MIDAS Technical
Material
Tutorial
Pile-Raft Foundation Analysis
1
Pile-Raft Foundation
[Link]
Learning Objective
Overview
• This tutorial will explain the steps to be followed to perform Stress Analysis for Pile Raft Foundation.
• The modelling of interaction between the piles and the soil will be dealt.
Workflow
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5 STEP 6 STEP 7
- Import
the
Building and the
Material and Load and Construction Analysis Perform and
Load Set
Property Meshing Boundary Stage Case Analyse
- Geometric
Definition Conditions Definition Definition Results
Modelling of the
Soil Layers
[Link]
Step
Building Model and Subsurface Layers
00
15 m 13.5 m
16.5 m
95 m 3D model
Imported Building and Soil Profile – 2D section
[Link]
Step
Material Properties
00
Table-1: Material Properties
Material Model Type Elastic Poisson’s Unit Saturated Unit Initial Void Cohesion Friction angle
Modulus Ratio Weight Weight Ratio (kN/m^2) (degrees)
(kN/m^2) (kN/m^3) (kN/m^3)
Soil Isotropic 50,000 0.3 20 21 0.5 30 36
Mohr-Coulomb
Siltstone Isotropic 210,000 0.3 22 22 0.5 205 27
Mohr-Coulomb
Table-2: Interface Properties
Material Model Type Ultimate Shear Force Shear Stiffness Modulus Normal Stiffness Modulus
(kN/m^2) (kN/m^3) (kN/m^3)
Pile Interface_Soil Interface and Pile 320 32120 76923
Pile Interface_Rock Interface and Pile 2753 275317.7 323076.9
Note: If the resistance due to skin friction from rock layer is to be exempted, then the values of ultimate shear force and ultimate shear
modulus for Pile Interface_Rock may be inputted as 0.
[Link]
Step
1-1 Import Building from Midas Gen
01
Procedure 4
1. Open GTS NX.
2
2. Project Title: enter “Pile-Raft Foundation
Analysis” , set units as kN, m and sec
3
3. Select Model type 3D and Gravity direction Z 3 5
and click ‘OK’
4. Click on GTS NX icon on the top left corner of
Interface and select Import > midas Mxt.
4 4
5. Select “Main SSI [Link]” and click ‘Open’.
6. In the ‘Model-workstree’, expand Mesh and 5
select/click Point Spring.
7. Press Delete on keyboard and click ‘Ok’. 12
Now we will be separating the Piles and
3
include it in a new Mesh Set.
8. Right click on the Mesh using the cursor. 14 17
9. Click on ‘New Mesh Set’
10. Right click on ‘New Mesh Set’ and click on
‘Rename (F2)’ and change the name to
‘Piles’.
13
11. Then right click again on the ‘Piles’ Mesh set 9
and click on ‘Include/Exclude Elements and
Nodes’ 16
12. Click on ‘Front view’
13. Click on ‘Select Objects’ 10
8
14. Click and enable ‘Intersect’
15. Select Piles by using the cursor and make
sure that the raft is not being included. 6
16. Click ‘OK’ 15
17. Disable ‘Intersect’ by clicking on it.
11
[Link]
Step
1-2 Import Load from Midas Gen
01
Procedure
18. Click on GTS NX Icon>Import >
Import Nodal Results (*.txt)
19. Select “Loads_Gen to GTS” and
click ‘Open’
19
20. Go to Geometry > Point & Curves >
Point
21. Click on ‘Create’ and select ‘Convert
Node’ from the dropdown menu.
22. Select all the nodes of Raft and the
Pile as shown in the Picture.
23. Click ‘OK’ 19
18
20
21
22
23
[Link]
Step
1-3 Soil Strata Modeling
01
Procedure
1. Go to Works tree > Model > Work
Plane > Double click on ‘XY(0,0,1).
2. Go to Geometry> Point and Curve > 2
Rectangle.
3 4
3. Input the first corner of the rectangle
as (20,20) and click ‘Apply’
5
4. Input the opposite corner of the
rectangle as (40,-25)
6
5. Enable ‘Make Face’ 1
6. Click ‘OK’
7
7. Go to Geometry > Protrude >
Extrude 12
8. Select the Surface as shown in the
figure. 13
9. Select the Z direction using the
Cursor. 8
10. Input the length as -13.5m 9
11. Click ‘Apply’. 14
12. Select the bottom surface of the
Extruded Solid
13. Select ‘Z’ direction 10
14. Input the length as -16.5m
15. Click ‘OK’ 15
11
[Link]
Step
1-4 Soil Strata Modeling
01
Procedure
6
1. Go to Geometry > Point & Curve >
Rectangle
2. Input the first corner of the rectangle 1
as (-10,45) and click ‘Apply’
3. Input the opposite corner of the
rectangle as (100,-80) 7
4. Enable ‘Make Face’
8
5. Click ‘OK’ 11
6. Go to Geometry > Protrude >
Extrude 12
2
7. Select the Surface as shown in the
figure. 9
8. Select the Z direction using the
Cursor.
13
9. Input the length as -13.5m
10. Click ‘Apply’.
11. Select the bottom surface of the 10
Extruded Solid
12. Select ‘Z’ direction
13. Input the length as -16.5m
14
14. Click ‘OK’ 3
5 The reason behind the modeling of two separate inner and outer solid domains is to
facilitate the finer mesh for the inner solids as it interact with Piles.
[Link]
Step
1-5 AutoConnect
01
Procedure
1. Go to Geometry > Surface & Solid>
AutoConnect
1
2. Choose the Method as ‘Boolean’
3. Select all the four Solids.
4. Click ‘OK’
[Link]
Additional
Information
• All the Geometry Objects (Points, Lines, Surfaces, Solids) and Mesh
Sets are saved in the Model tab of the WorksTree.
• The Boundary Conditions and Load Sets are saved in the Analysis Tab
of the WorksTree.
Kindly Hide or Unhide them as per your convenience while Modelling and
Viewing Results.
• For the current tutorial, we would recommend you hiding the load sets
after importing it for better Modeling Experience.
[Link]
Step
2-1 Material Definition
02
Procedure
1. Go to Mesh > 4
Prop/Csys/Func >Material
2. Click on Create > Isotropic 3
3. Select Model type > Mohr-Coulomb 1 6
4. Enter the Name as ‘Soil’
5
5. In General tab
Elastic Modulus > 50000 kN/m^2
Poisson’s Ratio > 0.3
2
Unit Weight > 20 kN/m^3
6. In Porous tab
Saturated unit weight > 21 kN/m^3
Initial Void Ratio > 0.5
7. In Non-Linear tab
cohesion > 30 kN/m^2 7
Friction angle > 36 degrees
8. Click ‘OK’
Similarly define the inputs for
Siltstone Material as given in
Tables 1. 8
.
[Link]
Step
2-2 Pile Interface - Material Definition
02
Procedure
3
Go to Mesh >
Prop/Csys/Func >Material 2
1. Click on Create > Interface and Pile
2. Select Model type > Pile
3. Enter the Name as ‘Pile 1 4
Interface_Soil’
4. In General tab
Ultimate Shear Force > 320 kN/m^2
Shear Stiffness Modulus > 32120
kN/m3
Normal Stiffness Modulus > 76923
kN/m3
5. Click ‘OK’
Similarly define the inputs for
‘Pile Interface_Rock’ Material as
given in Table 2.
.
[Link]
Step
2-3 Defining Property
02
Procedure
1. Go to Mesh > Prop/Csys/Func > 1
Property 9 10
2. Select Create > 3D
12
3. Select Material > Soil 11
4. Enter property name ‘Soil’
5. Click ‘Apply’ 13
6. Select Material > Siltstone 2
7. Enter property name ‘Rock’
8. Click ‘OK’
9. Select Create > 1D
10. Select ‘Pile’ 16
11. Select the Material ‘Pile Interface_Soil’
17
12. Enter the property name ‘Pile 15
Interface_Soil’. 4
13. Click ‘Apply’ 14
Similarly define the inputs for ‘Pile Interface_ 3
Rock’ Material as given in Table-2.
5
14. Select Create > Other
15. Select ‘Pile Tip’ 19
16. Enter name ‘Pile Tip’
17. Input Tip Bearing Capacity> 8138 kN 7
Tip Spring Stiffness> 521285 kN/m 6
18. Click ‘OK’ 18
19. Click ‘OK’ 8
[Link]
Step
3-1 Meshing Soil and Rock Layers
03
Procedure
1. Go to Mesh > Generate > 3D
1 14
2. Go to ‘AutoSolid’ Tab
3. Select the Inner Soil - Solid 15
4. Input the Mesh Size 1m. 2
5. Select ‘Hybrid Mesher’ 3
6. Select the ‘Soil’ property. 4 16
7. Input name ‘Inner Soil’
8. Go to ‘Advance Option’
17
9. Enable ‘Inner Edge/Points’ 5
10. Select the Points inside the Soil Layer 18
19
11. Enable ‘Consider Imprinting Shape on 6 24
Face’
20
12. Click ‘OK’ 7 13 8
13. Click ‘Apply’ 21
14. Select the Inner Rock - Solid 9 22
15. Input the Mesh Size 1m. 10
16. Select ‘Hybrid Mesher’ 11
17. Select the ‘Rock’ property.
18. Input name ‘Inner Rock’
19. Go to ‘Advance Option’
20. Enable ‘Inner Edge/Points’
21. Select the Points inside the Soil Layer
22. Enable ‘Consider Imprinting Shape on
Face’
23
23. Click ‘OK’
12
24. Click ‘OK’
[Link]
Step
3-2 Meshing Soil and Rock Layers
03
Procedure
1. Go to Mesh > Generate > 3D
2. Go to ‘AutoSolid’ Tab 1
3. Select the Outer Soil - Solid
4. Input the Mesh Size 2.5m. 2
5. Select ‘Hybrid Mesher’ 3
6. Select the ‘Soil’ property.
4
7. Input name ‘Outer Soil’
8. Click ‘Apply’
9. Select the Outer Rock - Solid
5
10. Input the Mesh Size 2.5m.
11. Select ‘Hybrid Mesher’
12. Select the ‘Rock’ property. 6
13. Input name ‘Outer Rock’ 7
8
14. Click ‘OK’
9
10
11
12
13
14
[Link]
Step
3-2 Assigning Pile Interface
03
Procedure
2
1. Hide all the mesh sets except ‘Piles’
2. Go to Mesh > Element > Pile/Pile Tip
3
3. Click ‘Front View’
4. Go to Pile Tab.
5. Select all pile elements present in the
soil layer. 4
6. Select Property Pile Interface_Soil
7. Name Mesh Set Pile Interface_Soil 5
8. Click ‘Apply’
9. Select all pile elements present in the 6
Rock layer. 1 7
10. Select Property Pile Interface_Rock 8
11. Name Mesh Set Pile Interface_Rock
12. Click ‘Apply’
10
11
12
[Link]
Step
3-2 Assigning Pile Tip
03
Procedure
13. Go to Pile Tip tab.
14. Select the bottom nodes of all the piles
as shown in picture.
15. Select the property ‘Pile Tip’.
16. Enter the name as Pile Tip
17. Click ‘OK’
13
14
15
16
17
[Link]
Step
3-3 Modeling Rigid Connection b/w Piles and Raft
03
Procedure
After creation of the Pile Interface, the
common node between the Raft and the
Pile is be divided into two and are 2
connected by the interface element. This
results in non-rigid behaviour between
Pile and the Raft. Hence, we need to 3
merge those nodes to maintain rigid
connection.
1. Unhide all the mesh sets
1
2. Go to Mesh > Node > Merge
3. Select All the nodes.
4. Click Find
4
5. Click ‘OK’
[Link]
Step
4-1 Assigning Boundary Conditions
04
Procedure
1. Select Static/Slope Analysis >
Boundary > Constraint 1
2. Go to Auto tab Check on Consider
All Mesh Sets
3. Name Boundary Set > GS
4. Click OK
[Link]
Step
4-2 Assigning Self Weight
04
Procedure 1
1. Go to Static/Slope Analysis > Load >
Self Weight
2. Enter Load Set > Self weight
3. Click ‘OK’
[Link]
Step
5-1 Construction Stage Definition
05
Procedure
1. Go to Static/Slope Analysis >
Construction Stage > Stage Set 1
2. Set the stage type as stress.
3. Enter the name as Pile Raft
Foundation.
4. Click ‘ADD’
5. Select the generated Construction 3 4
Stage Set.
6. Click on ‘Define CS’ 2 12
7
7. Enter Stage Name > In-Situ 5
9
8. For the In-situ stage activate the Inner 6
Soil, Outer Soil, Outer Soil and
Outer Rock mesh sets. Also Activate 8
Ground Support and Self Weight.
9. Enable Define Water for Global. Enter 10
‘-4’ m in water level column.
10. Enable ‘Clear Displacement’
11. Click ‘Save’
12. Click ‘New’
11
[Link]
Step
5-2 Construction Stage Definition
05
Procedure 8
6
1. Enter Stage Name Building.
2. Activate Center_, Default Mesh set,
Piles, Pile Interface_Soil, Pile
Interface_Rock and Pile Tip mesh 7
sets.
3. Activate the boundary condition BC
Set-1. 5
1
4. Click ‘Save’
5. Click ‘New’ 9
6. Enter Stage Name Load.
10
7. Activate load set ‘Base-CBall: RC 2
ENV_STR’ 11
13 14
8. Enable ‘Analysis Control’ and Open 3
it.
9. Go to ‘Nonlinear’.
10. Enter the number of increments as 15.
11. Select ‘Every Increment’ in the
dropdown menu.
12. Click ‘OK’ 4
13. Click ‘Save’
14. Click ‘Close’
12
[Link]
Step
6-1 Define Analysis Cases
06
Procedure
1. Select Analysis > Analysis Case >
General 1
2. Enter the name as ‘Pile Raft Analysis’
6
3. Select the solution type as
7
Construction Stage.
4. Select ‘Pile Raft Foundation’ 2
Construction Stage Set in the drop 5 8
down menu. 3
4
5. Click on Analysis Control. 9
6. Go to General tab.
7. Check Automatically Consider Water
Pressure.
8. Check Initial Stage for Stress
Analysis. Enable ‘Apply K0
Condition’ and ‘Cut-off Negative
Effective Pressure’.
9. Enable ‘Estimate Initial Stress of
Activated Elements’
10. Enable Estimate Initial Configuration
10
of Activated Elements.
11. Click ‘OK’ 12
11
12. Click ‘OK’
[Link]
Step
6-2 Analysis
06
Procedure
1. Select Analysis > Perform
1
2. Check on ‘Pile Raft Analysis’
3. Click ‘OK’
1
[Link]
Step
Results – Total Translation (m)
07
Procedure
1. Hide the Building Mesh Set in the
Model Works tree.
2. Go to Results Tab, expand Building
and Load construction stage.
3. Under Displacements click on Total
Translation (V).
3 Building Stage
1
2
Load Stage
[Link]
Step
Results – Axial Force in Piles
07
Procedure
1. Hide Soil and Rock Layers.
2. Go to Results Tab, expand Building
and Load construction stage.
3. Under Beam Element Forces select
Axial Force.
Building Stage
1
Load Stage
[Link]
Step
Results – Bending Moment in Piles
07
Procedure
1. Go to Results Tab, expand Building
and Load construction stage.
2. Under Beam Element Forces select
Bending Moment Z.
Building Stage
Load Stage
[Link]
Step
Results – Bending Moment in Piles
07
Procedure
1. Go to Results Tab, expand Building
and Load construction stage.
2. Under Pile force select Tangential X
(Skin Friction)
Building Stage
Load Stage
[Link]
Happy Modeling
30
GTS NX Certification task for participants
involves submission of file (.docx or .pdf) with :
• Generating the model as shown in tutorial.
• Settlement vs Time – Graph Picture
• Excess Pore Pressure vs Time – Graph Picture
• Short summary of model creation, and results.
Note: Please enter the name and the country same as you entered in the previous
submissions. In case of any name discrepancies among the submissions, the
participants will be awarded Zero.
KINDLY SUBMIT YOUR FINAL RESULTS IN THE PROVIDED WORD FILE FORMAT.
The name of the word file should follow “YOUR NAME_COUNTRY.docx/.pdf” format.
31