Soil-structure-interaction of the 300 m high Commerzbank tower in Frankfurt am Main Measurements and numerical studies

Взаимодействие «грунт–сооружение» 300-метровой башни Commerzbank во Франкфурте-на-Майне: измерения и численные исследования
Rolf Katzenbach, U. Arslan, J. Gutwald, J. Holzhäuser, H. Quick
2026-02-12

3D numerical analysisCommerzbank Towerelastoplastic constitutive modelpiled raft foundationsoil-structure interaction
The highest office-building in Europe, the 300 m high Commerzbank tower in Frankfurt am Main is founded on a pile foundation of 111 bored piles which transfers the building load through the relatively weak Frankfurt Clay into the stiffer underlying Frankfurt Limestone. In 3-dimensional numerical studies with an elastoplastic constitutive model for Frankfurt subsoil the loadshare between raft and piles as well as the interaction between the piles are computed. Geotechnical measurement devices are installed inside of 30 piles, under the raft and in the soil to monitor the soil-structure-interaction. Le plus haut bâtiment pour bureaux en Europe, la tour de 300 m de la Commerzbank à Francfort-sur-le-Main, repose sur une fondation sur pieux. Celle-ci se compose de 111 pieux forés qui reportent la charge de bâtiment sur le Calcaire de Francfort a travers le couche supérieure d’Argile de Francfort qui est relativement déformable. Des études numérique tridimensionelles des sous-sol de Francfort sur la base d’une loi constitutive élasto-plastique permirent de calculer la répartition des charges entre radier et pieux ainsi que l’interaction entre les pieux. Des disposits de mesure géotechnique ont été installés à l’intérieur de 30 pieux, ainsi que sous le radier et dans le sol afin de pouvoir observer l’interaction sol-structure.
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Geotechnical instruments were installed in 30 piles, beneath the raft, and within the surrounding soil to monitor soil–structure interaction.
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The 300 m Commerzbank tower is supported by 111 bored piles transferring loads through relatively weak Frankfurt Clay into stiffer Frankfurt Limestone.
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The study combines numerical simulations with field measurements to investigate the behavior of the tower’s pile foundation and raft–pile system.
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Three-dimensional numerical analyses using an elastoplastic Frankfurt-subsoil model calculate load sharing between the raft and piles and interactions among piles.

The pile foundation and surrounding Frankfurt subsoil of the 300 m high Commerzbank tower

Soil–structure interaction, including load sharing between the raft and piles and interaction among piles

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Publication Date
2026-02-12
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Authors
Rolf Katzenbach
U. Arslan
J. Gutwald
J. Holzhäuser
H. Quick
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