Techno Press
You logged in as. Techno Press

Structural Engineering and Mechanics
  Volume 7, Number 6, June 1999 , pages 533-550
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/sem.1999.7.6.533
 


Optimization approach applied to nonlinear analysis of raft-pile foundations
Tandjiria V, Valliappan S, Khalili N

 
Abstract
    Optimal design of raft-pile foundations is examined by combining finite element technique and the optimization approach. The piles and soil medium are modeled by three dimensional solid elements while the raft is modelled by shell elements. Drucker-Prager criterion is adopted for the soil medium while the raft and the piles are assumed to be linear elastic. For the optimization process, the approximate semi-analytical method is used for calculating constraint sensitivities and a constraint approximation method which is a combination of the extended Bi-point approximation and Lagrangian polynomial approximation is used for predicting the behaviour of the constraints. The objective function of the problem is the volume of materials of the foundation while the design variables are raft thickness, pile length and pile spacing. The generalized reduced gradient algorithm is chosen for solving the optimization process. It is demonstrated that the method proposed in this study is promising for obtaining optimal design of raft-pile foundations without carrying out a large number of analyses. The results are also compared with those obtained from the previous study in which linear analysis was carried out.
 
Key Words
    optimization, raft-pile foundation, finite element, semi-analytical method
 
Address
Tandjiria V, Univ New S Wales, Sch Civil Engn, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Univ New S Wales, Sch Civil Engn, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
 

Techno-Press: Publishers of international journals and conference proceedings.       Copyright © 2025 Techno Press
P.O. Box 33, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-600 Korea, Tel: +82-42-828-7996, Fax : +82-42-828-7997, Email: admin@techno-press.com