Otimização do projeto de fundação em construções populares: um estudo de caso

Abstract

Foundations in low-income Brazilian housing often face challenges due to collapsible soils, which undergo significant deformations under moisture variations, leading to cracks and differential settlements. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a piled raft system as an alternative to traditional strip footings, aiming to optimize cost, safety, and structural performance in low-bearing-capacity soils. Using 3D modeling in RS3 software, based on Finite Element Method, two scenarios were simulated: a conventional design (strip footing + 12 piles) and an optimized design (piled raft + 9 piles). The results demonstrated that the piled raft distributes stresses more evenly, reduces foundation thickness, and offers environmental benefits, such as lower concrete consumption and reduced waste. Compared to strip footings, the optimized system proved more cost-effective and technically superior, complying with the Brazilian standards ABNT NBR 6118, ABNT NBR 6120, and ABNT NBR 6122. The study concludes that piled rafts are a viable solution for low-income housing, combining stability, sustainability, and cost reduction.