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In general Frame Analysis method, cap is modeled as a beam and piles/stem walls are modeled as columns.
In the “Cap as continuous beam” option, the cap is analyzed as a continuous beam. To mimic the continuous beam” analysis for the cap, the axial stiffness of the piles is arbitrarily made very large only for the analysis. It results in large axial forces at the bottoms of the piles under the Self Weight load case; the forces and moments shown at the bottom of the piles for the Self Weight case in the Analysis tab should be ignored. For this option, all out-of-plane forces and moments acting on the model are ignored in the analysis.
In the “Piles integral with cap” option, the piles, acting as columns and the cap are considered as part of an integral frame. The stiffness of the piles based on the actual material and cross-section dimensions are used in the analysis.