FOUNDATIONS FOR TALL BUILDINGS IN DHAKA CITY

Muhammed H. Kabir1, Mohammad J. Alam2, Arif M. Hamid3 and Abul K. M. Akhtaruzzaman4

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the conceptual understanding of some aspects of design of mat foundations for tall buildings in Dhaka subsoils. The state-of-the art of design of foundation of tall buildings in Dhaka city is briefly described. The limitations of the existing method in the context of testing techniques, test data interpretation and calculation of tolerable settlements and distortions are discussed. These limitations often lead to designs involving piled foundation, which are very expensive compared to mat foundation alternatives. The paper centers on the identification of characteristic properties of Dhaka subsoil. Test data from laboratory consolidation tests and bore hole (Screw) Plate Load Tests are produced to show the overconsolidated nature of the soil horizons. Design criteria on the basis of total and differential settlement and distortion are also discussed. Some aspects of behaviour of large mat foundations are described in light of experience of the 22 storied Head Office building of Grameen Bank in Dhaka city and a 24 storied Hotel Building in Bucharest, Romania. INTRODUCTION This paper deals with problems especially relating to design of foundations for tall buildings and other heavy structures in subsoils of Dhaka City. In Dhaka City cast-in-place non-displacement type bored piles have been popularly used as foundations for tall buildings. Mat or raft foundations are seldom used as their stability and settlement calculation aspects are not often clearly understood. Moreover the relevant soil parameters and the proper testing techniques in evaluating these, are not properly identified and understood. These led to erroneous subsoil classification and often vary expensive foundation solutions involving piled foundations. In this presentation the limitations SPT Moisture condition Su(kPa) Cc/(1+eo) (m) of the existing methods of soil exploration 40 0 50 100 20 100 150 0.06 0.09 being used and some aspects relating to mat 0 foundation design have been discussed. Red stiff Suitable methods of soil exploration, in light of clayey silt PL NMC LL modern day soil mechanics, along with 10 evaluation procedure of design data are produced. The characteristic properties of Silty fine sand Dhaka subsoil considering material 20 composition and stress history are discussed. Aspects of mat foundation designs relating to Reddish clayey silt superstructural stiffness, subsoil stiffness, 30 settlement and distortion criteria are also Silty fine sand described. Finally the scenario is depicted through a comparative case study of a 22 40 storied Head Office Building of Grameen Figure 1: Typical bore log of Dhaka sub-soil
1 2

Professor, CE Department, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh Lecturer, CE Department, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh 3 PG Student, CE Department, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh 4 Senior Engineer, Beximco Engineering Ltd., Bell Tower, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Bank in Dhaka City and a 24 storied hotel building founded in Bucharest, Romania.
Depth (m)

