Non-linear soil–structure interaction in disconnected piled raft foundations

Disconnected piled raft foundations are characterised by no structural connection between the upper raft and the underlying piles, mostly playing the role of settlement-reducers. The resulting raft–pile gap is usually filled with a granular interlayer, through which the loads from the superstructure are transferred to the piles.In this paper, the complex interaction mechanisms involving the foundational components (raft, piles and soil) are numerically investigated by means of 3D finite elements analyses, accounting for soil non-linearity. The main features of the soil–structure interaction mechanisms under purely vertical external loads are explored over a realistic range of raft–soil gaps for different pile configurations, in which the number of piles – i.e. their spacing – is varied. Special attention is also devoted to the structural response of the piles in terms of axial and bending internal stress resultants. In particular, while disconnection beneficially affects the structural pile response, increasing the raft–pile gap tends to reduce the overall settlement/stiffness efficiencies.The numerical results being presented are in substantial agreement with the outcomes from literature small-scale experiments and suggest a number of relevant theoretical inferences.     

A simplified analysis method for piled raft and pile group foundations with batter piles

A simplified method of numerical analysis has been developed to estimate the deformation and load distribution of piled raft foundations subjected to vertical, lateral, and moment loads, using a hybrid model in which the flexible raft is modelled as thin plates and the piles as elastic beams and the soil is treated as springs. Both the vertical and lateral resistances of the piles as well as the raft base are incorporated into the model. Pile–soil–pile, pile–soil–raft and raft–soil–raft interactions are taken into account based on Mindlin's solutions for both vertical and lateral forces. The validity of the proposed method is verified through comparisons with several existing methods for single piles, pile groups and piled rafts. Workable design charts are given for the estimation of the lateral displacement and the load distribution of piled rafts from the stiffnesses of the raft alone and the pile group alone. Additionally, parametric studies were carried out concerning batter pile foundations. It was found that the use of batter piles can efficiently improve the deformation characteristics of pile foundations subjected to lateral loads. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

竖向荷载作用下桩筏基础可视化模型试验研究

进行了群桩基础可视化模型试验。在试验过程中对各级竖向荷载作用下群桩基础桩、土的变形采用高清晰数码相机拍摄了照片。通过对照片进行后处理分析,得到了桩、土的位移场,也对桩身轴力也进行了量测,在该基础上研究了群桩基础的变形性状和破坏模式,重点分析对比了桩间距和桩长对桩端土体沉降以及桩身侧摩阻力的影响。试验发现,桩距是影响桩土相对滑移量的主要因素,桩距越大,桩身与土的相对滑移量就越大,桩端刺入量也越大。在柔性筏基下,随桩距增加中桩的桩土相对滑移量可能会大于边桩。桩端刺入量是大桩距桩基础主要的沉降构成,以桩端刺入量为研究对象建立一套大桩距基础新的沉降计算理论,似乎值得进一步研究。桩顶向上刺入（可通过设置褥垫层、桩顶预留净空或设置可压缩垫块来实现）有利于桩间土的压密,减小桩端刺入量,甚至改变破坏模式。     

Three-dimensional analysis of bearing behavior of piled raft on soft clay

The piled raft has proved to be an economical foundation type compared to conventional pile foundations. However, there is a reluctance to consider the use of piled rafts on soft clay because of concerns about excessive settlement and insufficient bearing capacity. Despite these reasons, applications of piled rafts on soft clay have been increased recently. Current analysis methods for piled rafts on soft clay, however, are insufficient, especially for calculating the overall bearing capacity of the piled raft. This study describes the three-dimensional behavior of a piled raft on soft clay based on a numerical study using a 3D finite element method. The analysis includes a pile–soil slip interface model. A series of numerical analyses was performed for various pile lengths and pile configurations for a square raft subjected to vertical loading. Relatively stiff soil properties and different loading types were also used for estimating the bearing behavior of the piled raft. Based on the results, the effect of pile–soil slip on the bearing behavior of a piled raft was investigated. Furthermore, the proportion of load sharing of the raft and piles at the ultimate state and the relationship between the settlement and overall factor of safety was evaluated. The results show that the use of a limited number of piles, strategically located, might improve both bearing capacity and the settlement performance of the raft.     

