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PLAXIS 3D: Piled Raft Foundation Analysis
Rating: 4.3 out of 5(57 ratings)
165 students

PLAXIS 3D: Piled Raft Foundation Analysis

Master Piled Raft Foundation Analysis with PLAXIS 3D Through Realistic Simulations and Practical Examples
Created byNichirvan Taher
Last updated 6/2026
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Learn the principles of piled raft systems, load transfer mechanisms, and their advantages over traditional foundations in various applications.
  • Define soil stratigraphy, assign parameters, and model raft, pile, and walls with accurate geometry and spacing in PLAXIS 3D.
  • Assign material properties to structural elements and learn about interface elements and soil-structure interaction for realistic behavior.
  • Generate mesh and simulate staged construction, adjusting for excavation, installation, and loading with calculation settings.
  • Analyze results like settlement, forces, and stress, and generate professional reports, including visuals, tables, and summaries for presentation.

Course content

2 sections • 11 lectures • 2h 1m total length

  • Introduction to Piled Raft Foundations5:56

    Learn when to use raft and piled foundations and how piled raft systems transfer loads via end bearing and skin friction, reducing differential settlement with PLAXIS 3D.

  • Defining Soil Stratigraphy4:22
  • Fixities and deformation boundary conditions3:09

    Plexus 3D automatically applies fixities and deformation boundary conditions. The y-z plane fixes x displacement, the x-z plane fixes y displacement, top remains free, bottom is fully fixed.

  • Define and Assign Soil Parameters to Layered Profiles10:17

    Define and assign soil properties for two layers, a medium dense sand and a medium hard rock, using a drained Mohr-Coulomb model for piled raft foundation analysis.

  • Modelling Excavation, Raft Foundation, Basement Walls, and Pile Group14:17

    Model excavation, raft foundation, basement walls, PLAXIS 3D. Detail 2 m excavation, raft 2 m below ground, piles 15 m long, 1.5 m diameter, with 3 m spacing.

  • Define and Assign Materials for the Walls, Raft and Piles8:37

    Define elastic concrete materials for raft, walls, and piles, specify unit weight, modulus, Poisson ratio, and thickness, then assign these materials to plate and embedded beam elements.

  • Apply Loads on Foundation and Generate 3D Mesh4:53

    Apply a 200 kilonewton per square meter surface load on the mat foundation in the minus z direction and generate a refined 3D mesh around the foundation and piles.

  • Defining Construction Phases and Running the Calculation9:19

    Define construction phases for a piled raft foundation in Plaxis 3d, activate raft and pile foundations, apply surface loads, and run calculations to compare raft versus piled raft performance.

  • Interpretation of Results22:45

    Interpret the results of pile raft foundation analysis by examining maximum and differential settlements. Assess deformation, forces in raft and walls, and the role of embedded beams and pile connections.

  • Generating the Report7:14

    Generate a pdf report in Plexus 3D using the report generator, selecting the pile draft foundation results and key details such as deformation, fixities, material properties, and mesh information.

Requirements

  • This course is ideal for civil and geotechnical engineers, graduate students, and researchers. A basic understanding of geotechnical engineering, structural elements, and PLAXIS 3D will be helpful. Access to PLAXIS 3D software (licensed or student version) is required to follow the hands-on exercises.

Description

Unlock the full potential of PLAXIS 3D in analyzing piled raft foundations with this comprehensive, step-by-step course designed for civil and geotechnical engineers, graduate students, and researchers. This course blends theoretical concepts with hands-on practical modeling, allowing you to gain both academic understanding and real-world application skills in foundation engineering. It is ideal for those seeking to advance their knowledge in soil-structure interaction and finite element modeling using PLAXIS 3D.

The course begins by introducing the fundamentals of piled raft foundations, emphasizing their unique load transfer mechanism and explaining why they are often preferred over traditional shallow foundations in complex soil conditions. You’ll then proceed through a structured modeling workflow: defining soil stratigraphy, setting up boundary conditions, assigning appropriate soil and structural material parameters, and constructing the 3D model of the raft, piles, and retaining walls.

Throughout the course, you’ll learn how to apply loads, generate the finite element mesh, simulate construction phases, and run calculations effectively. Emphasis is placed on interpreting key output results such as settlement, axial forces, bending moments, and stress distributions in the soil and structural elements. Finally, you’ll learn how to compile your findings into a clear and professional geotechnical report.

By the end of the course, you’ll be fully equipped to model and analyze piled raft foundation systems using PLAXIS 3D with confidence. Whether you're designing foundations for high-rise buildings or conducting academic research, this course will enhance your modeling precision and geotechnical insight.

Who this course is for:

  • This course is designed for civil and geotechnical engineers, graduate students, and researchers who want to deepen their knowledge of piled raft foundation analysis using PLAXIS 3D. It’s ideal for those looking to enhance their skills in soil-structure interaction and finite element modeling for complex foundation systems.

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