SPT (N80)
0 0 10 20 30 30 60 90 120

SUBSOILS AND GEOLOGY OF DHAKA AREA

A generalized profile of the subsoils of Dhaka area is presented in 40 Figure1. The top 5m to 10m of the ground is composed of stiff clay-silt (CL) layers. This reddish brown clay is popularly known as DHAKA CLAY. The Figure 2: Depth SPT (N80) age of this clay was established as late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Below for Dhaka sub-soil this layer the soil is composed predominantly of dense sandy soils. Laboratory and field tests on the clay and sand layers have revealed that the soil has been overloaded by an equivalent soil surcharge of 10 m. The authors do not have any conclusive evidence of the mode of this geological preloading. The sand layer underneath is mainly composed of overconsolidated silty fine sand. SPT values obtained from five locations in Dhaka City are presented in Figure 2. STATE-OF-THE- ART OF TALL BUILDING FOUNDATION DESIGN IN DHAKA AREA In this section the state-of-the art of subsoil exploration, selection of type and design of tall building foundation in Dhaka City has been discussed. Sub-surface Exploration Methods The subsurface exploration methods normally comprise wash boring techniques. From clay layers undisturbed soil samples are collected in non-standard tubes mainly to perform CU triaxial and consolidation tests. The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is the main stay of evaluation of design parameters in sandy layers. The complexity of this not very standard test is further complicated by practices typical of Bangladesh. In the authors opinion the gross miscalculation of SPT in Dhaka silty fine sands below water table arises from the rate or frequency of loading. The non-standardization of rate or frequency of loading is probably one of the major shortcomings of SPT. In the western countries automatic trip hammers are used and one can achieve 30 to 40 blows per minute. Whereas, in Bangladesh, the rate of loading by manual methods seldom exceeds 5 blows per minute. This low rate is further reduced when large SPTs are encountered. Often there may be a pause during execution of SPT in dense sands. This practice is grossly detrimental and will underestimate SPT on a big margin. Fast rate in silty fine sand like Dhaka subsoil will create a high accumulation of negative pore pressure (suction) which will either dissipate or not generate at all, under slow rate of hammering or during a pause. Furthermore, under slow rate of loading condition the higher than critically dense sand will get loosened after every blow, due to sucking of water. The codes allow correction to reduce SPT due to generation of suction, as the measured N values will be large due to additional confining condition. But in Bangladesh due to slow rate of loading one will already be obtaining a lower value of N which will be further reduced by applying correction formula blindly. This is a major study area, which needs careful attention. Although proper execution and interpretation of SPT results may yield a good representation of relative density and hence angle of internal friction it has been recognized as a poor tool in assessing compressibility. This is the dominant design parameter of large mat foundations in sands, especially if these are overconsolidated. In this regards Leonard and Frost (1988) stated that it has long being recognized and fully confirmed by more recent studies that penetration resistance tests of whatever nature are inherently incapable of sensing the effect of overconsolidation (OC) on the compressibility of granular soils. For example OC condition may increase the penetration resistance by only 10 to 20 percent whereas may result in an increase of 6 to 10 times in modulus value. Wroth (1984) in his Rankine Lecture on Interpretation of In-Situ Tests has described the SPT as a very poor tool for evaluation of modulus value. Numerous literatures are now available endorsing this fact.

Foundation Analysis A review done by the authors shows that the erroneous method of execution and interpretation of SPT and blind use of formulae using SPT results, to evaluate settlement and distortions of large mat foundations for tall buildings in Dhaka city, will yield unusually high values exceeding tolerable, limits. These usually lead to choice of piled foundations, which are very expensive and time consuming to build. REALISTIC DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS The ACI committee 336 (1988) has given considerable emphasis on inclusion of soil structure interaction in proper designing of mat foundations. A brief description on the proper evaluation of subsoil properties and the effect of mat width (B) and stiffness ratio (Kr) on the settlement and hence distortions are described here in the context of design of such foundations in Dhaka city. Kr is defined as the ratio of stiffness of superstructure and that of subsoils. Evaluation of Subsoil Characteristics The top clay layer has been identified as overconsolidated mainly from oedometer tests (Figure 3) on intact undisturbed block samples from open excavations and plate load test data. Apart from these tests OCR may also be calculated by other methods like those using shear strength and SPT. A typical OCR vs. depth profile for Dhaka clay from Grameen Bank site is presented in Figure 4. The underlying sandy layers were also identified to be overconsolidated. Numerous load test results conducted on piles founded in Dhaka sands showed considerably high stiffness, which is not compatible with those, obtained from SPT data. A typical pile load test data for a 500 mm diameter and 16 m long bored cast-in-situ pile is presented in Figure 5. Although the design capacity was calculated as 80 tons the pile seems not to move (only about 1% of its diameter) even under three times design load. The conclusive evidence of overconsolidation of the sand layer was first revealed through plate load test at sites near Hotel Sheraton and Bijoy Sarani. Results of a 1m by 1m plate load test conducted at a depth of 8 m below ground from near Hotel Sheraton site is shown in Figure 6. This also showed considerably high stiffness of the subsoil, which was grossly incompatible with the results from the relevant SPT data. This is typical of overconsolidated (OC) sands whose modulus values are profoundly affected due to prestress while the SPT results are not affected to that degree.

