Study On Settlement Characteristics of Combined Pile Raft Foundation Founded On Sand With Various Arrangements of Piles Using Plaxis-3D

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014)
Study on Settlement Characteristics of Combined Pile Raft

Foundation Founded on Sand with Various Arrangements of
Piles using Plaxis-3D
Nirmal John Joy1, Hashifa Hassan2
1
PG Student, Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam, Kerala, India

Guide, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Piled raft foundations provide an economical foundation
option for circumstances where the performance of the raft
alone does not satisfy the design requirements. All the
previous studies to evaluate the settlement reduction
potential were done considering uniform arrangements of
piles. A three dimensional analysis of CPRF with permuted
arrangements of piles was never done. From this study we
could arrive at certain conclusions which will suggest some
criterions that would help to improve the performance of
CPRF for reduction of settlement
CPRF has intricate soil-structure interactions, hence to
obtain authentic results 3-dimensional Numerical analysis
had to be adopted. Finite Element Method is one of the
numerical methods which is a powerful tool to model this
complex geometry of piled-raft foundation. Plaxis 3D is
one of the sophisticated finite element software which is
well suited for foundation analysis. It has high flexibility in
3-D modelling, in meshing, in incorporate field conditions
and in analysing.
Effectiveness of CPRF in reducing settlement was
experimentally proven and the result was published by Mr.
Van Impe, in the technical paper titled Technical Report
on Methods of Analysis for Piled Raft Foundations, (As a
report prepared on behalf of technical committee TC-18 on
piled foundations for International society for soil
mechanics and geotechnical engineering in 2011)
De Sanctis et al (2001) and Viggiani (2001) have
distinguished between two classes of piled raft foundations:
Small piled rafts, where the primary reason for adding
the piles is to increase the factor of safety and Large
piled rafts, where piles installed reduce settlement or
differential settlement. In such cases, the width of the raft is
large in comparison with the length of the piles.
P.C. Varghese in his book Foundation Engineering
(2009) has classified CPRF into two classes according to
their use Piled Rafts for Settlement Reduction and Piled
Raft for Load Transfer
Abstract The Combined pile raft foundations provide an

economical foundation option for circumstances where the
raft foundation can satisfy the bearing capacity requirement
but fails to keep differential as well as maximum settlement
below the maximum allowable limit. It had been established
that augmenting features like thickness of raft, length of piles
etc has decreased the settlement of raft and on other hand:
decreasing spacing/depth of piles has increased settlement of
raft. In this paper permuted arrangement of piles were
adopted rather than a uniform arrangements; such that an
improved performance of CPRF system can be envisioned. In
this paper CPRF is analysed using Finite Element Software
Plaxis 3D with permuted arrangement of piles. Three
different Pile diameters and its combinations were modelled
and analysed. For the study a 10 storey building founded on
Medium Dense Sand was analysed in STAAD.Pro Software to
determine the loads to be transferred, after fixing dimensions
of raft and settlement analysis of raft Plaxis 3D work
programme was composed. Piled Rafts with various
combinations of piles were modelled and analyzed. From the
comparison of results, it has been found out that; installing
high capacity piles at region with maximum load
concentration and reinforcing the rest of the raft with medium
capacity piles have the most important effect on significantly
reducing maximum settlement and the differential settlement.
Keywords The Combined pile raft foundations, Pile
Combinations, Plaxis 3D Analysis, Preliminary Analysis,
STAAD.Pro, Zones.
I. INTRODUCTION
The use of piled raft foundations as an alternative to
conventional piled foundation for tall buildings has been
increasing. The piled rafts are composite structures
comprised of the piles, raft and soil. In piled rafts, the raft
directly interacts with soil and is supported by group of
piles. Unlike the conventional piled foundation design in
which the piles are designed to carry the majority of the
load, the design of a piled-raft foundation allows the load to
be shared between the raft and piles. For most piled raft
foundations, the purpose of the piles is to act as settlement
reducers.
146

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2013)
In studies conducted by E.Y. N OH in 2008 has shown
that increasing thickness of raft, length of piles etc has
decreased the settlement of raft and decreasing
spacing/depth of piles has increased settlement of raft.
Nevertheless increasing the raft thickness beyond 1.75 m
hardly brings any economy because the construction cost
will overhaul economy achieved by settlement reduction.
II. METHODOLOGY
Entire study can be divided into two halves viz
Preliminary analysis and Plaxis 3D analysis. In Preliminary
analysis 10 storey building (refer figure 1) founded on
Medium Dense Sand (designated as MDS in the study) is
modelled and analysed in STAAD.Pro to find out the axial
loads to be transferred to soil (refer figure 2). After fixing
the dimensions of raft, settlement analysis of raft is done.
Finally load to be taken by the independent pile group is
found out. The loads coming on each floor was imparted
from Indian Standard Code for References
In software analysis Plaxis 3D work programme is
composed. Raft, pile and soil are modelled and analysed in
the Plaxis 3D software. Results obtained were tabulated
and conclusions were derived.
Figure 2: Axial loads to in kN
III. PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

