International Journal of Latest Research in Science and Technology ISSN (Online):2278-5299

Volume 6, Issue 1: Page No.57-60,January-February 2017

http://www.mnkjournals.com/ijlrst.htm

LOAD SHARING IN PILED RAFT FOUNDATION

IN CLAY OF SOFT TO MEDIUM CONSISTENCY
BY NONLINEAR FINITE ELEMENT METHOD 1
Dr.D.K.Maharaj, 2Dr.Sanjeev Gill
1
Director,Principal, Professsor
Guru Nanak Institute of Technology (GNIT), Guru Nanak Institutions (GNI)
Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India
2
Principal, JBIT, Dehradun, India

Abstract - In this paper a single pile with equivalent size of raft has been taken from an Infinite piled raft. One fourth of piled raft with
equivalent area of raft has been taken from a single pile with equivalent area of raft. The soil, pile and raft have been discretized as eight
nodded brick elements. The soil has been idealized as Extended Drucker-Prager yield criterion. The material behaviour of pile and raft
has been considered as linear elastic medium. Based on nonlinear finite element analysis results have been presented. It has been found
that at smaller spacing the load taken by a pile is more than that of the raft. At larger spacing the load carried by pile decreases. For the
same spacing to diameter ratio the load carried by pile increases with increase in length of pile. The percentage load shared by raft
decreases with increase in length of pile. The percentage load shared by raft increases with increase in spacing to diameter ratio. The first
type of design chart has been presented between percentage load taken by pile vs length to diameter of pile for given spacing The second
type of design chart has been presented between percentage load shared by pile vs spacing to diameter ratio for various length to diameter
ratio of pile. The third type of design chart has been presented between load shared by raft vs length to diameter ratio of pile. The fourth
type of design chart has been presented between percentage load shared by raft vs spacing to diameter ratio of pile. From design chart the
third parameter can be obtained if two parameters are known.
LITERATURE REVIEW the contribution of the raft toward the overall bearing
Wiesner(1980) performed laboratory tests on four model capacity The analysis has been done by finite element
piled raft foundations having circular raft.. The experimental method. The results presented in the paper thus provide a
load-settlement and load-moment curves were compared with guide to assess the safety factor of a vertically loaded piled
the results of theoretical study. raft.
Clancy and Randolph (1993) describe a ‘hybrid’ approach Shukla et.al.(2010) discussed the different parameters of
for the analysis of piled raft foundations, based on a load piled raft foundation like length of piles, diameter of the
transfer treatment of individual piles, together with elastic piles, thickness of rafts, configuration of piles etc. It is
interaction between different piles and with the raft. incorporated with computational modeling of piled raft
Parametric studies are presented showing the effect of factors foundation. In this study, behaviour of piled raft foundation
such as raft stiffness and pile spacing, length and stiffness. . with thickness of raft and elasticity of soil is discussed.
Prakoso and Kulhawy (2001). examined raft foundations Al-Mosawi et.al (2011) present experimental study to
enhanced with deep foundation elements (typically piles), investigate the behavior of piled raft system in sandy soil. A
simply known as piled rafts. Illustrative piled rafts were small scale “prototype” model was tested in a sand box with
analyzed using simplified linear elastic plane strain finite load applied to the system through a compression machine.
element models The results were synthesized into an updated, The settlement was measured at the center of the raft, strain
displacement-based, design methodology for piled rafts. gages were used to measure the strains and to calculate the
Small and Zhang (2002) present a new method of total load carried by piles.
analysis of piled raft foundations in contact with the soil Srilakshmi et.al (2012) presents two-dimensional plane
surface. The soil is divided into multiple horizontal layers. strain analysis for piled raft. In this parametric study,
The raft is modeled as a thin plate and the piles as elastic different piled raft configurations have been analyzed by two-
beams. Finite layer theory is employed to analyze the layered dimensional plane-strain finite element analyses using
soil while finite element theory is used to analyze the raft and ANSYS. From this study it is observed that piled raft
piles Comparisons show that the results from this method foundations having longer piles takes more load at higher
agree closely with those from the finite element method. values of settlements.
Lin and Zheng(2006) present in their paper raft-pile-soil El-Garhy et.al (2013) conducted an experimental program
interaction for a vertically loaded flexible piled raft on on model piled rafts in sand soil. reducing piles. The model
layered subsoil using a two-dimensional finite difference piles beneath the rafts are closed ended displacement piles
numerical tool. Settlement, bending moment, both in pile and installed by driving. Three lengths of piles are used in the
raft, as well as effects of raft flexibility for vertical uniform experiments to represent slenderness ratio, L/D, of 20, 30 and
loading in the subsoil were examined. 50, respectively. The dimensions of the model rafts are 30
Sanctis and Mandolini (2006) convey that a more rational cm × 30 cm. The results of the tests show the effectiveness of
and economical solution could be obtained by accounting for