A simplified analysis method for piled raft foundations subjected to ground movements induced by tunnelling

A simplified method of numerical analysis has been developed to estimate the deformation and load distribution of piled raft foundations subjected to ground movements induced by tunnelling and incorporated into a computer program ‘PRAB’. In this method, a hybrid model is employed in which the flexible raft is modelled as thin plates, the piles as elastic beams, and the soil is treated as interactive springs. The interactions between structural members, pile–soil–pile, pile–soil–raft and raft–soil–raft interactions, are modelled based on Mindlin's solutions for both vertical and lateral forces. The validity of the proposed method is verified through comparisons with some published solutions for single piles and pile groups subjected to ground movements induced by tunnelling. Thereafter, the solutions from this approach for the analysis of a pile group and a piled raft subjected to ground movements induced by tunnelling are compared with those from three‐dimensional finite difference program. Good agreements between these solutions are demonstrated. The method is then used for a parametric study of single piles, pile groups and piled rafts subjected to ground movements induced by tunnelling. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integral equation method for analysis of piled rafts with dissimilar piles under vertical loading

In a piled raft, the length and arrangement of piles has a significant effect on the stresses and deflections of the raft. The use of piles with different dimensions and properties below a raft is an innovative concept and can optimize the design of a piled raft. In this study, an integral equation method with a fictitious pile model was adopted to analyze the piled raft foundation with dissimilar piles. The Fredholm integral equations of the second kind were obtained for this problem. The loads shared by piles and subsoil, the load transfer, and the settlement of the piled raft were obtained using numerical calculation. The results from the present method were compared with those in the literature. An optimization technique was introduced to design piled rafts with dissimilar piles. The stiffening effect of piles on the surrounding soil is also discussed as compared the conventional interaction factor approach.     

A simplified analysis method for piled raft foundations in non‐homogeneous soils

A simplified method of numerical analysis based on elasticity theory has been developed for the analysis of axially and laterally loaded piled raft foundations embedded in non‐homogeneous soils and incorporated into a computer program “PRAB”. In this method, a hybrid model is employed in which the flexible raft is modelled as thin plates and the piles as elastic beams and the soil is treated as springs. The interactions between structural members, pile–soil–pile, pile–soil–raft and raft–soil–raft interactions, are approximated based on Mindlin's solutions for both vertical and lateral forces with consideration of non‐homogeneous soils. The validity of the proposed method is verified through comparisons with some published solutions for single piles, pile groups and capped pile groups in non‐homogeneous soils. Thereafter, the solutions from this approach for the analysis of axially and laterally loaded 4‐pile pile groups and 4‐pile piled rafts embedded in finite homogeneous and non‐homogeneous soil layers are compared with those from three‐dimensional finite element analysis. Good agreement between the present approach and the more rigorous finite element approach is demonstrated. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

陆上风轮机梁板基础受力特性简化分析

提出一种多向荷载同时作用下的刚性桩筏基础简化计算方法,基于Mindlin解,分析桩顶面-桩顶面、桩顶面-土表面、土表面-土表面的相互作用关系。推导多向荷载下桩土体系柔度矩阵,得到刚性桩筏基础的受力和变形的关系,通过与有限元对比证明了文中方法的正确性,在此基础上对耦合荷载作用下的风机基础的受力和变形特性进行分析。研究表明,耦合荷载作用下风机基础将会产生竖向不均匀沉降,并会引起桩顶轴力的的巨大的差异。     

考虑流变与固结效应的桩筏基础-地基共同作用分析

土的流变性与地基固结的综合作用,导致了上部结构与地基变形的时效性,并呈现出明显的非线性,对桩筏基础与地基共同作用的工作机理及其工作性能产生重要影响。为此,采用弹黏塑性流变模型考虑土的流变特性,通过有限元方法数值求解Biot耦合固结方程,对桩筏基础与地基共同作用的时间效应问题进行了非线性数值分析。通过算例计算,对加载后桩筏基础荷载分配和沉降特性及下覆土层中孔隙水压力的扩散和消散规律进行了探讨。研究表明,地基孔隙水压力的增长和消散不仅具有Mandel-Cryer效应,而且依赖于土的流变变形,尤其在排水条件较差时更为明显。因此,在分析桩筏基础内力变形的时效性时必须考虑土的流变性与地基的固结作用的联合效应。     

