Measurements and analysis of load sharing between piles and raft in a pile foundation in clay

This research presents the monitoring results and their interpretation on load sharing of the pile foundation during the construction of a high-rise (124 m in height) building in Bangkok, in soft clayey ground. Axial forces in several piles, pore water pressure and earth pressures beneath the raft in a tributary area were monitored through the construction period of the building. The raft of the pile foundation in soft clayey ground can share the load up to 10-20% even though the foundation was designed using the conventional approach in which the raft resistance is ignored. The benefit from the return of ground water table as the uplift pressure is recognized. A series of parametric study by 3D-FEA were carried out. The potential of utilizing the piled raft system for the high-rise building with underground basement in soft clayey ground was preliminarily confirmed.