The article explores how pile caps affect the performance of single piles in soil. The researchers conducted lab tests using transparent soil models to mimic real sand conditions. They found that pile caps increase a pile's load-bearing capacity by influencing soil deformation around the pile head. The size of the pile cap, pile diameter, and pile length all play a role in determining the elastic load limits of the pile. The study suggests that using the bearing resistance of soils below the pile cap can enhance the overall stability of pile foundations.