Adaptive Optimization Method for Piled Raft Foundations Based on Variable Pile Spacing
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
An adaptive optimization method (AOM) is presented for piled raft foundations (PRFs), which apply each pile in an appropriate location to accommodate the differential settlement of the raft. PRFs with different loads and different raft shapes are optimized to verify this method. The results show that the optimization rate of the differential settlement of the raft can reach more than 80%. The benefits achieved are demonstrated in terms of the decrease in differential settlement and the increase of the overall stiffness, and the excess bearing capacity of the piles can also be translated into the reduction of pile group cost. Besides the interesting approach, the manuscript should be revised, and appropriate modifications should be made. CComments are given below.
1. L82: ‘translate’ --> ‘translated’
2. L180: The research shows that close to the center of the raft or the location of the maximum settlement of the raft can share the errors caused by the distortion of the . Please specifically indicate the source of the research or provide the reasons.
3. According to the optimization method proposed, the number of piles can be optimized to be less, and generally the pile spacing will be increased. However, according to the Constraint 1 mentioned in L227 and Figure 5, please explain the case where the pile spacing is less than 2 times pile diameter. It would be better if a solution to this situation had been mentioned.
4. The structure of the flow chart in Figure 5 may be optimized, and the text in the box of step 3 appears to be incomplete.
5. The elevation in Figure 7c is incorrectly marked, and different heights are marked as the same elevation of 26m
6. Please explain the reason for dividing the load into 20 steps to consider the non-linear characteristics of soil layers during construction, and the basis for the load classification in Table 3.
7. The applied loads are not clearly described. The units of loads in Table 3 do not seem to match the statement “The main loads applied on the rafts in the models are all surface loads” in Section 4.2. Moreover, it is unclear whether the load P in FIG. 8 is the total load or the total load/19.
Author Response
Dear reviewer：
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the reviewer for the constructive and positive comments. Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper. We have studied comments carefully and revised the manuscript. We have addressed the comments in the revised manuscript. Point by point responses to the comments are listed in the attachment. Please see the attachment.
Kind regards,
Yunfei Xie
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
An adaptive optimization method (AOM) is proposed by the authors in the paper titled "Adaptive Optimization Method for Piled Raft Foundations Based on Variable Pile Spacing" to reduce the differential settlement of pile group and piled raft. In this method, the piles are placed in the proper locations in accordance with the raft's settlement characteristics.
After resolving some issues, the paper can be recommended for publication because it has a good organizational structure.
1. What are the benefits and drawbacks of AOM compared to other methods, and why have the authors chosen to use it?
2. What makes this work novel?
3- The authors made some assumptions during the simulation; could you please explain each one in detail?
4- Does the simulation study have any supporting evidence? It is advised that the authors present the parameter study in a single table.
5- Soil-structure interactions were not taken into account in the simulation. Because of the shifting pile distances, this interaction will alter. Can you give an explanation?
Author Response
Dear reviewer：
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the reviewer for the constructive and positive comments. Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper. We have studied comments carefully and revised the manuscript. We have addressed the comments in the revised manuscript. Point by point responses to the comments are listed in the attachment. Please see the attachment.
Kind regards,
Yunfei Xie
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Please, see the attachment.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear reviewer：
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the reviewer for the constructive and positive comments. Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper. We have studied comments carefully and revised the manuscript. We have addressed the comments in the revised manuscript. Point by point responses to the comments are listed in the attachment. Please see the attachment.
Kind regards,
Yunfei Xie
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
It is a work in the field of structural analysis and the design of piled foundations. It proposes a methodology to carry out designs that improve the static response of this type of foundations. In this specific case, the methodology focuses on optimizing the distribution and number of piles to improve the response of the raft. The approach uses commercial software (ANSYS) for structural analysis in conjunction with self-developed codes made in matlab for the optimization algorithm. The analysis is non-linear and in stratified soils.
General comments:
Objectives: They are concrete and clearly established. The work developed is well structured and easy to follow by the average reader.
Manuscript: From a formal point of view, the paper is well written. It is well structured and easy to read. In general, the information is sufficient to reproduce the methodology and results presented.
Novelty: Marginal. Some of the authors have already presented works along the same lines. In any case, the methodology is simple, well explained, and can be useful for readers interested in the problem. The results presented clearly show its effectiveness.
Therefore, the reviewer thinks that the paper is of interest and can be recommended for publication.
Author Response
Dear reviewer：
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the reviewer for the constructive and positive comments.
Kind regards,
Yunfei Xie
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
I recommend to accept the paper in this form.
