Model tests to determine the influence of support stiffness upon the distribution of pile loads on an eight-pile cap

Tests were carried out on three models, to scales of 1:4, 1:15 and 1:38, of a large pile cap spanning eight piles. The smallest model was tested to determine the effect of the cracking of the pile cap and of varying pile stiffnesses upon the distribution of the applied load between the piles. The results of the tests are presented and are compared with the results of the tests at the larger scales. The use of very small models is shown to be of great value in amplifying the results of more expensive large-scale tests.