How to simulate foundations in Karamba

Dear All,

Could you please share an example or describe how you simulate foundations? How do you check the mass and size of them (even very roughly at initial design stage)?

(I mean different types of foundations not just as fixed "points" but as "volumes" like shallows, strips or piles)

Do you define them as shells and then set their bottom/side points as fixed points?

How do you assign soil mechanics parameters?

Any hint or example files are very welcome.

Many thanks in advance,

Aryan

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Karamba3D on July 22, 2015 at 12:28am

Dear Aryan,

for larger building projects there normally exists a geological survey with suggested foundation methods and corresponding soil properties (like stiffness and maximum allowable stress).

In order to simulate the stiffness of the ground add springs between supports and structure. In case of beams you could introduce hinges with corresponding stiffness. For plate foundation one has to take into account the effective area of each nodes to determine the correct stiffness value (e.g. the larger the area the larger the stiffness in order to attain a uniform elastic foundation).

The design of the foundation elements (piles, pad footing,...) is normally done after the reaction forces there have been calculated.

Best,

Clemens

Permalink Reply by Aryan Shahabian on July 26, 2015 at 7:00am

Dear Clemens,
Many thanks for your reply. Do you do all the steps in Karamba or it's necessary to use other tools as well? (I mean the steps you mentioned in the 2nd and the 3rd paragraphs.) It would be great if you could also share example definition files.
Best,

Aryan

Permalink Reply by Karamba3D on July 30, 2015 at 2:20am

Dear Aryan,

you could do the foundation design in Grasshopper because the corresponding design formulas are not very complicated. It's probably best if you consult a standard text book on soil engineering. On the web you will find spread sheets that could be helpful.

Sorry, I have no example definitions dealing with foundations.

Best,

Clemens

Permalink Reply by Aryan Shahabian on August 3, 2015 at 4:28pm

Thanks again

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