0.70

Void Ratio

0.65 0.60 0.55 0.50 10 100 1000

Consolidation Pressure (kPa) Figure 3: Consolidation behavior of Dhaka clay OCR

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 2 4 6 8 10

Depth (m)

Figure 4: Depth OCR for clay and sand in Dhaka

Settlement (mm) Load (tons)
0 0 2 4 6 50 100 150 200 250

Figure 5: Pile load test in Dhaka sub-soil

Stress (t/m2) Settlement (mm)
0 5 10 15 20 25
0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5

10

20 30

40 50

Figure 6: 1-m plate load test in Dhaka sub-soil

Effect of OC on Settlement (Compressibility) A large number of papers have been published reporting the effect of OC of sands on their compressibility. These include reviews by Lambrechts and Leonards (1978), Leonards and Frost (1988), Jamilolkowski (1988), Stroud (1988), Papadopoulos (1992) and others. These phenomena for Dhaka sands have not yet been established and therefore not taken into account in designs. This led to serious overestimation of settlement of mat foundations in Dhaka sands which is further exaggerated by use of faulty SPT results. Appropriate Testing Techniques The Screw Plate Load Test (SPLT) in bore holes was identified as a powerful tool for evaluating insitu

Allowable Deformation Criteria for Mat Foundations A number of criteria have been proposed to restrict total and differential settlement and angular distortions within tolerable limits. The effect of mat width B and relative stiffness Kr is presented here in a brief form. A complete discussion on all the contributing parameters is beyond the scope of this paper.

Modulus (MPa)

modulus (Wroth, 1984). This has been recommended as a suggested method for the ASTM by Schmertmann (1970). Such an apparatus was fabricated which has a test capability upto 25 m using a 200 mm diameter plate. Typical test data obtained from a site near Mouchak in Dhaka City is presented in Figure 7. SPLT tests were performed in four sites in Dhaka City, at Mirpur, Baridhara, Kawran Bazaar and Mouchak. The maximum depth of test was 25 m. The secant soil modulus values as a function of depth for pressures of 200 kPa is presented in Figure 8. The SPT results obtained using Bangladeshi practice was adjudged to produce N80 . Correlations of N-values with modulus are presented in Figure 9. The correlation trends are visible. However, proper correlation may only be achieved through statistical analysis of a good number of test data. The overconsolidation results obtained from SPT and modulus values were used to calculate OCR in Dhaka sand layers. These values are compatible with that obtained from the clay layer (Figure 4). The composite description of OCR vs. Depth for the two layers for Dhaka subsoil is also presented in Figure 4. The modulus values obtained so far indicate the settlement of mat foundations for tall buildings in Dhaka subsoil will probably be between 2 to 3 times less than those computed by conventional approaches based on SPT, without considering the effect of OC.

Stress (kPa) Settlement (mm)

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 200 300 400 500 600

Figure 7: Typical load settlement curve for SPLT test in Dhaka

Modulus (MPa)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 20 40 60 80 100 120

Depth (m)

Figure 8:Modulusdepth for 200 kPa pressure

110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

N80

Figure 9: ModulusSPT (N80) for 200 kPa pressure

Effect of Mat Foundation Width (B) on Settlement A review of literature by the authors has established the chronology of development of the effect of mat size on settlement on sand. A full description is beyond the scope of this paper. A brief note on this is presented here. A number of Correlations like that by Terzaghi and Peck (1967) have been proposed. These include work by Bjerrum and Eggestad (1963), Shultze and Sherif (1973), Parry (1978) Arnold (1980) etc. Terzaghi and Peck (1967) proposed that the settlement on sand may be computed by S = 4 SO/ (1 + BO/B) 2 (1)

