This paper presents an analysis of the chicken-foot foundation using the finite element method. The
foundation is considered as a reinforced concrete slab resting on a number of reinforced concrete pipes filled
with and surrounded by in-situ soil. The soil and the pipes were modelled by isoparametric solid elements
while the slab was modelled by isoparametric thick-plate elements. The study was intended to illustrate
the basic mechanism of the chicken-foot foundation. Three cases have been considered for the parametric
studies. The parameters investigated are thickness of slab, length of pipes and spacing between pipes. It is
shown that such a foundation improves the behaviour of the raft foundation. It is also found that all the
parameters used in the parametric studies influence the behaviour of the chicken-foot foundation.