Behavior of large piled raft foundation on different soil profiles for different loadings and different pile raft configurations

Abstract

In the present study, 3D numerical model is employed to understand the settlement, load-sharing, bending moment and shear force behavior of large piled rafts, founded on homogeneous soil profile and varying soil profile for different load configurations and different piled raft configurations (PRC). Thus, the effect of pile spacing and number of piles are studied. Results of study show that as the pile spacing increases, average settlement decreases significantly for varying soil profile as that of homogeneous soil profile and it is noted to be lesser for uniform PRC. For any soil profile, with an increase in pile spacing differential settlement increases and is observed to be lesser in ‘V’-shaped PRC. Further, load-sharing ratio increases with increases in pile spacing and is noted to be maximum in ‘W’-shaped PRC. It is observed to be more for varying soil profile and equivalent point loads as compared to homogeneous soil profile and uniformly distributed load, respectively. Maximum bending moment and maximum shear force are noted to be lesser for varying soil profile and homogeneous soil profile, respectively. It is observed to be lesser in ‘V’-shaped PRC.