Key factors to be considered in the pile foundations design are summarised as follows evaluate the geotechnical capacity and structural capacity of the pile and take the less as pile capacity divide pile capacity by the applied load column load or applied load serviceability limit state to find the number of piles. Pile foundations pile foundations consist of two elements a group of pile and a pile cap the latter being intended as the general structural element connecting the piles to the superstructure from analysis and design of energy geostructures 2020 related terms energy engineering piers tension leg platforms wellheads ground heat exchanger. A deep foundation such as piles is a structural member that transmit loads from the superstructure to bedrock or a stronger layer of soil piles can be made of steel concrete or timber in terms of cost piles foundation costs higher than shallow foundations despite its cost piles are often necessary for structural safety purposes. What is pile foundation pile foundation a kind of deep foundation is actually a slender column or long cylinder made of materials such as concrete or steel which are used to support the structure and transfer the load at desired depth either by end bearing or skin friction pile foundations are deep foundations they are formed by long slender columnar elements typically made from steel or reinforced concrete or sometimes timber a foundation is described as piled when its depth is