Assignment 04

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE

CONSTRUCTION OF PROPOSED SUMP ON
EXISTING STRIP FOUNDATIONS

Lecturer in Charge:

Dr. Nalin De Silva Name : Vimukthi H.P.J

Index No : 170653T

Module : CE 4482

Date of Sub : 04/ 03/ 2022

 Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
1.2 Subsurface Characteristics ........................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Structural details and Loads ........................................................................................................................ 5
2.0 MAJOR GEOTECHNICAL CONCERNS OF THE CONSTRUCTION .......................................................... 6
3.0 MODEL IDEALIZATION....................................................................................................................................... 6
4.0 FOLLOWED CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE FOR THE MODELLING ..................................................... 7
5.0 SETTLEMENT OF THE EXISTING WALL AND COLUMN FOUNDATIONS BEFORE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED SUMP ............................................................................................... 8

List of Figures

Figure 1: Proposed sump area and existing foundations ............................................................................. 3

Figure 2: Idealized Sub Surface profile ................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 3: Idealized Finite Element model with dimensions ........................................................................ 7
Figure 4: Vertical Displacement profile beneath the column and wall foundations before the
construction of sump ........................................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 5: Settlement profile of column foundation before the construction of sump ....................... 8
Figure 6: Settlement profile of wall foundation before the construction of sump ............................. 9
Figure 7: Settlement Profile of Sump Foundation ........................................................................................ 10
Figure 8: Settlement beneath the wall foundation, after the construction of Sump ....................... 10
Figure 9: Settlement beneath the Column Foundation, after the construction of Sump ........ 11
1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

It is planned to refurbish an existing building as a shopping complex and a City Hotel.

As part of the proposed development, it is required to construct a sump at the basement

level of the proposed building. The dimensions of the proposed sump are 7.0m x 15.0m

with a height of 3.0m. The foundation of the proposed sump will be constructed very

close to already existing wall and column foundations of the building. A photo showing

the area of the proposed sump and existing foundations are presented in Figure 1.0

Figure 1: Proposed sump area and existing foundations

Under this study, it was proposed to carry out a finite element analysis to investigate the

behavior of the sump foundation and surrounding foundations by using the PLAXIS

Software.
1.2 Subsurface Characteristics

Two boreholes were drilled to identify the subsurface condition beneath the proposed

foundation, and based on those borehole details, the subsurface at the location of

proposed sump and nearby area was conservatively idealized into six layers as presented

in Table 1.0.

Table 1.0: Idealized subsurface profile and strength parameters

Note: Water table was observed at a depth of 0.6m in BH 01 and 0.8m in BH 02. However,
the depth of water table is conservatively assumed as the existing basement level for the
current analysis.

Figure 2: Idealized Sub Surface profile

1.3 Structural details and Loads

 Maximum service load expected due to the construction of the proposed sump

is taken as 35 kN/ m2

 Thickness of the sump foundation is 0.35 m

 The existing wall and column foundations were founded at a depth of about

1.0 m from the existing basement level. Width and the thickness of the wall and

column foundations can be assumed as 2.0 m and 0.5 m, respectively. The

horizontal gap between the wall foundation and sump foundation is 0.5 m.

Similarly the horizontal gap between the column foundation and the sump

foundation is 1.0 m

 Vertical stresses acting on wall and column foundations is estimated as 75 kN/

m2

 The foundation for the sump will be placed on the existing basement level.

 Elastic modulus of concrete is 26000 MPa and the Poisson’s ratio is 0.15

Cross section of proposed development, that is modelled using PLAXIS software are

presented in Figure 3.
2.0 MAJOR GEOTECHNICAL CONCERNS OF THE CONSTRUCTION

Major Geotechnical concern of the construction would be the settlement of surrounding

structures due to the construction of sump.

3.0 MODEL IDEALIZATION

Since the foundation is not axisymmetric, an axisymmetric analysis cannot be conducted.

So, plain strain analysis was conducted.

 Assumptions for the model idealization

01. Permeability values taken for the soil layers,

- Loose sand layer (Kx & Ky) = 1 x 10-4 m/ day

- Very Loose sand layer (Kx & Ky) = 1 x 10-4 m/ day

- Medium Dense sand layer (Kx & Ky) = 1 x 10-5 m/ day

- Lateritic soil layer (Kx & Ky) = 1 x 10-6 m/ day

- Weathered rock layers (Kx & Ky) = 1 x 10-8 m/ day

02. Density of concrete = 25 kN/ m3

03. Foundations are designed as plate elements

04. Rinter for Loose sand is taken as 0.67

 General Settings of the Model

- Model  Plain Strain

- Elements  15 Nodes

 Geometry dimensions

- Left  0 m
- Right  30 m
- Top  0 m
- Bottom  -20 m
 7m
3.5m

2.5 m

1.5m

3.5m

5.5m

3.5m

30m

Figure 3: Idealized Finite Element model with dimensions

4.0 FOLLOWED CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE FOR THE MODELLING

1. As the phase one the existing conditions was simulated by activating the column

and wall foundations along with their loadings.

2. As the second phase, the foundation of sump was activated along with its

corresponding loading
5.0 SETTLEMENT OF THE EXISTING WALL AND COLUMN FOUNDATIONS BEFORE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED SUMP

Figure 4: Vertical Displacement profile beneath the column and wall foundations before
the construction of sump

Settlement Profile beneath the Column foundation

Figure 5: Settlement profile of column foundation before the construction of sump

 Maximum Displacement = -36.89mm

Settlement Profile beneath the Wall foundation

Figure 6: Settlement profile of wall foundation before the construction of sump

 Maximum Displacement = -36.32mm

6.0 ANTICIPATED SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPOSED SUMP

Figure 7: Settlement below the sump foundation

 Figure 7: Settlement Profile of Sump Foundation

Maximum Displacement = 41.89 mm

7.0 ADDITIONAL MAXIMUM SETTLEMENT OF EXISTING FOUNDATIONS DUE TO THE

CONSTRUCTION OF PROPOSED SUMP

 Additional Settlement of Wall Foundation due to Construction of Proposed Sump

Figure 8: Settlement beneath the wall foundation, after the construction of Sump

Additional Settlement = 52.38mm – 36.89mm = 15.49 mm

 Additional Settlement of Column Foundation due to Construction of Proposed Sump

Figure 9: Settlement beneath the Column Foundation, after the construction of Sump

Additional Settlement = 49.71mm – 36.32mm = 13.39mm

8.0 PROPOSED MONITORING PROGRAMME

According to the analysis results it is obvious that, the construction of sump can affect

the surrounding structures. Cracks can be occur due to the additional settlement of

column and wall foundation. So, the behavior and settlement of column and wall

foundations should be monitored during the construction and operation of the sump,

until some time period.