Piled Raft Foundation

1.0 Introduction

This tutorial demonstrates some of the support systems available in RS3. This tutorial models a square shaped piled raft foundation.

All tutorial files installed with RS3 can be accessed by selecting File > Recent > Tutorials Folder from the RS3 main menu. The starting file can be found in Piled Raft Foundation - starting file.rs3dmodel. The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Piled Raft Foundation.rs3dmodel.

2.0 Starting the Model

Open the starting file from File > Recent > Tutorials Folder and select Piled Raft Foundation - starting file.rs3dmodel.

The model should have initial project settings already defined for the user.

Select: Analysis > Project setting

Please check the following inputs:

In the [Stages] tab:

• Number of Stages = 2,
• Stage 1 Name = Initial, and
• Stage 2 Name = Piled raft foundation

In the [Groundwater] tab:

• Method = Phreatic Surfaces,
• Pore Fluid Unit Weight = 9.81 kN/m3

3.0 Defining the Materials

Please check the current workflow tab is set to .

The model should have the Clay layer already defined for the user.

Select: Materials > Define Materials

Please check that you have the following inputs:

In the [Initial Conditions] tab:

• Initial Element Loading = Field Stress & Body Force
• Unit Weight = 18 kN/m3

In the [Strength] tab:

• Material Type = Plastic,
• Peak Cohesion = 4 kPa,
• Peak Friction Angle = 30°
• Peak Tensile Strength = 0 kPa,
• Residual Cohesion = 4 kPa,
• Residual Friction Angle = 30°
• Residual Tensile Strength = 0 kPa,
• Dilation Angle = 0°

In the [Stiffness] tab:

• Type = Linear Isotropic,
• Use Unloading Condition = No,
• Poisson's Ratio = 0.35,
• Young's Modulus = 5000 kPa,
• Use Residual Young's Modulus = No

4.0 Creating Geometry

Ensure the Geology tab is still selected from the workflow at the top of the screen .

Select: Geometry > Create External Box.

A Create External dialog will open. Please enter the following:

• First Corner (x, y, z) = (0, -160, 0),
• Second Corner (x, y, z) = (160, 10, -40)

Now you can select OK.

Select: Geometry > 3D Primitive Geometry > Box

Enter the following:

• Defined By = 2 Corners,
• Role = Geology,
• First Corner (x, y, z) = (72, -88, 0),
• Second Corner (x, y, z) = (88, -72, -3)

Select OK.

Select: Geometry > 3D Boolean > Divide All Geometry.

We will be using all default values. Select OK.

5.0 Adding Supports

5.1 ADDING LINERS

Select Support tab from the workflow at the top of the screen .

Before adding the liner, we must select the faces that we want the liner to be assigned to.

Select: Edit > Selection Mode > Faces Selection

Select the top face of the smaller box either using the XY-plane modeler view or the 3D modeler view. When selected the 3D modeler view should look similar to the following:

Select: Support > Liners > Add Lining.

Press the pencil icon beside Lining 1 to open the Liner Composition dialog.

Navigate to the last column (Edit) and select the pencil icon to open the Liner Properties dialog.

Enter the following values and leave all else default:

Select OK to save and exit the liner properties dialog, then select OK to exit the lining composition dialog.

In Add Lining dialog, set Install at stage = Piled raft foundation.

Select OK.

5.2 Adding Piles

Select: Support > Beams > Define Beams.

Enter the following values for the beam parameters:

Leave all other values as default.

Select OK to save and close the Beam Properties dialog.

Now we must select the face that we want the piles to be assigned to.

Select: Edit > Selection Mode > Faces Selection

Select the top face of the foundation.

Select: Support > Piles or Forepoles > Add Piles or Forepoles

Select the pencil icon located next to Pile 1 to open the Pile/Forepole Properties dialog.

Enter the following parameter inputs:

• Set Connection Type = Rigid,
• Lining Connection Type = All Liners,
• Shear Stiffness = 5000 kPa/m,
• Normal Stiffness = 50000 kPa/m,
• Base Normal Stiffness = 50000 kN/m,
• Base Force Resistance = 100 kN,
• Skin Resistance = C and phi,
• Perimeter = 1.1 m,
• Cohesion = 3.2 kN/m,
• Residual Cohesion = 3.2 kN/m,
• Friction Angle = 24.79°,
• Residual Friction Angle = 24.79°,

Leave all other values as default. Now select OK.

