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Helen Chow

Helen Chow photo

BE (Hons) MES MBA
Postgraduate Research Student
Centre for Geotechnical Research



Department of Civil Engineering, Room 360
Phone: +61 2 9351 4393
Fax: +61 2 9351 3343
Email: H.Chow@civil.usyd.edu.au

















Research project - Finite Layer Analysis of Piled Raft with Different Lengths and Diameters

Supervisor: Prof John Small

Piled rafts are composite structures comprised of the piles, raft and soil. In recent years, piled raft foundations have been used as an economical alternative to the conventional piled foundation. Unlike the traditional foundation design where the piles alone are supposed to carry the load, in the design of piled raft, the load is shared between the raft and the piles. The piles can act as settlement reducers to minimize the overall and differential settlements. When the raft is subjected to non-uniform loadings, piles of different diameters and lengths may be required to prevent the foundation from rotation as well as to reduce differential settlements.

My project involved the use of finite layer method for the analysis of piled raft foundations. The project is focused on the behaviour of piled raft supported by piles of various dimensions. Behaviour of the foundations subjected to vertical loads was first examined followed by the horizontal loads and the allowance of slip along the pile-soil interface

Selected publications

  • Small, J. C., Zhang, H. H. and Chow H., (2003), “Behaviour of Piled Rafts with Piles of Different Lengths and Diameters”, Proceedings, 9th Australia New Aealand Conference on Geomechanics, Auckland, Vol. 1, pp 123-129.
  • Chow, H. S. W. and Small, J. C., (2005), “ Behaviour of Piled Rafts with Piles of Different Lengths and Diameters under Vertical Loadings”, Geotechnical Special Publication, n 130-142, GeoFrontiers 2005, pp 841-855.
  • Chow, H. S. W. and Small, J. C., (2005), “Finite Layer Analysis of Combined pile-raft Foundations with Piles of Different Lengths”, Proceediings, The 11th International Conference of IACMAG, Vol. 2, pp 429-436.

Learning and Teaching

  • CIVL2410 Soil Mechanics I (Laboratory)
  • ENGG 1800 Introduction to Engineering Disciplines
  • ENGG 1803 Professional Engineering