Haows, P. T. (1969). Gdoteckque 19, No.

2, 301-306

NUMERICAL ANALYSES OF UNIFORMLY LOADED CIRCULz4R

RAFTS ON ELASTIC LAYERS OF FINITE DEPTH

P. T. BROWN,B.Sc., M.Eng.Sc., M.I.E.Aust.*

SYNOPSIS
A description is given of a method for determina- On donne une description dune methode detab-
tion of the reaction and bending moment distribu-
tions and the displacements of a uniformly loaded
circular raft of any flexibility which rests on an
isotropic elastic foundation layer of finite depth.
The foundation layer is assumed to rest on a rough
rigid base.
The analysis is based on the solution presented by
Burmister (1956) for the case of a surface point load.
The reaction distribution is assumed uniform over
each of the equal width annuli into which the raft is
divided, and the error inherent in this approach is
largely removed by extrapolation.
Attention has been concentrated on the effects of
variation of raft flexibility and layer depth, but the
effects of variation of Poissons ratio of the raft and
of the foundation layer are also indicated.
lissement des repartitions de la reaction et du
moment de flexion et des deplacements dun radier
circulaire a charge uniforme dune flexibilite quel-
conque qui repose sur une couche de base elastique
isotrope dune profondeur finie. On suppose que la
couche de base repose sur un socle rigide grossier.
Lanalyse est bake sur la solution presentee par
Burmister (1956) dans le cas dun effort de pointe a
la surface. La repartition des reactions est sup-
posee &tre uniforme sur chacun des anneaux de
largeur Bgale que comporte le radier, et lerreur se
rattachant a cette methode est effacee en grande
partie par extrapolation.
On a concentre lattention sur les effets de la var-
iation de la flexibilite du radier et de la profondeur
de la couche, mais les effets de variation du coeffic-
ient de Poisson pour le radier et la couche de base
sont aussi indiques.

NOTATION

a raft radius number of annuli into which raft is

D raft stiffness divided
Youngs modulus of foundation intensity of reaction
E*
material shearing force per unit length
intensity of load
& Youngs modulus of raft
radial co-ordinate
E(k) complete elliptic integral of the second
raft thickness
kind
vertical displacement relative to centre
F matrix of finite difference coefficients
of raft
h foundation layer depth vertical displacement
K(k) complete elliptic integral of the first
yla
kind annulus width, a/n
K stiffness of raft relative to foundation Poissons ratio of foundation material
material Poissons ratio of raft
k function of x raft slope

INTRODUCTION

Rafts of high flexibility may suffer excessive differential settlement, while very stiff rafts
may be subject to excessive bending moments. Thus in the design of raft foundations it is
desirable to be able to predict differential settlement and bending moments, in order that a
raft of suitable stiffness may be selected.

* Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, University of Sydney.

301

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 302 I. T. BROWN

Before analysis of a raft can be carried out it is necessary to assume a form of behaviour of
the foundation material on which it rests. It is common practice to assume that the reaction
pressure between the raft and foundation material is dependent solely on and directly pro-
portional to the foundation displacement at that point. This assumption, on which the theory
of subgrade reaction is based, may give adequate results when the raft is quite flexible. How-
ever, in the case of a symmetrically loaded rigid raft, the settlement is uniform and subgrade
reaction theory leads to the erroneous conclusion that the reaction beneath the raft is uniform
and hence that, if the load is uniform, the bending moments are zero. Thus it appears that
the theory of subgrade reaction is unsuitable for the analysis of uniformly loaded rafts, and any
useful analysis must be based on a more complicated but more realistic assumption, such as
isotropic elastic behaviour of the foundation material.
In practice the raft may rest on a comparatively shallow layer of soil, and below this there
may be a stratum of stiffer material which tends to restrain the lateral movement of the upper
layer. For such cases it may be important to take account of the presence of the stiff lower
stratum of soil.
Use of circular rafts appears to be confined almost entirely to the bases of fluid-storage
tanks, and unless the tank walls are unusually rigid this results in the raft loading being
uniform and vertical. This is the type of loading considered in this Paper.
Few solutions for bending moments in uniformly loaded circular rafts are available.
Poulos (1966) gives bending moment distributions for rigid circular rafts on a foundation layer
of limited depth, and Brown (1968) gives corresponding results for circular rafts of any flexi-
bility on very deep foundations.
In this Paper numerical solutions have been obtained for the distribution of reaction pres-
sure, radial and tangential bending moments and vertical displacement, for a uniform,
perfectly smooth, uniformly loaded circular raft resting on a finite layer of isotropic elastic
material underlain by a rough rigid base. Solutions have been obtained for a wide range of
raft stiffnesses and ratios of layer depth to raft radius. The effect of variation of Poissons
ratio of the raft and foundation material is indicated.

