Using Microcolumn Stiffeners to Fix Distortion Caused by Expansive Soils in Substructure and Superstructure Frames

This paper investigates a market building that suffered serious structural problems due to swelling soils. To assess the building’s reaction to upward swelling pressure, the analysis takes into account combinations of expansive soil loads, dead loads, and live loads. The building’s structural integrity is evaluated by examining the angular distortion and stiffness under various swelling pressure levels. In order to correct buildings that have been distorted, the current study suggests adding stiffeners in the form of pile-like rods that are formed and fastened to the ground beam and upper floor beam or raft foundation and upper floor beam. In this work, a thorough structural analysis is conducted using finite element modeling in SAP2000 to assess the performance of the mat foundation and the efficacy of adding stiffener columns. Stiffener columns greatly increase resilience, according to the results, enabling the building to sustain swelling pressures of up to 450 kPa without suffering structural damage, rather than just 200 kPa without them. The results provide insightful information for future building practices in the area and highlight the vital role that proper foundation design plays in reducing the risks related to expansive soils.