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Settlement of A Large Raft Foundation

This document summarizes the analysis of settlement beneath a large raft foundation at a power station located on a shingle deposit along the English coast. Measurements found a maximum settlement of 65mm after excavation and 63mm after raft completion. Several analytical methods were used to calculate settlement, with Schmertmann's method predicting 63mm average settlement and Burland-Burbidge predicting a maximum of 142mm. PLAXIS 2D and PDisp numerical models were also used, predicting 62mm and 482mm maximum settlements respectively. Both analytical and numerical methods have limitations in representing the complex soil conditions and foundation geometry.

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105 views1 page

Settlement of A Large Raft Foundation

This document summarizes the analysis of settlement beneath a large raft foundation at a power station located on a shingle deposit along the English coast. Measurements found a maximum settlement of 65mm after excavation and 63mm after raft completion. Several analytical methods were used to calculate settlement, with Schmertmann's method predicting 63mm average settlement and Burland-Burbidge predicting a maximum of 142mm. PLAXIS 2D and PDisp numerical models were also used, predicting 62mm and 482mm maximum settlements respectively. Both analytical and numerical methods have limitations in representing the complex soil conditions and foundation geometry.

Uploaded by

sb1966
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Settlement of a large raft foundation

Author: Sofia Lefkaditi (2153297) - Supervisor: Dr. Bill Stewart

I N T R O D U C T I O N  PLAXIS 2D: maximum settlement of 62mm.


The aim of the project is to predict the settlement beneath the large raft
foundation at Dungeness B Power Station located in the south east coast of
England, the largest area consisting of open flint shingle in Europe. The
foundation is placed within a 9 – meter excavation on shingle overlain by
multiple layers of sand (31 m) which extend down to the Hasting beds, a
geological unit which consists of stiff silty clays and dense silts which serves
Figure 3: Settlements along axis X
as a rigid base. Figure 1 presents the problem geometry as well as the loads
of the main structures during the period under consideration (Week 403 –
90% of superstructure constructed).

Figure 3: Settlements beneath center point

Figure 1: Geometry and loads


Concrete and sand layers’ stiffness – raft thickness considered.
S E T T L E M E N T M E A S U R E M E N T S
 Limited options: representation of shingle – geometry of loads
• Excavation completion – Week 403: center point settled by 65mm at a
 Limitations due to 2 – Dimensional nature of software.
depth of 4.27 m from foundation level.  PDisp: maximum settlement of 482mm.
• Raft completion – Week 403: maximum settlement of 63mm beneath WR.

S E T T L E M E N T C A L C U L AT I O N S
 Schmertmann’s method: average settlement of 63mm.
 The assumption of a constant secant modulus within each layer
regardless the increase of vertical stress.
 The triangular strain profile diagram is not the best choice for the range of
Poisson’s ratio of granular soils.
 No consideration of stress distribution – no detailed results.
 Burland – Burbidge’s method: maximum settlement of 142mm.
Figure 4: Settlements along axis X (Left) – Settlement contours (Right)

Quick tool
 Stiffness of raft not considered
 Drawbacks of Boussinesq’s solution
 Limited options: geometry of loads.
Figure 2: Settlements along axis X
C O N C L U S I O N
Settlements directly beneath the foundation: overestimated – Settlements at
The discipline of foundation engineering is constantly adapting to any new
greater depths for center of foundation: underestimated (swelling)
methods or updates of the existing ones and during the last decades a great
 Boussinesq’s assumptions of elasticity and, especially, homogeneity do
amount of methods, both analytical and numerical, have been and are still
not represent accurately the real soil behaviour.
being developed. However, since the soil is a material the behaviour of
 The presence of the rigid base is not reflected in the results. which cannot be accurately predicted as many approaches as possible need
 Stiffness: raft – various soil layers not considered. to be developed in order to ensure that no aspects are neglected and the
 Increase of vertical stresses only beneath the loaded area. safety of the structure is secured.
 Crude assumptions: behaviour of shingle – geometry of loads.
University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

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