Where S and SO are settlement of the proto-type and test footing respectively, and B and Bo are the respective least dimension of footings. Design charts produced by Burland et al (1977) are presented in Figure 10, which is based on test data. Burland and Burbidge (1985) later proposed that settlement to be a function of B n where, n = 0.7. Papadopoulos (1992) suggested the inclusion of effect of OC into these Correlations. The authors believe that the effect of footing size B on settlement should include the material density as well as OCR, which is not considered in the existing Correlations. The authors are working on these aspects. A number of expressions have been proposed by researchers on the effect of B on settlement of footings on sand. The authors believe that the effect of footing size B on settlement should include the material density as well as OCR which is not considered in most of the existing correlation. Effect of relative stiffness Computer methods incorporating frame foundation interaction will yield values of total and differential settlements and distortions. These values will be only as good as the soil data. Therefore a realistic method of

Total Settlement (x10-2m)

Diff. Settlement (x10-2m)

(a) Total Settlement

2.1 1.8 1.5 1.2 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Kr=0.1 Kr=0.2 Kr=0.5

(b) Differential Settlement

1.2 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 Kr=0.1

(c) Settlement Ratio

10 8 6 4 2 0

H/H (x10-2)

Kr= 0.1

0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

3.0

3.0

L/B

L/B

1.0

1.5 2.0

L/B

2.5

3.0

3.5

Figure 10: Effect of relative stiffness on settlement of mats

Es=71.82 MPa, Soil pressure=185 kPa B=6.86m, =0.3

evaluation of soil modulus is a precondition to such analyses. To save computational effort and time approximate analysis using relative stiffness Kr has been suggested by ACI Committee-336. Some analyses in this respect are presented here using the DAST software. The results are presented in Figures 10 a, b, c. The numerical examples were conducted keeping B = 6.86 m and ES = 72 MPa (average at Grameen Bank site) the soil pressure was kept constant at 185 kPa which are also representative of net pressure for a 25 storied building. This showing that although both differential and total settlement increased with increase of L / B ratio where L is the longer dimension of the mat, their ratio decreased. The stiffness ratio has a large influence on differential settlement but not so much on total settlement. Although in this case the total settlement value was below 25 mm, at higher loading near the limiting values of settlement, K r will play a vital role in determining differential settlement. CASE STUDY To ascertain how a tall building will settle when founded in Dhaka subsoil a comparative study was performed between the 22 storied Head Office building of Grameen Bank at Mirpur, Dhaka and a 24 storied hotel building in Bucharest, Rumania (Marcu et al. 1982). Photographs of the buildings along with their plans are presented in Figure 11. These framed and shear walled concrete buildings were considered as the following data are available for the Building at (c) Bucharest. These are (a) the subsoil data giving stratigraphic sequence, SPT, CPT, and modulus values are available (b) the loading history and time settlement records are also reported. Marcu et al. (d) (d) 32m (l982) obtained good agreement between observed settlement and that calculated based on Screw Plate Load Test data. In light of the SPT and modulus data of Dhaka subsoil the settlement values of such a building foundation in Dhaka City in the context of its settlement in Bucharest may be predicted. Figure (a) (b) 12 shows the relative SPT values and in Figure 13 46m are plotted the relative modulus values showing the Figure 11: (a) 22 storied building at Mirpur, Dhaka ( Dhaka subsoil to be stiffer by more than two times (c) Floor plan). (b) 24 storied building at Bucharest, Romania ( (d) Floor plan) that of Bucharest subsoil. The comparative time settlement plots are presented in Figure 14. These
Modulus (MPa) SPT Settlement (mm)
0
0 30 60 90

Time (year)
120
0 40 0 -40 -80 2 4 6 8 10

30

60

90

10

Depth (m)

10 20 30 40 Bucharest
Dhaka

Depth (m)

20 30 40
Bucharest Dhaka

(a) (b)

Figure 12: Comparison of SPT

Figure 13: Comparison of modulus

Figure 14: Settlement vs time. (a) Grameen Bank, Dhaka (b) Hotel building, Bucharest.