In preliminary analysis the dimension of raft was fixed
before proceeding to settlement analysis. Dimensions of
raft were fixed such that center of gravity of loads and
center of gravity of raft coincided. Keeping this code in
mind we got raft size as 30x30x1.5.
To resolve the need of CPRF settlement analysis was
done. When we adopt raft foundation we may find that the
raft is safe from bearing capacity consideration but it may
suffer excessive settlement. The alternate solution to this
problem is to provide few piles under the raft so that the
piles relieve the raft a part of the total load. As the pile donot have to take all loads; the number of piles required will
be small than traditional pile foundation. Table 1 elucidates
the properties of soil considered.
Immediate Settlement =
q = intensity of pressure (Total load/ Area of Raft),
B= least lateral dimension of the foundation, = Poissons
ratio, Iw =Influence factor obtained from IS 8009 (part 1)1976 as 0.82 for rigid square footing, s = unit weight of
soil, c = cohesion and = angle of internal friction
Figure 1: Plan of the building
147

Table 1
Properties of Cohesion-Less Soil Considered
Soil
Es
MDS
2.1e4
0.30
18
30
Before going into the software analysis, we needed to fix

the dimensions of elements of CPRF. Length of Pile in
CPRF was limited to 25 m because: from studies of De
Sanctis et al (2001) and Viggiani (2001) we know that we
need a Large piled raft foundation to reduce both total
and differential settlement.
Thickness of raft was fixed as 1.5 m as from studies
conducted by E.Y. N OH it became lucid that increasing
the raft thickness beyond 1.75 m hardly brings any
economy because the construction cost will overhaul
economy achieved by settlement reduction.
3 different diameter piles viz 0.6 m 0.8 m and 1.0 m
were adopted. Studies done by Randolph M.F (2004) have
shown that when spacing S > 6 time diameter of pile D,
group action ceases. In this study diameter of pile is chosen
such that condition S>6D is satisfied. Group action of piles
causes additional settlement. Eliminating group action will
eliminate redundant settlements due to group action. It is
quite clear that in the case of cohesion less soil base
resistance and frictional resistance remains almost constant
beyond certain depth of embedment which is a measure of
angle of internal friction . Thus in cohesion less soil
Critical depth- Lc is the pivotal factor in determining the
capacity of pile. Critical depth, Lc
The above equations are applicable for computing the

total settlement of foundations located at surface. For the
computation of settlement of foundations founded at certain
depth, a correction should be applied to the calculated in
the form of a depth factor to be read from Fig. 12 of IS
8009 (part 1)- 1976. In the case of rigid foundations, the
total settlement at the centre should be reduced by a rigidity
factor 0.80
Allowable range of maximum settlement and differential
settlement in building is given in IS 1904-1986 clause
16.3.4, page 19 and all building shall satisfy the same. To
conclude, we may allow a total maximum settlement of not
more than 75 mm on sand but in this paper the allowable
settlement was limited as 72.5 mm to make it more
proficient. Entire settlement analysis is consolidated in
table 2
Table 2
Consolidated Table of Settlement Analysis
Particulars
For 280 < < 36.50 Lc = (5+ 0.24 (-360)) Dp
Value
Unit
108.04
mm
Correction for depth
0.97
Correction for rigidity
0.80
Total corrected settlement
83.83
mm
Load to be Balanced
kN
10190.1
10190.1
10190.1
Limiting Settlement
72.50
mm
Diameter
0.6
0.8
Total load to be transferred
75396.0
kN
Length
25
25
25
UBC
kN
1604.39
1604.39
1604.39
Load corresponding to settlement
65205.89
kN
SBC
kN
1283.51
1283.51
1283.51
Balance load to be taken by piles
10190.10
kN
Settlement
mm
8.523
2.67
1.71
Number of Pile
Total settlement
Dp= Depth of Pile.

Table 3 gives us general idea about the CPRF system in
the cohesion-less soil.
Table 3
CPRF System
From the settlement analysis it became clear that load of

about 11000 kN is causing excess settlement to raft. If this
load could be shared with another structural element like
pile; the raft can be made secured in both Bearing capacity
criteria and Settlement criteria. Thus we can say that in this
case, a Combined Pile Raft Foundation is best suited.
One of the key factors in CPRF is settlement of piles,

Total Settlement St = Sf+Sb+Sp
Sf = Settlement due to friction by pile shaft.
Sb = Settlement due to bearing by the end of the pile.
Sp= Elastic settlement of piles.
148

Table 4
Properties of Pile and Raft
Friction Settlement Sf = (Qf/Surface Area)x(Diameter of

pile/Es of soil)x(1-2)xIf
Qf = Load carried by shaft friction = xxAs
Dp = Diameter of pile.
Lp = Length of pile.
Influence factor If = 2+0.35 x((Lp/ Dp))
Bearing Settlement Sb= (Qb/A)x(D/Es of soil)x(1- 2)xIb
Qb = Load in bearing = CxNcxAb
A = Area of tip of pile Ib = Empirical Constant, 0.85
Elastic Compression Sp= {(Qf+Qb)+Qf)xLp}/(AxEc)
= empirical factor, 0.67 in sand. Ec= 20e6
IS 2911 suggests that 2/3rd of final load at which 12 mm
settlement happens is to be taken as safe load. By keeping
in mind this fact, limiting value of settlement of single pile
is set as 12 mm. Moreover we can see that contribution of
settlement due to bearing to total settlement is too high
compared to Settlement due to friction and Elastic
settlement of piles. Hence to make the piles safe in
Settlement we have designed them as Friction Piles.
Plaxis 3D is a very flexible finite element software; which
permits the user to design piles as friction piles or endbearing piles or both, hence modelling friction pile was not
a snag. Furthermore bearing resistance which is about to
develop is very low compared to frictional resistance;
hence forsaking bearing resistance will not cause any
serious trouble as far as load carrying capacity of Piles are
concerned
Particulars
Es
Pile
2.5e7
0.25
25
Raft
2.5e7
0.25
25
For the dissertation, different sets of arrangements were

chosen. Also to reduce complication the raft slab was
divided into 4 different zones as Red Zone, Blue Zone,
Green Zone and Free Zone. These partitions were done
depending up on load concentration. From figure 2; it is
quite clear that; load arrangement is not uniform. We can
see large load concentration at centre of building hence
central portion was named red zone as red is equal to
attention. Blue zone marks a gradual transition from large
load concentrated red zone to a minimum load concentrated
green zone. Free zone hardly has any load concentration.
More over region occupied by Red Zone and Blue zone
was named Core region, region occupied by Blue zone and
Green zone was named Transfer region and remaining
portions was named as Inert region (Refer figure 3).
IV. PLAXIS 3D ANALYSIS

Plaxis 3D Foundation is a three-dimensional Plaxis
program, developed for the analysis of foundation
constructions including raft foundations and offshore
structures. It is part of the Plaxis 3D Foundation product
range, a suite of finite element programs that are used
worldwide for geotechnical engineering and design. Plaxis
3D is one of the geo-technical software which can model,
analyse and present complex geo-tech problems easily. Pile
was modelled as Embedded Pile (Massive circular) and raft
as plate element. 22 different arrangements were modelled
and analysed. Properties of pile and properties of raft are
given in Table 4. Table 5 convolutes combinations of pile
groups in CPRF.
Figure 3 Zones
149

Table 5
Pile Combinations
NAME
ARRANGEMENT DETAILS
NAME
Piles Are Placed At A Spacing Of

6.1 Diameter At Blue Zone

6.1 Diameter At Inert Region (Blue
+ Green Zone)
Piles Are Placed At Largest

Spacing
At Core Region
Piles Are At Transfer Regions At

Largest Possible Spacing
Piles Are Placed Uniformly

At Largest Possible Spacing
S7

6.1 Diameter
At Green Zone
0.6
S8
Piles Are Placed At Largest

Spacing
At Green Zone
0.6
Piles Are Arranged In '+'

Formation
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S9
S10

6.1 Diameter
At Core Region
0.8
S11
Piles At A Spacing Of 6.1 Dia At

Green Zone
0.8
S12

6.1 D Diameter At Blue Zone
0.8
S13

Formation
0.8
S14

6.1 Diameter
At Core Region
1.0
S15

6.1 Diameter At Transfer Region
1.0
S16

Formation
1.0
S17
0.6 Diameter Piles At Corner Of

Core Region And 0.8 Diameter
Piles In Red Zone
0.6
0.8
0.6
0.8
0.6

6.1 Diameter
At Core Region
NUMBER &
DIAMETER
NUMBER &
DIAMETER
S1
ARRANGEMENT DETAILS
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
S18
0.6
150