Now that we’ve returned to the Add Piles/Forepoles dialog, enter the following:

• Flip Direction = Active,
• Length = 20 m,
• Install at stage = Piled Raft Foundation,
• Application = Pile Pattern,
• Primary Spacing = 4,
• Secondary Spacing = 4,
• Primary Offset = 2,
• Secondary Offset = 2

Make sure the Secondary Path (Optional) is enabled.

Do not select Done. We still need to define the Start and End points of our pile pattern paths.

In the XY plane viewport select the top-left vertex of the selected face, followed by the top-right vertex. At this point we have defined the Primary Path. Subsequently, we can set the Secondary Path by selecting the top-left vertex again, followed by the bottom-left vertex.

You will see the coordinates are now being displayed for the Primary Path and Secondary Path.

Alternatively, we could have entered the coordinates manually instead of using the vertices selection tool.

Select Preview Pattern to ensure everything was entered correctly. The model should look like the following:

If everything looks correct, select Add followed by Done.

6.0 Groundwater Conditions

Select the Groundwater tab from the workflow at the top of the screen .

Select: Groundwater > Add Water by Location

In the Water by Location dialog, enter the four points:

(X, Y, Elevation) = (-10, -170, -3), (170, -170, -3), (170, 20, -3), (-10, 20, -3)

Select OK.

Select: Materials > Define Materials.

Navigate to the Clay's [Hydraulics] tab and change the Default Water Condition = Water Surface 1 and leave all other settings as default.

Select OK. The red "X" symbol should now be gone, indicating that the water condition has been defined.

7.0 Adding Stress Loading

7.1 ADDING FIELD STRESS

Select the Loads tab from the workflow .

Select: Loading > Field Stress

Make sure that the Field Stress Type is set to Gravity. Select OK to close.

7.2 Loading the Raft Foundation

Now we will place a surface load on the top face of the foundation. Select the face as we did in Step 5.1.

Select: Loading > Add Loads to Selected

Enter the following:

• Load Type = Uniform Load,
• Magnitude = 30 kN/m2, and
• Install at stage = Piled raft foundation

All other settings should be left as default. Select OK to save and close the dialog.

8.0 Setting Boundary Conditions

Move to the Restraints tab to assign restraints to the external boundary of the model .

Select: Restraints > Auto Restrain (Surface).

This completes the construction of the model's geometry.

9.0 Meshing

Next, we move to the Mesh tab.

Select: Mesh > Mesh

Your model should look like the following:

10.0 Computing Results

Next we move to Compute tab .

From this tab we can compute the results of our model. First, save your model: File > Save As.

Next, save the compute file: File > Save Compute File. You are now ready to compute the results.

Select: Compute > Compute

11.0 Interpreting Results

Next we move to Results tab .

First, refresh the results:

Select: Interpret > Refresh All Results.

By default the Element is set to Solids and Data Type = Sigma 1 Effective.

Let’s turn on the exterior contours so we can see results:

Select: Interpret > Show Exterior Contour.

We will also include a contour plane in the center of the model.

Select: Interpret > Show data on plane > XZ Plane

Under Plane Definition, set the Origin (x,y,z) = (80, -80, -20) and leave the plane orientation normal vector as default.

Select Add and then Close.

In the Legend bar on the right, change Data Type = Total Displacement.

Total Displacement Exterior Contour Plane (Stage 2)
Total Displacement Contour Plane (Stage 2)

The highest displacement, as expected, is in the center of the loaded foundation.

Next we will change Element = Liners and Data Type = Moment Y

The internal moment (about the Y direction) of the liner is shown below:

Lastly, we will change Element = Beams & Piles and change the Data Type = Axial Force.

The axial force in the piles (at Stage 2) is shown below:

The axial force, as expected, decreases with depth into the pile.

Other results are available to view as well. This concludes the tutorial.