Influence of Separation Layer Properties on Seismic Response of Modified Piled Raft Foundations

Abstract

Conventional piled raft foundations, with the raft and piles interconnected, severely restrict lateral movement, especially during seismic events. These constraints result in substantial stresses at the connection, posing a risk of potential breakage. Therefore, in seismic-prone areas, where transient lateral loadings of larger magnitudes are expected, conventional piled raft foundations are not feasible. Providing a separation layer between the raft and pile foundations is a viable solution to improve the performance of conventional piled raft foundations. The performance of such a modified piled raft system depends largely on the properties of the separation layer introduced. However, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the seismic performance of these separation layers by considering the effect of soil–structure interactions. The present study thus aims to investigate the performance of modified piled raft systems by comparing them with their conventional counterpart. The existing conventional piled raft foundation of the Treptower building has been chosen as the prototype and is numerically analysed for static and dynamic loading conditions. Further, a separation layer has been introduced between the pile and raft, and the performance of the modified piled raft foundation is analysed under similar loadings. The results of these analyses are comprehensively compared to ascertain the performance of modified piled rafts under seismic excitation. It is found that the modified piled raft foundation with PE foam in the separation layer is advantageous in damping the propagation of seismic waves to the superstructure, reducing settlement and lateral displacements, and thereby decreasing the potential risk of failure of superstructures in seismic-prone areas. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Geotechnical Society 2024.