| Abstract: | An approximate numerical method for the analysis of piled raft foundations is presented. The raft is modelled as a thin plate and the piles as interacting non-linear springs. Both the raft and the piles are interacting with the soil which is modelled as an elastic layer. Two sources of non-linearity are accounted for: (i) the unilateral contact at the raft–soil interface and (ii) the non-linear load–settlement relationship of the piles. Both theoretical solutions and experimental results are used to verify that, despite the approximations involved, the proposed method of analysis can provide satisfactory solutions in both linear and non-linear range. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
