Raft
Raft
Raft
Shallow foundations
1.2
Raft foundation is a combined footing that may cover the entire area under a
structure supporting several columns and walls. Mat foundations are sometimes preferred for
soils that have low load-bearing capacities but that will have to support high column and/or
wall loads. Under some conditions, spread footings would have to cover more than half the
building area, and mat foundations might be more economical. Several types of mat
foundations are currently used. Some of common types are shown schematically in figure 1.1
and include the following:
a. Flat plate, the mat is of a uniform thickness.
b. Flat plate thickened under columns.
c. Beams and slab, the beams run both ways, and the columns are located at the
intersection of the beams.
d. Flat plates with pedestals.
e. Slab with basement walls as a part of the mat, the walls act as stiffeners for the mat.
Mats may be supported by piles. The piles help in reducing the settlement of a structure built
over highly compressible soil. Where the water table is high, mats are often placed over piles
to control buoyancy.
Section
Section
Section
Plan
Plan
(a)
Section
Plan
(b)
(c)
Section
Plan
Plan
(d)
(e)
Figure 1.1 Common types of mat foundations
Literature Review
FDM and its applications in soilstructure interaction analysis (Teng, 1964). Glyn Jones
(1997) presented a detailed analysis of beams on Winklers elastic foundations using finite
difference theory.He also gave a number of references on the subject.He developed
a software package for beams on elastic foundations (BEF)
Arbitrary constants C1, C2, C3, C4 have to be solved from the continuity conditions of w, w'
dw
(= dx
), M(=-EI
d2w
dx 2
) at x=0.
Biot (1937) solved the problem of an infinite beam with a concentrated load resting
on a three-dimensional subgrade by evaluating the maximum bending moment in the beam.
He found diat he could obtain a good coirelation witii die Winkler model for the maximum
moment case by setting:
Where
k=
0.65 E s E s
12
Where
correlation with the Winkler model was not obtained for die corresponding values of all die
variables for the continuum model Using the continuum solution as a reference, Vesic
described this lack of correlation as an "error" in die Winkler model which he found to be
a function of the ratio of the characteristic length to the widdi of the beam. In addition to
diese factors, the value of k is also dependent upon the load distribution, the depth of die
soil continuum and any layering effects present in die continuum. Qearly, there is no
unique value for k, and in many instances it may not be determinable, even considering
field testing.
Where,
V is the Laplace operator, and all other terms were previously defined;
however, no method is provided for the computation of k or T.
where all terms have been previously defined; however, no method is provided for
determining die values of k and D*.
springs to a plate, or "shear layer," consisting of incompressible, vertical elements, which can
deform only by lateral shear.
According to this model die
modulus of subgrade reaction is
given by:
Even though "G" represents the shear modulus of the elastic foundation, no unique
method is provided for the determination of k.
and then computed the values of the other parameters, numerically. None of these
researchers have solved the problem of analyzing plates on an elastic foundation with
finite soil layers.