Behaviour of Vertically Loaded Piled Raft System

Abstract

A foundation gives the overall strength to a building by providing a level surface for the building to stand and distributing the total load uniformly to the underlying soil. The type of foundation to be chosen varies with the foundation soil and site conditions. Piled raft system are a type of foundation preferred when the bearing strata has less soil bearing capacity and a huge load has to be transferred. Thus Piled raft foundation is a foundation system which uses the combined effects of both rafts and piles such that it is expected to transfer huge loads without large settlement. An ample evaluation of factors like number of piles, length of piles, and degree of compaction of soil that affects the performance of the foundation is required, to understand the concept of piled raft foundation. This study was based on the behaviour of vertically loaded piled raft system by varying the length of pile as 100 mm, 150 mm and 200 mm with 4 and 9 numbers of pile conducted on loose and dense state in cohesion less soil. A vertical load test was conducted on unpiled raft both in loose and dense state of soil also and the results obtained from both piled and unpiled rafts were compared together. The compared results indicated an improvement in ultimate load capacity and settlement reduction. A settlement reduction of 32.71% and increased bearing capacity of 63.67% were observed when compared to unpiled raft under dense condition. About 84% of increase in bearing capacity of the piled raft system was observed with varying the degree of compaction of soil from loose to dense state of soil. An optimum design of this piled raft foundation can provide an alternative foundation for high rise buildings, transmission towers, bridges etc. and it can provide an aid to the threat of differential settlement for heavy loaded buildings in poor bearing strata.