ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the performance of a combined foundation system of end-bearing and floating piles in a challenging soil profile consisting of a sand layer of thickness of 12 m overlying a substantial deposit of soft to medium stiff clay in Egypt Nile Delta deposits. The objective is to assess the effectiveness of this foundation system in providing stability highlighting the load-sharing ratios. This system offers a time-efficient alternative to conventional soil improvement techniques such as wick drains or vacuum consolidation. These methods often require considerable time and may have limited effectiveness on deep clay soil, especially beyond a depth of 10 - 15 meters below ground level, hence the challenge arises. By incorporating piles of varying lengths, this system provides a rapid solution for achieving the desired stress distribution by capitalizing on the high end-bearing capacity in sand and the skin friction provided by long piles in clay. 3D numerical simulations were conducted to assess the performance of three systems, using only end-bearing piles, only friction piles, and the combined foundation system. The insights gained assured that this system has a superior performance on decreasing settlement and benefiting from all factors, piles end bearing in sand, high friction from piles rested in clay, and bearing capacity of soil beneath the raft.