show the Building, which has settled more than 90mm in Bucharest will probably settle less than 50 mm in Dhaka. The effect of March 4, 1977 Carpathian earthquake is visible on the time settlement graph causing the building at Bucharest to settle about 20 mm. The net pressure of Grameen Bank building was 180 kN/m2. The building, having two levels of basement was founded 8m below ground. The total settlement calculated by Schmertmann and elastic methods were 52 mm and 47 mm respectively. The construction of the building was completed in 1997 in two stages. The observed settlements agreed well with the calculated values. CONCLUDING REMARKS The authors have tried to identify some important aspects affecting tall building design and performance in Dhaka City. Due to lack of understanding of the soil behaviour, tall buildings between 15 and 30 stories are normally founded on expensive piled foundations. The research revealed the Dhaka subsoils to be composed of OC stiff clays and OC dense sands. Settlement calculations based on erroneous SPT results will normally overestimate settlements of mat foundations by more than three times. Soil modulus values were established from bore hole screw plate load tests. A comparative study showed that the Dhaka subsoils to be about 2 times stiffer than that at a site in Bucharest, Romania and therefore settlements of tall buildings will be half as much. The 22 storied office building, founded on mat foundation in Dhaka city showed settlement behaviour which is in good agreement with calculated values. Mat foundations for tall buildings upto 30 stories may be conveniently designed without exceeding tolerable limits of total and differential settlements REFERENCES ACI Committee 336 (1988). Suggested analysis and design procedures for combined footings and mats. ACI Structural Journal, pp. 304-324. Arnold, M. (1980). Prediction on footing settlements in sand. Ground Engineering, Vol. 13, No.2, pp. 42-49. Burland, J.B., Broms, B.B. and De Mello, V.F.B. (1977). Behavior of foundations and structures: state-ofthe-art review. Proc. 9th ICSMFE, Tokyo, 1977, Vol. 3, pp. 495-546. Burland,J.B. and Burbidge,M.C. (1985). Settlement of foundations on sand and gravel. Proc. ICE, Vol. 78 (Part 1), pp. 1325-1381. Jamiolkowski,M. (1988). Research applied to geotechnical engineering. James Forrest Lecture, Proc. ICE, Vol. 84(Part 1), pp. 571-604. Lambrechts, J.R. & Leonards, G.A. (1978). Effects of stress history on deformation of sand. Proc. ASCE, JGED, Vol. 104, GT11, pp. 1371-1387. Leonards,G.A. & Frost,J.D. (1988). Settlement of shallow foundations in granular soils. Proc. ASCE, JGED, Vol. 114, GT7, pp. 791-809. Marcu,A., Popescu, M., Abramescu,T. & Balacciu,C. (1982). Comparison of the results from the static and dynamic penetration tests, in-situ Plate tests and laboratory compressibility tests. Proc. of the 2nd Euro Symp. on Penetration Testing, Amsterdam, Holland, pp. 101-106. Papadopoulus,B.P. (1992). Settlement of shallow foundations on cohesionless Soils. Proc.ASCE,JGED, Vol. 118,GT3, pp. 377-393. Parry,R.H.G. (1978). Estimating foundation settlements in sand from plate bearing tests. Geotechnique, Vol. 28, No.1, pp. 107-118. Schmertmann, J.H. (1970). Suggested method for screw plate load test. ASTM-STP: 479, pp. 81-85. Schultz,E. & Sherif,G. (1973). Prediction of settlements from evaluated settlement observation for sand. Proc. 8th ICSMFE, Moscow ,Vol. 1.3, pp. 225-230. Stroud,M.A. (1988). The standard penetration test-its application and interpretation.. Proc. Geotechnology Conference on the Penetration Testing in the U.K.,ICE, London,1-8. Terzaghi,K. & Peck,R.B. (1967). Soil mechanics in engineering practice. John Willey & Sons, USA. Tomlinson,M.J. (l986). Foundation design and construction. ELBS/Longman, U.K. Wroth,C.P. (1984). The interpretation of in-situ tests. Geotechnique, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 449-489.