METHOD OF ANALYSIS

For the purpose of this analysis the raft is considered as being divided, by circles whose
radii increase in equal steps, into (n - 1) annuli and a central disc. The reaction acting on each
of these zones is assumed to be uniform and vertical. These n values of reaction pressure are
determined from one equation of vertical equilibrium and (n - 1) equations obtained by equat-
ing the displacements, relative to the centre of the raft, of the raft and foundation material
at the mid-radii of the annuli.
Complete solutions for the stresses and displacements in an elastic layer resting on a rough
rigid base for the case of a surface point load were presented by Burmister (1956), and numerical
values for the vertical surface displacements were obtained in connexion with the computation
of the displacement influence values presented by Davis and Taylor (1962). These numerical
results, which consist of corrections to the displacements for an infinitely deep layer, are used
in two ways for determination of the displacements of the foundation layer in the present
analysis.
The displacements due to the reactions under the annuli are calculated as a surface dis-
placement of an infinitely deep layer, together with a correction due to the finite depth of the
layer. The displacement of the infinitely deep layer is calculated from the equation given by
Egorov (1958) and quoted by Harr (1966), namely

w= 2aqy) [(l -x)K(k) + (1 +x)E(K)]

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 CIRCULAR RAFTS ON ELASTIC LAYERS 303
where K(k) and E(k) are complete elliptic integrals of the first and second kind, k=
[4x/(1 +x)~]~~ and x=r/a.
The elliptic integrals are evaluated by means of polynomial approximations given by
Abramowitz and Stegun (1965). The corrections for each displacement are evaluated by
numerical integration of Davis and Taylors results using Simpsons one third rule for integra-
tion first along the inner-, outer- and mid-radius of the annulus, and then for integration across
the annulus. Since all the corrections are finite this technique avoids the difficulty of numerical
integration in the vicinity of a singularity.
This method is inapplicable for the central disc which has an inner radius of zero, so the
displacements due to the reaction under this zone are determined from influence values for the
displacement at the apex of a uniformly loaded sector. This method has been described in
detail by Poulos (1967).
The surface foundation displacements relative to the centre are then obtained by taking the
difference between the appropriate two displacements.
For the raft, displacements relative to the centre of the raft are determined by means of
the equation
W 1 d+ C
-p+;Jy?== Q . . . . . . . (1)
where 4 is the slope of the raft, Y denotes the radial co-ordinate, Q denotes shearing force per
unit length of circumference in the raft and D is the raft stiffness.
In matrix form the finite difference version of this differential equation may be written as

[F][+] = ;[Q] . . . . . . .

where 6 is the annulus width and F is the matrix of finite difference coefficients. Then

[$I = $[F]-'[Q] . . . . . . .
and

where v is the raft displacement relative to the centre. The value of Q may be expressed in
terms of the unknown reaction pressures and the integration for determination of v is carried
out by a modified version of Simpsons rule described by Brown and Trahair (1967).
By equating the displacements of raft and foundation relative to the centre of the raft, all
but one of the necessary equations is obtained. The remaining equation is provided by the
condition of vertical equilibrium.
Solution of these equations provides values of reaction for each zone of the raft. The
values of Q are then calculated and substituted into equation (3) to provide values of raft slope
from which the bending moments are calculated. The values of displacement are obtained by
multiplying the matrix of foundation displacement influence factors by the vector of reaction
pressures.