Piles In Red Zone

NAME
ARRANGEMENT DETAILS
Form the analysis it has been recognized beyond any

doubt that installation of piles in a raft reduces the
maximum settlement and differential settlement of the raft
in cohesion less soil..
From the result we can deduce that larger capacity piles
(1.0 m diameter) are more favorable to smaller capacity
piles in reducing maximum settlement of the raft. Refer
Figure 4. Also comparing combinations from S1-S9 we can
say that arranging piles in and around core region is best
choice to reduce settlement. Also we can see that compared
to uniform arrangement; permuted arrangements have
reduced maximum as well as differential settlement of raft.
Refer Figure 6 and Figure 7
Most remarkable trend can be seen if we compare results
of S16 and S22. S16 combination has only 1.0 m piles
where as S22 combination is a permuted arrangement of
0.8 m /1.0 m . But the result of analysis shows that
despite S22 having a permuted arrangement, S16 has
overwhelmed S22 (only by a slight margin). Thus we can
conclude that position where piles are arranged has very
important effect on settlement reduction potential. For the
results we can assume that; assembling piles have made
soil stiffer. Stiffening effect has been proportional to
diameter of the pile. Larger the diameter; larger the
stiffening effect. This could be seen as the reason for
reduction of settlement of the raft; when piles are provided
at the central region. As we know central region has most
load concentration. Analyzing Figure 7 we can derive that
arranging piles in and around core region has maximum
effect on reducing maximum settlement and differential
settlement compared to any other arrangements.
Thus we can say that One particular diameter piles
installed at core region at lower spacing has maximum
positive effect on reducing differential settlement compared
to installing the same diameter piles at higher spacing
.Installing larger capacity piles at core region lessen
differential settlement more compared smaller capacity
piles at core region. Increasing the spacing of piles will
take piles away from core region; thus reducing the
settlement reduction potential of pile group.
Also it is advisable to provide combinations of different
piles. Positioning piles near load points has positive effect
on reducing settlement.
NUMBER &
DIAMETER
S19
S20
S21
S22

Piles In Red Zone

Piles In Red Zone

Piles In Red Zone

Core And 0.8 Diameter Piles In
Red Zone
0.6
1.0
0.6
1.0
0.8
1.0
0.8
1.0
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
MAX'S
64.38
64.79
64.47
64.13
68.00
68.90
MIN 'S
44.31
42.77
38.86
42.58
40.30
39.71
DIF' S
20.08
22.02
25.60
21.55
27.70
29.18
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
MAX'S
69.37
69.99
64.44
60.87
60.79
63.9
MIN 'S
39.65
36.18
44.01
43.41
42.66
40.3
DIF' S
29.72
33.81
20.43
17.46
18.13
23.6
S13
S14
S15
S16
S17
MAX'S
61.30
59.48
59.67
59.30
62.39
MIN 'S
42.85
42.25
41.63
41.14
43.53
DIF'S
18.45
17.23
18.03
18.17
18.87
S18
S19
S20
S21
S22
MAX'S
63.01
61.31
61.82
60.30
60.26
MIN'S
43.47
43.02
42.24
42.67
42.65
DIF' S
19.55
18.29
19.58
17.63
17.61
151

SETTLEMENTS mm
25
20
15
S 04
S11
S16
S17
COMBINATIONS
S19
S22
DIFF' S
Figure 7: Differential Settlement Reduction Characteristics
Figure 4: Maximum Settlement Reduction Characteristics
VI. CONCLUSION
SETTLEMENT mm
35
A few general trends in the behaviour of piled rafts have

been studied during this investigation. Thus, from our study
on settlement characteristics of combined pile raft
foundation founded on sand with various arrangements of
piles using Plaxis-3D following points can be concluded.
30
25
20
From the results obtained, it is advisable to provide piles

with different diameter than with equal diameter
irrespective of soil type.
From all the possible diameters, it is best to provide
larger diameter piles in the interior region to reduce the
maximum settlement and the differential settlement.
The piles configurations in raft have the most important
effect on significantly reducing maximum settlement
and the differential settlement, particularly by
concentrating the piles in the centre of raft.
Therefore by carefully combining these factors
maximum economy can be achieved; save for the choice
should be done such that maximum economy can be
achieved. That is based on availability of materials, labour
cost, time, amount of settlement reduction required etc.
Those cases are subjective to the engineering judgment of
the designer which includes the knowledge of geotechnical
and structural aspects of Combined Pile Raft Foundation.
Thus we can say that Combined Pile Raft Foundation
has a better scope for both research and applications in the
field. This paper will give an idea for designers and
practitioners about benefits of using different combination
of piles in raft.
15
S21
S22
S19
S20
S17
S18
S14
S15
S16
S10
S11
S12
S13
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
10
COMBINATIONS
Figure 5: Differential Settlement Reduction Characteristics

75
SETTLEMENTS mm
60
45
30
15
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
COMBINATIONS
S7
S8
S9
Figure 6: Piles installed at Various Zones of Raft
152

[5]
Acknowledgement
Authors wish to thank Principal- Saintgits College of
Engineering, Head of the Department-Department of Civil
Engineering, P.G Academics Coordinator-Department of
Civil Engineering, Staffs ,Plaxis design studio lab in-charge
and Students of Department of Civil Engineering, Saintgits
College of Engineering, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
[6]
[7]
[8]
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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering