ABSTRACT
Finite Element Method has been applied by various researchers to analyse many complex structures with greater accuracy. As an alternative to overcome many constraints of FEM a FE-BE coupling technique is applied taking advantages of both Finite Element and Boundary Element method to determine the natural frequency of rectangular piled-raft foundation. The rectangular raft is idealised as thick plate and the soil as isotropic, homogeneous, semi infinite elastic half-space. The plate and half-space is modelled separately with a unilateral and frictional contact at their interface. The stiffness of pile is calculated based on elastic theory using simplified approach. A computer code is developed in which discretisation is automatic and very nominal useful data is required. Effect of various pile parameters and the pile configuration on the natural frequency is studied to demonstrate the effect of pile on natural frequency of the pile raft system.
