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Performance analysis of a complex superstructure-foundation-subsoil interaction system due to variable pile spacing

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Abstract

Reasonably evaluating the behavior of building structures gives rise to concerns associated with the design method considering interaction between superstructure and foundation. The pile plays a dominant role in the foundation, and varying pile spacing is an effective method for optimizing the pile group foundation. However, the interaction between the superstructure, foundation and subsoil is a complex physical process involving multiple objects. Quantitative assessment of the effects of varying pile spacing on the entire interaction system remains challenging. This study was aimed to accurately assess the effect of different pile spacing on the internal force redistribution of complex superstructures. Based on a case study of a high-rise building with a frame-core tube structure and pile-raft foundation, four cases with different pile spacing were considered. Special attention was given to the relationships of the load-transfer effects between the frame column and the core tube. Subsequently, using a series of numerical simulations, the whole construction process was modeled and calculated. The results confirmed that different pile spacings could affect the performance of the foundation-subsoil, and increasing the pile spacing outside the core tube is an economical and feasible method, which is more suitable for the mechanical characteristics of the frame-core tube structure.

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The data used in this study may be limitedly or full accessed by contacting the corresponding author.

Abbreviations

d :

The pile diameter, m

L :

The pile length, m

τ crit :

The critical stress, Pa

μ :

The friction coefficient

σ n :

The normal stress, Pa

F b :

The reaction force of the bottom beam-end in the vertical direction connecting the frame column and the core tube, kN

F bf :

The reaction force of the bottom beam-end connected to the frame column, kN

F bt :

The reaction force of the bottom beam-end connected to the core tube, kN

Δ F b :

The reaction force difference value of the bottom beam at both ends of the frame columns and core tube (i.e., ΔFb =|Fbf—Fbt|), kN

ΔU :

The vertical displacement difference value of the bottom beam at both ends of the frame column and core tube, mm

S :

The Settlement value of the foundation, mm

R f :

The reaction force at the bottom of frame columns connected to the raft, kN

R t :

The reaction force at the bottom of core tube connected to the raft, kN

M x :

The raft bending moment on 4-axis, 5-axis, 6-axis, kN·m

M y :

The raft bending moment on D-axis, E-axis, F-axis, kN·m

P :

The raft contact pressure, kN

R :

The pile-top reaction, kN

L4E-F :

The bottom beam connecting the core tube and the frame column on 4-axis

L5E-F :

The bottom beam connecting the core tube and the frame column on 5-axis

LD5-6 :

The bottom beam connecting the core tube and the frame column on D-axis

LE5-6 :

The bottom beam connecting the core tube and the frame column on E-axis

Q1 :

The exterior wall in the core tube at the first floor

Q2 :

The interior wall in the core tube at the first floor

Q3 :

The exterior wall in the core tube at the first floor

Q4 :

The exterior wall in the core tube at the first floor

Z1 :

The centre column at the bottom

Z2 :

The side column at the bottom

Z3 :

The corner column at the bottom

Z4 :

The side column at the bottom

Z5 :

The centre column at the bottom

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Acknowledgements

The author wishes to deeply thank the engineers who participated in the present project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Changjiang Survey, Planning, Design and Research Co., Ltd, Jiefangdadao 1863, Jiang’an, Wuhan, 430010, China

    Miao He

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  1. Miao He
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Correspondence to Miao He.

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Highlights

• The interaction between the complex superstructure, foundation and subsoil is considered.

• The layer-by-layer construction loading process for the superstructure is considered.

• The redistribution of internal forces between the frame columns and the core tube in the building structure with different pile spacings is calculated and analyzed.

• The settlement behavior of the foundation is calculated and compared for different pile spacings.

• The mechanical behavior of the foundation-subsoil system is analyzed for different pile spacings.

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He, M. Performance analysis of a complex superstructure-foundation-subsoil interaction system due to variable pile spacing. Archit. Struct. Constr. 4, 71–90 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44150-024-00109-z

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