EXTRAPOLATION OF INITIAL RESULTS

The assumption that the reaction distribution may be approximated by zones of uniform
reaction leads to an underestimate of the bending moments, which becomes more severe as
the number of zones is decreased or as the relative raft stiffness is increased. However, if
solutions for the same case are available for more than one value of n (the number of zones),
an extrapolation can be made to remove most of this error. A trial extrapolation was carried
out for a stiff raft on a deep layer, assuming the error to be proportional to l/n and using

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 304 P. T. BROWN

0501 I I -0 01-
0 02 04 06 08 10
0 02 04 05 08
r/a rI0

Fig. 1. Reaction distributions for various Fig. 2. Bending moment distributions

raft stiffnesses and h/a = 1 various raft stiffnesses and h/a=1

0 010

0
5 0005

E
f
0 -0 02 \
7
-0.04

Fig. 3. Bending moment distributions for Fig. 4. Variation of maximum moment

various layer depths and K=@l with relative raft stiffness for v,=O.3

O/h

Fig. 5. Variation of central deflexion with Fig. 6. Variation of differential deflexion

layer depth for v,=O.3 with relative raft stiffness for v,=O.3

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 CIRCULAR RAFTS OX ELASTIC LAYERS 305
results for n= 10 and 20. The value of extrapolated central moment obtained was about
0.7% greater than the accurate value obtained by the method given in Brown (1968). This
assumed form of error variation gave results more accurate than other simple forms and was
therefore adopted. Values of central bending moment given in this Paper have all been
obtained by this method of extrapolation, except the results for an infinitely deep layer which
were taken from Brown (1968).
Values of non-central bending moment have been obtained by multiplying all moments for
IZ= 20 by the factor required to increase the central moment to the extrapolated value. In
the test case mentioned previously this leads to an underestimate of the moment at rla=0.5
of less than 1 per cent which is not considered serious.
The values of reaction given, which are only meant to indicate the variations in form of
distribution rather than to be accurate values of reaction, are in each case the values obtained
for n = 20.
Values of displacement have been extrapolated from results for n = 10 and 20 in the same
way as the bending moments were extrapolated. Displacements at the edge of the raft, for a
given value of G, have been obtained from the two values of displacement nearest the edge by
neglecting the small radial curvature in this region.

RESULTS

Reaction distributions for various values of relative raft stiffness are shown in Fig. 1 for
the case of layer depth equal to raft radius and Poissons ratio of the raft and foundation equal
to 0.3 and 0.5 respectively. The relative raft stiffness is defined as
K = W-4 t 3
E, 0a
where E, denotes Youngs modulus of the raft, E, denotes Youngs modulus of the founda-
tion material, vf denotes Poissons ratio of the foundation material, t is the raft thickness and
a is the raft radius.
The effect of decreasing raft stiffness is to increase the reaction in the central region of the
raft and to decrease the reaction near the edge. As would be expected, decreasing raft stiffness
also leads to a decrease in the corresponding bending moments as shown in Fig. 2.
The effect of variations of layer depth on bending moment distribution is shown in Fig. 3
for the same Poissons ratios as in the previous figures and for the case of a comparatively
flexible raft (K=O*l). For layer depths greater than 2a, bending moments are not greatly
increased by increasing layer depth. It will be noticed that for shallow layer depths @<a),
values of radial moment at a point may be larger than the corresponding values of tangential
moment. However, in the case of stiffer rafts and deeper layers, tangential moments are
greater than radial moments.
The variation of maximum bending moment with relative raft stiffness is shown in Fig. 4
for various values of the ratio layer depth to raft radius, and the same Poissons ratios as in the
previous figures. The rapid increase in moment with increasing raft stiffness and the increase
in this effect with increasing layer depth are clearly shown. The increase in maximum
moment which occurs when the Poissons ratio of the foundation material is decreased from
0.5 to zero is also shown. The effect of reducing the raft Poissons ratio from O-3 to the other
usually adopted value, namely 0.15, is to reduce the bending moments slightly.
The effect of variation of layer depth on central deflexion is shown in Fig. 5 for a raft
Poissons ratio of 0.3 and foundation Poissons ratios of 0.5 and 0. Reduction of layer depth
reduces deflexions considerably, but raft stiffness is shown to have comparatively little effect
on deflexions.
The variation of differential deflexion (maximum minus minimum deflexion) with relative
raft stiffness and layer depth is shown in Fig. 6 for values of Poissons ratio of O-3 and 0.5