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 International Journal of Latest Research in Science and Technology.
using piles as settlement reduction measure with the rafts. As
the number of settlement reducing piles increases, the load
improvement ratio increases and the differential settlement
ratio decreases.
Chandiwala (2013) examined by the use of a computer
program MIDAS GTS based on the finite layer and finite
element methods. Two dimensional (2D) finite element
analysis of un-piled and piled raft foundations with sandy soil
has been performed. For the un-piled raft, the normalized
settlement parameter (IR) for the raft sizes of 8mx8m and
15mx15m ranged as 103-117mm and 66-83 mm respectively.
In the case of the piled raft with raft thickness of 0.25, 0.40,
Fig.2 shows the variation of % load taken by pile with
length to diameter ratio for spacing to diameter ratio(S/d)
equal to 2.5. When the length to diameter ratio (L/d) is 10,
the load shared by pile is minimum. With increase in L/d
ratio the load shared by pile increases. At higher L/d ratios i.e
20,30,40 and 50 there is minimum increase in the load shared
by pile.
97.6

% Load shared by pile

97.4
0.80, 1.50, 3.0m, the corresponding maximum settlements are
66, 64, 63.7, 63mm. 97.2
Raut et.al (2015) present model laboratory test on piled 97
raft foundation to investigate load sharing ratio. Structural 96.8
mild steel bars of 10 mm dia and 1 m long are used as piles. S/d=2.5
Mild steel plate of 10 mm thick and 300 mm x 300 mm 96.6
square plate is taken as raft foundation. On raft foundation 96.4
(steel Plate) with piles (steel bars) load is applied gradually 96.2
and ultimate bearing capacity is calculated. Total load taken
10 20 30 40 50
by piles is calculated and load sharing ratio of raft and pile is
calculated.. Length / Diameter (L/d)

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS Fig.2 Design Chart 1

Fig.1 shows the finite element discretization .
Discretization shows one fourth of piled raft with equivalent
area of raft taken from a single pile with equivalent area of
raft from pile forest model. The bottom degrees of freedom
are completely fixed. On the x-axis plane and the plane
parallel to it z translation are fixed. Similarly on the z-
axis plane and plane parallel to it the x translations are
fixed. The soil, pile and raft have been discretized as eight
noded brick elements. The material behaviour of pile and raft
has been considered as linear elastic medium while the soil
Fig.3 shows the % load shared by pile with L/d ratio for a
given spacing to diameter ratio equal to 5. The load shared by
pile increases with increase in L/d ratio and decreases with
spacing/diameter(S/d) ratio This increase is clearly seen for
L/d ratio varying from 10 to 30. After L/d ratio 30 there is
minimum increase in percentage load shared by pile.
100
% Load shared by pile

has been idealized as nonlinear material by Extended 80

Drucker-Prager yield criterion.
60

40
S/d=5
20

0
10 20 30 40 50
Length/diameter (L/d)

Fig.3 Design Chart 2

Fig.4 shows the % load shared by pile with L/d ratio for a
given spacing to diameter ratio equal to 10. The load shared
by pile increases with increase in L/d ratio and decreases with
spacing to diameter ratio(S/d) This increase is clearly seen for
L/d ratios varying from 10 to 50.

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 International Journal of Latest Research in Science and Technology.
Fig.7 shows the variation of % load shared by pile with
70 spacing to diameter ratio for a given value of length to
% Load shared by pile
60 diameter ratio. For a given length to diameter ratio (L/d), the
50 % load shared by pile decreases with increase in S/d ratio.
40 This decrease is more for smaller length to diameter ratio
30 (L/d) and is less for larger L/d.
20 S/d=10
10 120
0

% Load shared by pile

10 20 30 40 50 100
Length/Diameter (L/d)
80
Fig.4 Design Chart 3
60
L/d=10
40 L/d=20
Fig.5 shows the % load shared by pile with L/d ratio for a
L/d=30
given spacing to diameter ratio equal to 15. The load shared 20
L/d=40
by pile increases with increase in L/d ratio. This increase is
clearly seen for L/d ratios varying from 10 to 50. Due to 0 L/d=50
increase in spacing to diameter ratio the percentage load 2.5 5 10 15
shared by pile decreases.. Spacing/Diameter (S/d)

Fig.7 Design Chart 6

50
% Load shared by pile

40

30 Fig.8 shows the percentage of load shared by raft for various

spacing to diameter ratio. For a known length to diameter
20
S/d=15 ratio (L/d) the percentage load shared by raft is minimum
10 at smaller spacing to diameter ratio (S/d) and maximum
with larger spacing to diameter ratio. Percentage load shared
0 by raft decreases with increase in length to diameter ratio
10 20 30 40 50 (L/d).
Length/Diameter(L/d)

