%·Ac
• Combined axial compression and bending, or axial tension and bending
• Buckling check using the standard-column method (pilar-padrão), relevant in soft soil
• Concrete cover based on environmental exposure class

What you enter

• Design axial force and bending moment
• Pile diameter and length
• Environmental exposure class and fck

What you receive

• Longitudinal reinforcement and links
• Buckling check using the standard-column method (pilar-padrão)
• Required minimum concrete cover

References and limits of applicability

• ABNT NBR 6118:2023 — Design of concrete structures (minimum reinforcement, combined compression and bending, cover)

Checks and considerations

• Buckling may be significant in soft soil
• Reinforcement below the minimum required by the standard

How it works

The pile is analysed as a structural member subjected to the specified actions, with checks for reinforcement, instability and cover. Environmental exposure and support assumptions must represent the project. This structural design does not replace the pile's geotechnical bearing capacity assessment.

Example of use

After selecting a pile option in the geotechnical study, enter the design actions and support conditions to size the reinforcement. Review minimum reinforcement, links and buckling effects before checking the detailing.

Generated documents

These documents are assembled within your project using data from the corresponding tools.

• Foundation calculation report — Combine the project's SPT logs, bearing capacity calculations and structural designs for piles, pile caps, footings and belled caissons in one PDF. The document consolidates selected items; technical checks remain within each tool.
• Structural calculation report — Combine the project's saved structural results in one PDF, with the selected calculations and their references, including NBR 6118:2023 for concrete members. Check the standards applicable to each member before issuing the document; consolidation does not replace design review.
• Concrete, formwork and reinforcement quantities — Determine concrete volumes, formwork areas and steel masses from the structural designs of piles, pile caps, footings and belled caissons, with recalculation of the members and reference to NBR 7480 for mass per unit length. Review quantities, allowances for waste and assumptions; export to PDF, Word, Excel/XML (.xls), XML or DXF. Pricing is not included.