Static analysis of prestressed micropile-raft foundation with varying lengths resting on sandy soil

The micropile-raft system is used in the foundation system of buildings due to the combination of the advantages of raft foundations and micropiles. In this paper, the numerical model was calibrated and validated with a field test, and then several parametric studies were performed. The overarching aim of the study is to determine the efficiency of different arrangements of micropiles and the effects of these parameters on the behavior of piled raft foundations in sandy soil. Parameters including diameter, length, and distance of micropiles from each other were considered in the analyses. Prestressed rebars have been used to increase the load-bearing capacity and prevent premature buckling under severe compressive load. Therefore, to compensate for the weak bearing capacity of the raft foundation, a micropile system equipped with prestressed rebars was considered to increase the bearing capacity of the foundation. The results revealed that using a set of micropiles with a diameter of 30 cm and a length of 10 m had the maximum efficiency among other models. Furthermore, an innovative arrangement of micropiles was proposed in which a set of micropiles with a length of 30 m was placed at the middle region of the foundation, and in the peripheral area of the foundation, several short micropiles were used.