Citation: Patrício, J.D.; Gusmão, A.D.; Ferreira, S.R.M.; Silva, F.A.N.; Kafshgarkolaei, H.J.; Azevedo, A.C.; Delgado, J.M.P.Q. Settlement Analysis of Concrete-Walled Buildings Using Soil–Structure Interactions and Finite Element Modeling. Buildings 2024, 14, 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/ buildings14030746 Academic Editor: Eugeniusz Koda Received: 24 January 2024 Revised: 5 March 2024 Accepted: 6 March 2024 Published: 10 March 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). buildings Article Settlement Analysis of Concrete-Walled Buildings Using Soil–Structure Interactions and Finite Element Modeling Jonny D. Patrício 1 , Alexandre D. Gusmão 2 ,Sílvio R. M. Ferreira 3 , Fernando A. N. Silva 4 , Hassan Jafarian Kafshgarkolaei 5 , António C. Azevedo 6 and João M. P. Q. Delgado 5, * 1 Civil Engineering Department, Federal University of Campina Grande—UFCG, Aprigio Veloso St. Universitárcio, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil; jonny_dantas@hotmail.com 2 Civil Engineering Department, University of Pernambuco—UPE, Benfica St. Madalena, Recife 50720-001, Brazil; gusmao.alex@poli.br 3 Centro de Tecnologia de Geociências—CTG, Federal University of Pernambuco—UFPE, Acadêmico Hélio Ramos St., Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-530, PE, Brazil; silvio.mferreira@ufpe.br 4 Civil Engineering Department, Pernambuco Catholic University, Recife 50050-900, Brazil; fernando.nogueira@unicap.br 5 CONSTRUCT-LFC, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; h.jafarian@fe.up.pt 6 Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pernambuco (IFPE), Recife 50670-430, Brazil; antonio.azevedo@caruaru.ifpe.edu.br * Correspondence: jdelgado@fe.up.pt; Tel.: +351-225081404 Abstract: This study examines the performance of mat foundations in 13 blocks of eight-story concrete-walled residential buildings. Topographic monitoring bolts were used to monitor the slab’s construction, which was 0.35 m thick and comprised an area of 225 m 2 . Using the collected data, a retro-analysis of the modulus of elasticity was conducted to obtain the geotechnical parameters for forecasting the settlement using the elasticity theory. A nonlinear approach for construction modeling and soil–structure interactions showed that the earthworks at the start of construction had a significant role in settling. Blocks in landfills settled faster than those in land-cut zones. The partial execution of building levels was found to be critical in terms of angular distortions and stresses in the concrete slab. The partial lifting of the foundation plate was confirmed in blocks with partial building floor execution, demonstrating the importance of assessing the foundation’s behavior at this stage. The modulus of elasticity dropped as construction progressed, with landfill parts being particularly vulnerable. Creep settlements contributed significantly, accounting for about 20% of the total settlements in some blocks. The numerical staged construction model accurately replicated the behaviors observed in the monitoring data, confirming the hypothesis of the partial raising of the foundation during the building process, which resulted in higher angular distortions. Based on the results obtained, the authors strongly recommend that the simultaneous consideration of soil–structure interactions and construction effects be commonly used in foundation designs. Keywords: mat foundations; elastic modulus; soil–structure interaction; raft foundation; settlement measurement 1. Introduction Building systems that combine efficiency and competitiveness have gained significant attention from researchers throughout the world as a result of the fast development of construction technologies in recent years. Among these advances, concrete wall systems and structural blocks have grown in popularity. However, substantial studies on the important subject of soil–structure interactions (SSIs) in these systems are still lacking. Prevalent studies in the literature have ignored SSI issues, particularly for buildings with concrete walls rather than reinforced concrete frame systems. This disparity highlights the need to study the behavior and interactions of this particular building system. Buildings 2024, 14, 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030746 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings