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It may be mentioned here that a pile group with the pile cap resting on the surface takes more load than one with free standing piles above the surface. In the former case, a part of the load is taken by the soil directly under the cap and the rest is taken by the piles. The pile cap behaves the same way as a shallo\\:' foundation of the same size. Though the percentage of load taken by the group is quite considerable, building codes have not so far considered the contribution made by the cap.