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 306 P. T. BROWN

for the raft and foundation respectively. The increase in differential deflexion caused by
reduction of the foundation Poissons ratio to zero is also indicated. Reduction of raft
Poissons ratio from 0.3 to 0.15 causes a negligible increase in central deflexion, and a small
increase in differential deflexion. When the foundation Poissons ratios is 0.5 and the layer
depth is one fifth of the raft radius, the maximum deflexion of the raft occurs at the edge of the
raft, and as the layer depth increases to be equal to the raft radius the position of the maxi-
mum deflexion moves to the centre of the raft.

CONCLUSIONS

The principa1 conclusions regarding the behaviour of uniformIy loaded circular rafts of any
flexibility on an isotropic elastic foundation material of any depth underlain by a rough, rigid
base may be summarized as follows.
(u) For relative raft stiffness K in the range O-1-2, as K increases, maximum bending
moment increases rapidly and differential deflexion decreases rapidly.
(b) Central deflexion of a raft depends on the layer depth, relative raft stiffness and
Poissons ratio of the foundation material.
(c) For deep layers (h/a>5) an increase in raft stiffness causes a significant decrease in
central deflexion, but Poissons ratio has little effect.
(d) For shallow layers (h/a < 2) a decrease in Poissons ratio of the foundation material
causes a considerable increase in central deflexion, but raft stiffness has almost no
effect.
(e) Variation of Poissons ratio of the raft within the range 0.3-0.15 causes little variation
in the behaviour of the raft.
The results are considered to be of sufficient accuracy and breadth of scope to be a basis
for design of circular rafts, subject to their experimental verification.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The work described in this Paper forms part of a general programme of research into
the settlement of all types of foundations, under the general direction of Professor E. H. Davis.
The work was carried out in the School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney, the head
of which is Professor J. W. Roderick, and was supported by a grant from the Australian
Research Grants Committee. The computational work was carried out using the facilities
of the Basser Computing Department of the School of Physics, University of Sydney. The
comments of Dr H. G. Poulos, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, are gratefully acknow-
ledged.

REFERENCES
ABRAMOWITZ, M. & STEGUN, I. A. (1965). Handbook of mathenmtical functions. New York: Dover.
BROWN, P. T. (1968). The analysis of a uniformly loaded circular raft on a deep elastic foundation. School
of Civil Engineering, Research Report No. R93, University of Sydney, Australia.
BROWN, P. T. & TRAHAIR, N. S. (1967). Finite integral solution of differential equations. School of Civil
Engineering, Research Report No. R85, University of Sydney, Australia.
BURMISTER, D. M. (1956). Stress and displacement characteristics of a two-layer rigid base soil system:
influence diagrams and practical applications. Proc. Highs. Res. Bd 35, 773.
DAVIS, E. H. & TAYLOR, H. (1962). The movement of bridge approaches and abutments on soft foundation
soils. Proc. 1st bienn. Conf. Amt. Road Res. Bd, 740--764.
EGOROV, K. E. (1958). Concerning the questions of calculations for base under foundations with footings in
the form of rings. Mekhanika Gruntov, Sb.Tr. no. 34, Gosstroiizdat, Moscow.
HARR, M. E. (1966). Foundations of theoretical soil mechanics, p. 88. New York : McGraw-Hill.
POULOS, H. G. (1966). The analysis of a symmetrically loaded rigid circular plate on a finite elastic layer.
School of Civil Engineering, Research Report No. R66, University of Sydney, Australia.
POVLOS, H. G. (1967). The use of the sector method for calculating stresses and displacements in an
elastic mass. Proc. 5th Amt.-N.Z. Conf. Soil Mech. Fd?z Engng, Auckland, 198-204.

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