Fig.5 Design Chart 4

100
Fig.6 shows the % load shared by pile with length to
% Load shared by raft

diameter ratio (L/d) for various spacing to diameter

80
ratios.The load shared by pile is maximum at spacing to
diameter ratio (S/d) equal to 2.5 and it is minimum for S/d=2.5
60
spacing to diameter ratio equal to 15. The other values lie S/d=5
between these two spacing to diameter ratios (S/d). For a
40 S/d=10
given spacing to diameter ratio (S/d) the increase in % load
shared by pile with length to diameter ratio(L/d) is maximum 20 S/d=15
at S/d equal to 15 and least at S/d equal to 2.5.
0
120 10 20 30 40 50
100 Length /Diameter (L/d)
% Load shared by pile

80
S/d=2.5
60
S/d=5
Fig.8 Design Chart 7
40 S/d=10
S/d=15 Fig.9 shows the variation of % load shared by raft with
20
increase in spacing to diameter ratio (S/d). For a given length
0
10 20 30 40 50
to diameter ratio (L/d) the percentage load shared by raft
Length/Diameter (L/d)
increases with increase in spacing to diameter ratio (S/d).

Fig.6 Design Chart 5

ISSN:2278-5299 59
 International Journal of Latest Research in Science and Technology.
8. Raut J.M., Khadeshwar ,S.R.and Bajad S.P.(2015)Load Sharing
Ratio of Piled Raft Foundation, 50th INDIAN GEOTECHNICAL
100 CONFERENCE 17th – 19th DECEMBER 2015, Pune,
% Load shared by raft
Maharashtra, India Venue: College of Engineering (Estd. 1854),
80 Pune, India

60 9. Shukla, S.J.A Desai, A.K. Solanki, C.H.(2010)Study of the

L/d=10 Behaviour of Piled Raft Foundations for Tall Buildings, Indian
40 L/d=20 Geotechnical Conference – 2010, EOtrendz
L/d=30 10. December 16–18, 2010, IGS Mumbai Chapter & IIT Bombay
20
L/d=40 11. Small ,J.C. and Zhang,H.H.(2002),Behavior of Piled Raft
0 L/d=50 Foundations under Lateral and Vertical Loading International
Journal of Geomechanics, Vol. 2, No.1, pp.29-45
2.5 5 10 15
12. Srilakshmi,G., Chethan Gowda R K (2012) Analysis of Piled Raft
Spacing/Diameter(S/d) Foundation by Finite Element Method, Non-Circuit Branches of
the 3rd Nirma University International Conference on
Engineering.
Fig.9 Design Chart 8
13. Wiesner, T.J.(1980) Laboratory Tests on Model Piled Raft
Foundations , Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division,
CONCLUSIONS 1980, Vol. 106, No.7, pp. 767-783
Based on nonlinear finite element analysis results have
been presented. It has been found that at smaller spacing the
load taken by a pile is more than that of the raft. At larger
spacing the load carried by pile decreases. For the same
spacing to diameter ratio the load carried by pile increases
with increase in length of pile. The percentage load shared by
raft decreases with increase in length of pile. The percentage
load shared by raft increases with increase in spacing to
diameter ratio. The first type of design chart has been
presented between percentage load taken by pile vs length to
diameter of pile for given spacing The second type of design
chart has been presented between percentage load shared by
pile vs spacing to diameter ratio for various length to
diameter ratio of pile. The third type of design chart has been
presented between load shared by raft vs length to diameter
ratio of pile. The fourth type of design chart has been
presented between percentage load shared by raft vs spacing
to diameter ratio of pile. From design chart the third
parameter can be obtained if two parameters are known.

REFERENCES

1. Al-Mosawi ,M.J., Y. Fattah,M. and Al-Zayadi,A.A.O (2011)

Experimental Observations on the Behavior of a Piled Raft
Foundation, Journal of Engineering, Volume 17, No. 4
2. Clancy, P. and Randolph, M.F.(1993)An Approximate Analysis
Procedure for Piled Raft Foundations, International Journal for
Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics,Vol.17,
No.12, pp.849–869
3. Chandiwala,A. (2013) FEM Modeling for Piled Raft Foundation
in Sand, International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology, Vol.4, No.6, November – December, pp. 239-251
4. Der-Guey Lin and Zheng-Yi Feng (2006) A Numrical Study of
Piled Raft Foundations, Journal of the Chinese Institute of
Engineers, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 1091-1097
5. De Sanctis, L. and Mandolini, A. (2006). Bearing Capacity of
Piled Rafts on Soft Clay Soils. Journal of Geotechnical and
Geoenvironmental Engineering (ASCE),Vol.132. No.12,pp.1600-
1610.
6. El-Garhy,B., Galil,A.A., Abdel-Fattah A.A.,Raia,M.A.(2013)
Behavior of Raft on Settlement Reducing Piles: Experimental
Model Study, Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical
Engineering,Vol.5 ,pp389–399
7. Prakoso, W. and Kulhawy, F. (2001). Contribution to Piled Raft
Foundation Design. Journal, Geotechnical and
Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE Vol.127:No.17,pp.17-24.

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