Modeling Raft

Foundation using
Area element (II)
Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Modulus of Subgrade Reaction

CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos

When a foundation settles into the soil (the subgrade), then

the reaction of the soil on the foundation is reversely
proportioned to the amount of settlement.

This is very much similar to having springs underneath the

foundation.
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Modulus of Subgrade Reaction; ks
Type of Soil ks; kN/m/m2
Loose Sand 4800 – 16000
CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos

Medium Dense Sand 9600 – 80000

Dense Sand 64000 – 128000
Clayey Medium Dense Sand 32000 - 80000
Silty Medium Dense Sand 24000 – 48000
Clayey Soil:
qa ≤ 200 kPa 12000 – 24000
200 < qa ≤ 800 kPa 24000 – 48000
qa > 800 kPa >48000

Reference: Foundation Analysis & Design, 5th Edition, Joseph E. Bowles

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Modulus of Subgrade Reaction; ks

In general:
CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos

ks = 40 (F.O.S) qa (kN/m/m2)

qa; the allowable bearing stress (kPa)

This equation is based on having maximum
settlement equal to 1” or 0.0254m.

Reference: Foundation Analysis & Design, 5th Edition, Joseph E. Bowles

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Modeling Raft Foundation using
SAP2000©

Column loads could be assigned to area
CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos

elements within the column perimeter as area

loads.

Subgrade reaction could be assigned as
area springs with k = ks

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Springs to model Foundation Reaction

CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos

Coefficient of subgrade reaction is in units of

force/volume.

In other words, it is in units of force/unit area
for each unit displacement or settlement in the
6 soil.

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CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos Tuesday, December 11, 2012 CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Assigning Area Springs

Assigning Area Springs

only
choose
compression
•Use ks directly

•For foundation

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CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos Tuesday, December 11, 2012 CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Assigning Automatic Meshing

Assigning Area Edge Constraints

size of

option
•Default
elements
•Maximum

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CAD (CM406) - Dr. Hany Maximos Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Example2