Effect of Pile Configuration and Load Type on Piled Raft Foundations Performance

In this paper effect of pile configuration and loading type on piled raft foundations performance was studied. The parametric study presented in this research work was carried out with a computer program ELPLA. Three basic pile configurations and three load distribution types were considered and the effect of loading type for each pile configuration on maximum moment in the raft, piles bearing factor (percentage of total load carried by piles) and piled raft settlement was studied. Pile configuration 1 has the pile uniformly distributed under whole raft area. Pile configuration 2 has piles under central area of the raft as well as under the edges of the raft. In pile configuration 3 the piles are placed only in the central area of the raft. It has been found that pile configuration and load distribution are very important and effective in piled raft settlement, maximum moment and piles bearing factor.