An approximate analysis procedure for piled raft foundations

A piled raft foundation comprises both piles and a pile cap that itself transmits load directly to the ground. The aim of such a foundation is to reduce the number of piles compared with a more conventional piled foundation where the bearing effect of the pile cap, or raft, is ignored. This paper describes a ‘hybrid’ approach for the analysis of piled raft foundations, based on a load transfer treatment of individual piles, together with elastic interaction between different piles and with the raft. The numerical analysis is used to evaluate a simple approximate method of estimating the overall response of the foundation from the response of the component parts. The method leads to estimates of the overall foundation stiffness, the proportion of load carried by the pile group and the raft, and an initial assessment of differential settlements. Parametric studies are presented showing the effect of factors such as raft stiffness and pile spacing, length and stiffness, and a worked example is included demonstrating the accuracy of the approximate design approach.     

考虑基坑开挖影响的群桩基础竖向承载性状数值分析

对土体采用Mohr-Coulomb弹塑性本构模型,用接触面单元模拟桩-土相互作用,利用ABAQUS建立桩筏基础--地基--基坑开挖三维有限元分析模型。对基坑开挖影响下的群桩基础竖向承载性状进行了分析,讨论了桩顶反力分布、桩身轴力、桩侧摩阻力以及开挖引起的桩身水平位移及其弯矩的变化规律,并进行了考虑基坑开挖与不考虑基坑开挖的群桩基础竖向承载性状的对比分析。通过研究,取得了基坑开挖对高层建筑桩筏基础影响的基本认识,这些认识对于改进桩筏基础设计理论有一定的参考意义。     

多向荷载作用下层状地基刚性桩筏基础分析

提出一种多向荷载作用下层状地基中刚性桩筏基础的计算方法。基于剪切位移法,采用传递矩阵形式分析了竖向荷载下桩顶面-桩顶面相互作用;引入修正桩侧地基模量,采用有限差分法分析了水平荷载下桩顶面-桩顶面相互作用;基于层状弹性半空间理论,分析了多向荷载下桩顶面-土表面、土表面-桩顶面、土表面-土表面的相互作用关系。建立了桩土体系柔度矩阵,得到了多向荷载下层状地基中刚性桩筏基础的受力和变形的关系以及桩的内力和变形沿桩身分布规律。通过与有限元对比,验证了该方法的合理性和修正地基模量的优越性,并对多向荷载作用下的桩筏基础进行了计算分析,计算结果表明,水平力将会引起桩筏基础的倾斜。     

Analysis of piled raft coefficient and load-settlement on sandy soil

A piled raft foundation is a combined foundation, which is developed to utilize the load-carrying capabilities of both raft and piles. To obtain an optimum piled raft design, it is important to properly evaluate and consider the load-sharing behavior between the raft and piles, which changes according to the settlement level of the piled raft. In this study, 27 three-dimensional finite element models were analyzed to investigate the piled raft coefficient with linear and nonlinear load-settlement behaviors. The length of piles was varied between 10, 15, and 20 m. The spacing between pile centers was varied between 3D, 5D, and 7D, and the pile diameter was kept constant. The number of piles and the distance between the exterior piles and the edge of the raft were maintained at 9 and 1 m, respectively. The sand conditions varied between dense, medium, and loose. The results indicated that the piled raft coefficient increases when the load-settlement curve is linear and decreases when the load-settlement curve is nonlinear. The influence of the incremental increase in pile length on the piled raft coefficient is more pronounced in short piles than in longer piles. The raft thickness has a negligible effect on the piled raft coefficient.     

Vertical harmonic vibration of piled raft foundations in layered soils

This paper develops a method to analyze the piled raft foundation under vertical harmonic load. This method takes into account the interactions among the piles, soil, and raft. The responses of the piles and raft are formulated as a series of equations in a suitable way and that of layered soils is simulated with the use of the analytical layer‐element method. Then, according to the equilibrium and continuity conditions at the piles–soil–raft interface, solutions for the piled raft systems are obtained and further demonstrated to be correct through comparing with the existing results. Finally, some examples are given to investigate the influence of the raft, pile length‐diameter ratio, and layering on the response of the piled raft foundations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulations of the reuse of piled raft foundations in clay

