OPTIMUM DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATIONS USING FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

OPTIMUM DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATIONS USING FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Abstract:

This work presents the finite element analysis (FEA) of the requirements of compression reinforcements in raft foundations using ABAQUS. The model helps to confirm and provide a valuable supplement to the theoretical design. For validation, a reinforced concrete raft foundationis modeled whichis conventionally designed according to Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1:2004). The result indicates that there is differential settlement within the raft foundation based on the settlement and stress patterns obtained from the finite element model (FEM). This is followed by the addition of compression reinforcement, from 0.1% to 0.9% of the cross sectional area of the raft slab, until uniform settlement is obtained. The results suggest that a suitable percentage of the concrete cross sectional area of raft slab foundations should be used as compression reinforcement, when designing conventionally using Eurocode 2, in order to prevent differential settlements. The required area of compression reinforcement is 0.9% of the cross sectional area of the concrete section.

OPTIMUM DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATIONS USING FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS