Vineet Shrivastava
Associate Professor
Department of Planning & Architecture
Mizoram University
Foundation
The lowest artificially built part of a structure which transmits the
load of the structure to the soil lying underneath is called
foundation.
“Substructure” ( partly or wholly below the surface of the ground )
Function is to support and anchor the superstructure
Footing – extension of the lower part of the column to distribute load
Should accommodate the form and layout of the superstructure
above and respond to the varying conditions of the soil, rock and
water below.
Purposes of foundation
To distribute loads of the structure over a large bearing area
so as to bring intensity of loading within the safe bearing
capacity of the soil lying underneath.
To load the bearing surface at a uniform rate so as to
prevent unequal settlement.
To prevent the lateral movement of the supporting material.
To secure the level and firm bed for building operations.
To increase the stability of the structure as a whole.
Factors affecting selection of foundations.
Types and intensity of loads acting on
various parts of the structure which
may be dead load, live load, wind
load, snow load, etc.
Nature and bearing capacity of the
soil on which the structure directly
rests.
Design and selection of foundations.
Design and selection of foundation depends on:
Total load of building
Nature and bearing capacity of soil
Causes of settlement are;
Deformation of soils causing by an imposed load
Volume changes of soil cause by seasonal conditions.
Mass movements of ground in an unstable areas.
Foundation failure : collapse or excessive settlement
of a building supporting structure resulting from soil
movement.
Design Procedure
Assessment of site condition in the context of soil and site
Calculation of anticipated structural loadings
Choosing the foundation type considering;
Soil condition
Types of Structure
Economic factors
Construction Problems
Time factors relative to the proposed contract period
Types of Foundation
Foundations can be considered under two groups:
Shallow Foundations
Deep Foundations
Shallow Foundations
1. Spread Foundations / Footings
- Pad @ Isolated Foundations, Strip Foundations and
Combine Both
2. Raft Foundation
Deep Foundations
- Pile, Pier and Caissons
The principal types of RC
Foundation for buildings are :
1. Pad or Isolated Foundation
2. Strip Foundation
3. Raft Foundation
4. Combination of 1, 2 and 3
5. Piled Foundation
Pad Foundation
Pad foundations are used to support an individual point load such as that due
to a structural column. They may be circular, square or rectangular.
They usually consist of a block or slab of uniform thickness, but they may be
stepped or hunched if they are required to spread the load from a heavy
column. Pad foundations are usually shallow, but deep pad foundations can
also be used.
Pad or Isolated Foundation
Strip Foundation
Strip foundations are used to support a line of loads, either due to a
load-bearing wall, or if a line of columns need supporting where
column positions are so close that individual pad foundations would
be inappropriate.
Strip Foundation
Stepped footings – strip footings that change the levels in stages to
accommodate a sloping grade and maintain the required depth in
all points around a building.
Raft Foundation
Raft foundations are used to spread the load from a structure over a large area,
normally the entire area of the structure.
where the ground conditions are very poor and bearing power of the soil is
low that the individual spread footing cannot be provided.
Deep Foundation
Deep Foundations
Deep foundations are those founding too deeply below the finished ground
surface for their base bearing capacity to be affected by surface conditions,
this is usually at depths >3 m below finished ground level
The foundations constructed below
ground level with some arrangements
such as piles, wells, etc. at their base are
called deep foundations.
Deep foundations are classified into the
following types:
Pile foundation
Well foundation
Caisson foundation
Pile Foundation
Pile Foundations
A foundation consisting of spread footing supported at their base is called a
piles foundation. Piles distribute the load of structure to the soil in contact
either by friction alone or by friction combined with bearing at their ends.
Suitability.
Pile foundation is suitable under the following situations :
When the soil is very soft and solid bed is not available at a
reasonable depth to keep the bearing power within safe limits.
When provision of pad and raft foundations becomes very
expensive.
When the structure carries heavy concentrated loads.
When it is necessary to construct a building along the sea-
shore or river bed
Piles are generally classified into two categories :
1. According to function,
e.g bearing piles, friction piles, friction-cumbearing piles,
batter piles, guide piles, sheet piles, etc.
2. According to composition or material of construction,
e.g timber piles, concrete piles, sand piles, steel piles, etc.