The development and growth of urban environments in recent years is requiring geotechnical engineers to consider foundation reuse as a more sustainable solution to inner city redevelopment. Two main phenomena associated with foundation reuse have been reported in the literature, namely ‘preloading effects’ and ‘ageing effects’. The aim of this paper is to investigate the relative merits of these effects on the reusability of both piled and unpiled raft foundations in clay. Finite element analysis, in conjunction with an isotropic elasto-viscoplastic soil model, is employed for this purpose. The study is presented in two phases: (1) evaluation of preloading effects only by using a very low creep coefficient and (2) evaluation of combined preloading and creep effects. The variables considered in the parametric study include the number of piles, pile spacing, pile length, and soil type. Results show that both unpiled and piled rafts can exhibit significant capacity and stiffness increases upon reloading even for moderate levels of preload. Moreover, these increases are strongly dependent on the piled raft load sharing where unpiled raft and free-standing pile group capacity gains serve as upper and lower bounds, respectively, for that of a piled raft. This study underlines foundations reuse as an effective and sustainable solution for inner city redevelopment.     

A simplified nonlinear analysis method for piled raft foundation in layered soils under vertical loading

This paper presents a simplified nonlinear solution for piled raft foundations in layered soils under vertical loading. Based on the elastic–plastic analysis of a single pile in a layered soil, the shielding effect between a receiver pile and the soil is taken into account to modify the conventional interaction factor between two piles. An approximate approach with the concept of the interaction factor is employed to study the nonlinear behavior of pile groups with a rigid cap. Considering the variation of soil properties, the solution to multilayered elastic materials is used to calculate the settlement of the soil. The interactions between pile–soil–raft are taken into account to determine the stiffness matrix of the piled raft. By solving the stiffness matrix equations, the settlement and the load shared by the piles and raft could be obtained. Compared with results of the available published literatures, the proposed solution provides reasonable results.     

Finite element simulations of the behavior of piled‐raft foundations using a multiphase model

Finite element simulations of the behavior of a piled raft foundation have been carried out using a multiphase model conceived as an improved homogenization approach. According to this model, the ground reinforced by a group of piles is treated as a homogeneous continuous medium. In this approach, no specific interface elements are necessary to account for the mechanical interaction between the piles and the ground: this interaction is described by means of two scalar parameters, one stiffness parameter and one which can easily be derived from the maximum ground‐pile friction. The implementation of the model into a finite element code provides an efficient tool for the analysis of the influence of the pile number or length on the settlement and bearing capacity of a square piled raft foundation and of the way the total applied load is shared between the raft and the piles. Results are compared with a standard 3D finite element analysis. The comparison highlights the fact that the proposed approach remains to be improved to account for tip resistance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An approximate numerical analysis of pile–raft interaction

This paper presents an approximate method of numerical analysis of piled–raft foundations in which the raft is modelled as a thin plate and the piles as interacting springs of appropriate stiffness. Allowance is made for the development of limiting pressures below the raft and of the ultimate axial load capacity of the piles. Comparisons between this analysis and existing solutions verify that, despite the approximations involved, the analysis can provide solutions of adequate accuracy for the settlement and pile load distribution within a piled raft. Comparisons are also made with the results of a series of centrifuge tests and with measurements of the performance of a full-scale piled raft. In both cases, the analysis predicts very well the settlement and proportion of load carried by the piles.     

Analysis of piled raft with nodular pile subjected to vertical load using a Winkler model approach

An investigation is made to present analytical solutions provided by a Winkler model approach for analysis of piled rafts with nodular pile subjected to vertical loads in nonhomogeneous soils. The vertical stiffness coefficient along a piled raft with the nodular pile in nonhomogeneous soils is derived from the displacement given by the Mindlin solution for elastic continuum analysis. The vertical stiffness coefficients for the bases of the raft and the nodular part in the nodular pile in a soil are expressed by the Muki solution for the 3‐D elastic analysis. The relationship between settlement and vertical load on the pile base is presented considering the Mindlin solution and the equivalent thickness in the equivalent elastic method. The interaction factor between the shaft of the nodular pile and the soil is expressed taking into account the Mindlin solution and the equivalent elastic modulus. The relationship between settlement and vertical load for a piled raft with the nodular pile in nonhomogeneous soils is obtained by using the recurrence equation of influence factors of the pile for each layer. The percentage of each load carried by both nodular pile and raft subjected to vertical load is represented through the vertical influence factors proposed here. Comparison of the results calculated by the present method for piled rafts with nodular piles in nonhomogeneous soils has shown good agreement with those obtained from the finite element method and a field test. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.