BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS
FOUNDATIONS
Foundations are commonly well known as substructures that are positioned
below the ground level and they transfer the structural load to the ground.
Foundation of a building as the name implies is the starting of a building
construction on site really. Types of building, nature of soil and environmental
conditions are the major determinant of type of foundation. Choosing a kind of
foundation depends on, ground conditions, groundwater conditions, site – the
environment (the buildings nearby) and structure of our building.
Foundations should be fulfill the structural requirements such as safe, be able
to carry the load of the building and constructional requirements such as
schedule, minimal resources, minimal cost.
TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS
1. SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS :
If the width of the foundation is
greater than the depth.
2. DEEP FOUNDATIONS :
If the width is smaller than
the depth of the foundation.
TYPES OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
1. Spread Footing
The spread footing is one types of shallow foundation. In this type
of foundation, the lower part of the foundation is gradually widened. So
that the load of the structure is distributed over a large area and the
intensity of the load on the base.
Where spread Footing is used?
When the building is not a multi-storey, load of column is less and, soil
bearing capacity is meet in less depth in this case the spread footing is
commonly used and it is economical.
Why spread footing is important?
Spread footing is important in a view of cost. Because it is economical
compare to other foundations.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPREAD
FOOTING
a)Wall footing
b)Reinforced concrete footing
c)Inverted arch footing
d)Column footing or Isolated
footing
a) wall footing
The bottom of this type of shallow foundation is paved with a layer of
Brick Bat cement concrete (BBCC) 1: 3: 6. The width of this layer is kept
three times of the wall thickness. It is also often called strip footing.
The layer thickness of the BBCC should be twice the projection on both
sides.
The width of the lowest layer of masonry is kept to be 2 times of plinth
level wall thickness.
The height of the bricklayer is 10 cm.
When the wall is under heavy load or the soil bearing capacity is low,
then the width of the base of the wall (2 times wall thickness + 2 times
projection) is required. So that the width of the masonry increases and the
load can be transferred over a large area of concrete.
Wall Footing
Reinforced Concrete Footing
The reinforced concrete footing is also one type of
shallow foundation. The size of wall footing is greatly
increased when the wall is under heavy load and the
bearing capacity of the soil is low.
In such a case it is advisable to place rainforest
concrete footing under the wall. Such footing reduces
the amount of masonry. Costs also decrease. A layer of
concrete 7 to 8 cm thick is laid under the reinforced
footing.
INVERTED ARCH FOOTING
An inverted arch is built between two pillars in this type of
foundation. Rise of the inverted arch is kept equal to 1/5 to 1/10 of
the span.
Inverted arch should be built into the cement mortar.
The lateral pier should be designed to withstand the pressure
externally due to arch action. The inverted arch reduces the depth
of the base. So this foundation is economical in soft soil.
This method is less used in the foundations of buildings. But more
suitable for bridges, tanks, drainage line supports etc.
Inverted arch footing is more suitable for Soft soil.
Column Footing / Isolated Footing
This type of footing is used for separate columns.
It is also called isolated footing.
Such type footing bases are round, rectangular or square.
Such type footing bases are Simple, Stepped or Sloped
type.
For heavily loaded columns, reinforcement is placed in
both directions in the concrete bed. For RCC columns,
offset of 15 cm is maintained on all four sides of the
concrete bed.
2. Combined Footing
•A combined footing is also one common types of shallow foundation which
is mostly used.
•A combined footing is used for two columns.
•They are rectangular or trapezoidal in shape.
•The rectangular footing is used when the load on both columns is the
same and trapezoidal footing is used when the load on both columns is
unequal.
Cantilever or Strap Footing
This type of footing prepared by combining two RCC Footing with
RCC strap. The RCC strap only acts as a beam connecting the two footings.
It does not take soil reaction from below.
Where cantilever footing is used?
When the distance between the two columns is greater and the
allowable soil pressure of the soil is higher, strap footing is cheaper than
combined footing.
RAFT / MAT FOUNDATION
This types of shallow foundation, filling RCC slab over the entire
construction area or some part of it. Many columns, walls are
supported on this slab. This type of shallow foundation is used
large quantity of concrete.
Where raft foundation is used?
[Link] soil bearing capacity is low.
[Link] soil is prepared by filling.
[Link] and walls are close and its footing overlaps.
[Link] soil is non-homogenous soil with soft soil pockets.
[Link] settlement is likely to occur.
[Link] is a lot of variation in the load on different columns.
Grillage Foundation
•Grillage foundation is used when the load on the column is very high and the
bearing capacity of the soil is low.
•Deep digging can be avoided with this type of shallow foundation.
•A concrete layer of about 20 cm thickness is laid by digging to the required depth.
•Rolled steel joists (RSJ) are arranged on top of the concrete layer, with a gap
between the flanges of the two RSS, 1.5 to 2.0 times the width of the flange or 30
cm whichever is less.
•The second level of RSS is arranged perpendicular to the first level of RSJ.
•The space between the RSJ is filled with concrete. The end of the RSS should
have at least 8 cm concrete cover.
•The concrete filled in the gap between the RSJ does not take any kind of load, it
just Saves RSJ against to corrosion.
•In both layers of RSJ beam, it is attached with a spacer bolt to maintain the
spacing of the beam.
•The base plate is placed on the top most layer of the RSJ and a steel column is
built on it.
DEEP FOUNDATION
If the depth of footing greater or equal to the Width of footing, it is
known as the deep Foundation. Deep Foundation is used Where the
bearing capacity of the soil is very low. The load coming from the
superstructure is further transmitted vertically to the soil. There are
Three Major Types of Deep
Foundations Foundation.
should be constructed to satisfy the
following requirements
Types of deep Foundation
1. Pile Foundation
2. Pier Foundation
3. Well Foundation
FOUNDATION REQUIREMENTS
The foundations shall be constructed to sustain the dead and imposed loads and to
transmit these to the sub-soil in such a way that pressure on it will not cause settlement
which would impair the stability of the building or adjoining structures.
Foundation base should be rigid so that differential settlements are minimized, especially
for the case when super-imposed loads are not evenly distributed.
Foundations should be taken sufficiently deep to guard the building against damage or
distress caused by swelling or shrinkage of the sub-soil.
Foundations should be so located that its performed may not be affected due to any
unexpected future influence.
Foundations should be such that it can easily carry dead load and imposed load of the
structure and transfer the loads to the soil.
Foundation base should be strong enough to reduce the unequal settlement of soil if
imposed load is not distributed equally to the soil.
It should have a definite depth so that structure may not be damaged due to expansion or
compression of soil volume beneath the foundation.
Foundation should be strong and designed with safety factor so that structure may not be
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