TÜBİTAK MAG Proje15.05.2005In this study, the load bearing behavior of piled raft foundations is investigated performing laboratory and field tests. Test setups were mainly concerned with the load sharing mechanism of piled raft foundations. Load-settlement characteristics of the piled raft foundations were also investigated. In the field load test, the model piled raft foundation was loaded in vertical and lateral directions. 4 bored piles with a diameter of 32 cm and length of 5 m are supporting a reinforced concrete raft with plan dimensions of 2.3 m x 2.3 m and having a thickness of 50 cm. It has been found that raft has a noticeable contribution to the load bearing capacity of the piled raft foundation and up to 30% of the total vertical load is carried by the raft. In laboratory tests, model aluminum piles with an outer diameter of 22 mm, an inner diameter of 18 mm and a length of 200 mm were used. The raft was made of steel with plan dimensions of 132 mm x 132 mm and a thickness of 35 mm. The model piles were instrumented with strain gages to monitor pile loads. It has been found that using an appropriate design approach, rafts can contribute to the load bearing capacity of the pile groups which will reduce costs for pile construction
