Enhancing foundation bearing capacity in waterlogged ground for sustainable building construction

Construction on waterlogged ground presents significant challenges for geotechnical engineers due to the low bearing capacity, high water table, and risks of post-construction settlement, all of which can compromise the stability of buildings. This study aims to investigate the settlement behavior of foundations on such terrains and recommend suitable foundation types to safely support building loads. To achieve these objectives, three-dimensional coupled consolidation analyses were performed to evaluate the bearing capacities of shallow footings with dimensions of 1.22 x 1.22 m2 and 1.83 x 1.83 m2. The results showed ultimate load capacities of approximately 10 kN and 21 kN, respectively, for these footings on waterlogged ground. To enhance these capacities, the use of pit sand as a filling material was explored, yielding substantial improvements. The bearing capacity of the 1.22 x 1.22 m2 footing increased by a factor of 9, while the 1.83 x 1.83 m2 footing saw a sixfold improvement. In addition, alternative foundation solutions were evaluated to achieve higher load-bearing capacities. These included raft foundations, single piles, pile groups, and piled raft foundations. Among these, a single pile demonstrated an ultimate load capacity of 300 kN, while a (2 x 2) pile group supported up to 400 kN. The piled raft foundation exhibited the highest capacity, with an ultimate load of 620 kN. These findings provide valuable insights into effective foundation designs for waterlogged conditions, enabling safer and more reliable construction practices.