Finite element study of oil tank foundation system

Abstract

This thesis is a study of Oil tank foundation system. Summary of the research: (1) Single pile was modeled in both 2D Axisymmetry using Plaxis v8 and 3D using Plaxis 3D Foundation. The results from both analyses are compared in order to check the accuracy of Plaxis 3D Foundation program. Plaxis 3D Foundation also is validated in prediction of behavior of a piled raft with 6 other established methods (2) Numerical analyses were made to study the effects of pile cap area, thickness of overlying granular material, number of piles, and stiffness of bed layer of a pile foundation system supporting an oil tank over soft clay. The load distribution among piles, the load transfer characteristics, the maximum settlement, the differential settlement, the shape of settlement and the arching in soil are investigated for each of the parameters. The results are compared with a series of centrifuge experiments.