Building Foundations

Foundation systems
• The foundation system for a building is the
critical link in the transmission of building
loads down to the ground.
• Bearing directly on the soil, the foundation
system must:
– Distribute vertical loads so the settling of a building is
either negligible or uniform under all parts of the
building.
– Anchor the building's superstructure to prevent
uplifting due to wind and earthquake forces.
Foundation systems
• The most critical factor in determining the
foundation system of a building is the type
and bearing capacity of the soil. Two areas
to consider in foundations systems
include:
– BUILDING DESIGN
– FOUNDATION TYPES
Function

• Transfer loads to under layer ground

• Prevent the settlement
• Stabilise building position
• There are three general concerns with the
design of foundation systems:
– SETTLING
– WATER
– FROST
SETTLING
• As a building bears down on the supporting soil,
some settlement is to be expected.
• A properly designed and constructed foundation
system should minimize settlement. Uneven or
"differential" settlement that can cause a building
to shift out of plumb causing cracks in the
foundation, structure, or finish.
• Extreme differential settlement can lead to failure
of a building's structural integrity.
• The cause of settlement is typically due to a
reduction in the volume of air voids in the soil.
Water
• Ground water can create lateral pressure (called
Equivalent Fluid Pressure) and can penetrate
foundation walls and ground slabs below grade,
especially if they lie below the water table.
• In cohesive soils, ground water may rise through
capillary action and penetrate a building's
ground slab.
• Granular base materials and vapour barriers are
used to control capillary action.
• Dewatering a foundation site is often required
prior to beginning construction.
 Load Foundation
Area
Bearing Capacity of Soil
Factors for Foundation Design

DEAD
LOAD/PERMANENT
ACTION

LOAD LIVE
LOAD/VARIABLE
ACTION

WIND LOAD
Factors for Foundation Design

MATERIALS

COST

PLANTS
Factors for Foundation Design

BEARING CAPACITY

CHEMICAL
SOIL
CONTENT
CONDITION

GROUND WATER
LEVEL
Factors for Foundation Design

EXPERTISE

TECHNOLOGY

SKILLED WORKERS
• Foundations are the building component
which transfers building loads to the soil.
• There are two basic types of foundations:
– SHALLOW - Shallow foundations transfer the
load to soil at the base of the substructure
– DEEP - Deep foundations transfer loads far
below the substructure. These foundations
penetrate incompetent soil until a satisfactory
bearing stratum is reached.
SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

Shallow foundations transfer the load to soil

at the base of the substructure.
• Characteristics of shallow foundations are
they are cheap and they require suitable
soil.
•Examples of shallow foundations are:
•Pad foundation
•Strip foundation
•Raft foundation
Pad or column footings
1. Isolated
• used to support single columns. This is one of
the most economical types of footings and is
used when columns are spaced at relatively long
distances.
2. COMBINED FOOTINGS
– Types of Combined Footing:
1- Rectangular Combined Footing
2- Trapezoidal Combined Footing
3- Cantilever Footing
4- Mat Foundation
Continuous footings
• Support a row of three or more columns. They have
limited width and continue under all columns.
Cantilever or strap footings

• Consist of two single footings connected with a

beam or a strap and support two single
columns.
• This type replaces a combined footing and is
more economical.
STRIP FOOTING

NORMAL
STRIP

NARROW
STRIP

WIDE STRIP
Strip Footing
Strip Footing
MAT FOUNDATION

SOLID SLAB

CELLULAR

BEAM AND
SLAB
 Raft Foundation

• Consists of one footing

usually placed under the
entire building area.
• Used when:
– soil bearing capacity is low,
– column loads are heavy
single footings cannot be
used,
– piles are not used and
– differential settlement must
be reduced.
• A raft foundation normally consists of a concrete
slab which extends over the entire loaded area.
– It may be stiffened by ribs or beams incorporated into
the foundation.
• The advantage is reducing differential
settlements as the concrete slab resists
differential movements between loading
positions.
• They are often needed on soft or loose soils with
low bearing capacity as they can spread the
loads over a larger area.
RAFT FOUNDATION
Advantages & Disadvantages
1. Advantages Of Using Shallow Foundation
1- Cost (affordable)
2- Construction Procedure (simple)
3- Materials (mostly concrete)
4- Labour (does not need expertise)

2. Disadvantages Of Using Shallow Foundation

1- Settlement
2- Limit Capacity * Soil * Structure
3- Irregular ground surface (slope, retaining wall)
4- Foundation subjected to pullout, torsion, moment.
Pile Foundation
• Pile foundation is used when:
– Shallow foundations are not suitable
– Good bearing capacity of soil > 3 meter,
– Excavation and dewatering process are too expensive
Pile materials
Pile Foundation – load transfer
Friction pile End-bearing pile

Weak soil Weak soil

Good bearing
capacity layer
 Type of Piles
Driven Bored

In-situ Precast Semi Precast

Rotary

Concrete Timber &

concrete Jetting

Steel
Steel &
Timber concrete
Hammered
Driven Methods

•Drop hammer
•Single acting hammer
•Double acting hammer
Bore Pile

•Hammered bore pile

•Rotary bore pile

TRIPOD PILE
Bore Pile
Bore Pile
Rotary Auger
Auger Pile
Pile Testing
• To make sure the design load for the pile is
sufficient
• Normally, minimum number of testing is one.
• Best position of pile will be selected to be tested
• Load will be imposed onto the pile for at least
50% or more from the actual load
• The total load will be remained impose onto the
pile for 24 hours