2.
FOUNDATION TYPES
AND THEIR SELECTIONS
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2.1. INTRODUCTION
Definition: the lowest artificially built part of a structure
which transmits the load of the structure to the ground is
called foundation.
• The foundation of a structure is always constructed below
ground level to increase the lateral stability of the
structure.
• Every building consists of two basic components:
✓The super structure
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✓The sub structure (foundation)
firm
ground
bed rock weak soil
bed rock
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➢ Generally foundation is the part of the structure which is in direct
contact with the ground to which the loads are transmitted.
• Foundation should be sufficiently strong to prevent excessive
settlement as well as differential settlement.
• Excessive settlement may be caused by
i. Weak sub soils
ii. Shrinkable and expansive soils (clay)
iii. Frost action
iv. Movement of ground water and uplift pressure excessive
vibration, slipping of strata on slopping etc.
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2.2. Purposes Of Foundations
i. To distribute the load 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.
ii. To load the bearing surface at a uniform rate so as to
prevent unequal settlement.
[Link] prevent the lateral movement of the supporting
material.
[Link] secure a level and firm bed for building operations.
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v. To increase the stability of the structure as a whole.
2.3. Types of Foundations
➢ Foundations can be broadly classified into the following
two categories:
i. Shallow foundations
ii. Deep foundations
i. Shallow foundations :- the foundations provided
immediately beneath the lowest part of the structure, near
to the ground level are known as shallow foundations.
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➢ Shallow foundations are further classified into the
following types:
a) Spread or Isolated footings
b) Combined footing
c) Cantilever footing
d) Continuous or wall footing
e) Raft foundation
…Types of Foundations
a) Spread or isolated footings: used to support individual
column.
The most common type of foundation, because of their
cost and ease of construction.
Most often used:
✓In small to medium size structures,
✓ On sites with moderate to good soil conditions,
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✓on some large structures when they are located at
sites underlain by exceptionally good soil or shallow
bedrock.
Isolated footings are stepped type, simple type or slope
type
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b) Combined footing:
✓Supports two or sometimes three column in a row.
✓Is used when property lines, equipment locations, column
spacing or other considerations limit the footing clearance
at the column locations.
✓Combined footing can be:
Rectangular in shape if both the columns carry equal
loads, or
Trapezoidal if there is a space limitation and they carry
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unequal loads.
A
A C
C
b b1 b2
a
a
Plan
Plan
Columns Columns
Footing
Footing
D D
a a
Section A.A Section C.C
Combined footing (rectangular) Combined footing (trapezoidal)
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c) Cantilever or strap footing:
• Consists of two individual footings connected by a beam
called a strap.
• Cantilever footing may be used:
✓ Where the distance between the columns is so great that
a trapezoidal combined footing becomes quite narrow,
with resulting high bending moments.
• The strap beam does not remain in contact with soil so a
strap doesn’t transfer any pressure to the soil. 143
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A
A
a1 a2
b1 b2
Strap beam
D1 D2
b1 b2
Property line Section A-A
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d) Continuous or wall footing or strip footing:
In this type of footing, a single continuous reinforced
concrete slab is provided as foundation of load bearing wall.
A strip footing is also provided for a row of columns which
are so closely spaced that their spread footings overlap or
nearly touch each other.
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Columns
A
C
Wall b b
A
C
Plan Plan
Wall
Column
Footing Footing
D D
b
b
Section A.A Section C-C
Wall on footing Columns on footing 147
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e) Mat (raft) foundation:
• It is a combined footing that covers the entire area beneath a
structure and supports all the columns.
• Foundation engineers often consider mats when dealing with
any one of the following conditions:
✓ The structural loads are so high or the soil condition is so
poor that spread footings would be exceptionally large.
As a general rule of thumb, if spread footings would cover
more than 50 percent of the building footprint area, a mat or
some type of deep foundation will usually be more 149
economical.
✓ The soil is very erratic and prone to excessive differential
settlement.
The structural loads are erratic, and thus increase the
likelihood of excessive differential settlement.
The lateral loads are not uniformly distributed through the
structure and thus may cause differential horizontal
movement in spread footings.
The uplift loads are lager than spread footings can
accommodate.
• The bottom of the structure is located below ground water
table, so waterproofing is an important concern. Because
mats are monolithic, they are easier to waterproof.
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Flat plate mat foundation Two-way beam and slab
(Ribbed mat)
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2. Deep foundations:
When the soil at or near the ground surface is not capable
of supporting a structure, deep foundations are required to
transfer the loads to deeper strata.
Deep foundations are, therefore, used
When surface soil is unsuitable for shallow foundation,
and a firm stratum is so deep that it cannot be reached
economically by shallow foundations 154
The most common types of deep foundations are:
✓ Piles,
✓ Piers and
✓ Caissons.
Pile: is a slender structural member made of steel,
concrete or wood.
It is either driven into the soil or formed in-situ by
excavating a hole and filling it with concrete.
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✓Pier: is a vertical column of relatively large cross-section
than a pile.
✓ A pier is installed in a dry area excavating a cylindrical
hole of large diameter to the desired depth and then
backfilling it with concrete.
✓ Caisson: a caisson is a type of foundation of the shape of
hollow prismatic box, which is built above the ground and
then sunk to the required depth as a single unit. 157
✓ It is a watertight box or chamber used for laying
foundation under water.
✓ A pier and caisson differ basically only in the method of
construction
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GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FOUNDATION DESIGN
The usual approach to a normal foundation engineering problem
is:
✓ Prepare a plan of the base of the structure showing the
various columns, load-bearing walls with estimated loads,
including dead load, live load, moments and torques coming
into the foundation units.
✓ Study the tentative allowable bearing pressures allocated for
the various strata below the ground level, as given by the soil
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investigation report.
Isolated Footing
Combined Footing Strip/wall Footing
✓Determine the required foundation depth. This may be the
minimum depth based on soil strength or structural
requirement considerations.
✓ Compute the dimensions of the foundation based on the
given loading and allowable bearing pressure.
✓ Estimate the total and differential settlements of the
structure.
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If these are excessive the bearing pressure will have to
be reduced or the foundation taken to a deeper and less
compressible stratum or the structure will have to be
founded on piles or other special measures taken
•SETTLEMENT OF FOUNDATIONS
l1 l2 l3
Ground Level
Original foundation level
1
max
2 3
1,2,3 = Differential sett., = Greatest differential sett.
max = maximum total sett., l1,l2,l3= Bay width, /l = angular distortion
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NO SETTLEMENT * TOTAL SETTLEMENT * DIFFERENTIAL
SETTLEMENT
Uniform settlement is usually of little consequence in a
building, but differential settlement can cause severe
structural damage
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• From statistical analysis skempton and macdonald concluded
that as long as the angular distortion , /l of a building is less
than 1/300, there should be no settlement damage.
1. Recommendation of skempton and macdonald
I) settlements on sand
A) isolated footings /l = max/600, max 2inches
B) rafts /l = max/750, max 2.5 inches
Ii) settlements on clay
a) isolated footings /l = max/1000, max 3.3inches
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b) rafts /l = max/1250, max 4 .25 inches
2. RECOMMENDATION OF BOWLES
Types of soil Type of foundations
Isolated Rafts
Sand 3.8cm 3.8-6.4cm
Clay 6.4cm 6.4cm-10.2cm
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3. RECOMMENDATION OF EBCS7-1995
Types of soils Isolated rafts
Sand 5.0cm 5.0cm
clay 7.5cm 7.5cm
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2.4. Selection of Foundation Type
In selecting the foundation type, the following points
must be considered
Structural loads,
Ground conditions,
Economy of design
Construction costs,
Build ability,
Durability – as is all structural design choice.
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Having these points in mind one should apply the
following steps in order to arrive at a decision.
Obtain at least approximate information concerning the
nature of the superstructure and the loads to be
transmitted to the foundation
Determine the subsurface condition in a general way.
Consider each of the usual types of foundations in order
to judge whether or not:
▪ They could be constructed under existing
conditions.
▪ They are capable of carrying the required load.
▪ They experience serious differential settlements.
The types that are found to be unsuitable should then be
eliminated.
Undertake a detailed study of the most promising types.
Such a study may require additional information on loads
and subsurface conditions.
• Determine the approximate size of footing or the
approximate length and number of piles required
• Prepare an estimate for the cost of each promising type of
foundation.
• Select the type that represents the most acceptable
compromise between performance and cost.
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Activity two
1. What are the Purposes Of Foundations?
2. In what condition combined footings are selected as
suitable foundation types?
3. What are the similarities and differences of
rectangular combined footing and strap footing
4. In what condition mat footing is selected as suitable
foundation types?
5. What general principle you follow to design
foundation?
THE END
?
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