3D numerical study of the piled raft behaviour due to groundwater level changes in the frictional soil

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Piled raft foundations are one of the most useful structures to control the total and differential settlements. In the present study, a three-dimensional analysis is performed using the finite element method (FEM) to evaluate the behaviour of the piled raft foundations due to the groundwater level changes. The results show that the groundwater level has a significant impact up to twice the raft width from the ground surface and subsequently by reducing the groundwater level more than twice the raft width from the ground surface, no significant changes are observed. Also, by increasing the pile diameter, the effect of groundwater level changes on the values of the differential settlement is greatly decreased.