Comparison between the measured and the numerically predicted behaviour of an instrumented piled raft

This paper presents the results of numerical predictions for an instrumented piled raft foundation of a tall building in tropical soil. The analysis was performed using 3D finite element analysis and included a comparison of foundation settlements, pile loads, skin friction mobilisation, and raft-soil contact pressure. Initially, the geotechnical model was defined based on field and laboratory test data to conduct a Class A geotechnical prediction. Subsequently, the soil parameters used in the numerical model were re-evaluated to match the measured settlements, aiming for a Class C prediction. The study discusses the main factors that affect the accuracy of the computed settlements, providing valuable insights for foundation designers. Additionally, it highlights the significance of considering the pile-soil-pile and raft-soil-pile interactions in the design of the piles beneath the raft, as these interactions impact the mobilisation of the pile skin friction at different depths.