Well Foundation

• Well Foundation is a box of timber, metal, reinforced concrete or masonry

which is open at both top and bottom and is used for foundation of bridges
and buildings.
• These are box like structures which are sunk from the surface either land or
water to the desired depth.
• These are large width foundations which carry load of the superstructure
through a layer of weak soil to firm stratum at considerable depth.
• A well foundation is preferred to Pile foundation where the foundation has
to resist large lateral forces, the river bed is prone to heavy score, heavy
floating debris is expected during floods & where large boulders are
embedded in the substrate.
Why Well Foundation??

The advantages of well foundations over pile foundations are:

• A well foundation, because of its large cross-sectional area and rigidity, can withstand the effect of scouring better.
• The depth can be decided as sinking progresses, since the nature of the strata can be inspected and tested, if
necessary, at any desired stage.
• Thus, it is possible to ensure that it rests upon a suitable bearing stratum of uniform nature and bearing power.
• A well foundation can withstand large lateral loads and moments that occur in the case of bridge piers, tall chimneys,
and towers.
• There is no danger of damage to adjacent structures since the sinking of a well does not cause any vibrations.
Advantages of Well foundation
• It can withstand large lateral loads and moments which occur in the case of bridge piers, abutments, towers, and
tall chimneys.
• It can withstand the reaction of scouring due to its large cross-sectional area.
• Its depth can be determined due to the sinking procedure.
• No requirement for a pile cap, since the piers are filled, with concrete, there is no requirement for a pile cap.
• It is inexpensive, the cost of drilling and establishing a well or caisson is less as compared to a conventional
foundation.
• They are easily adaptable in different site situations. It is simple to put well or caisson at any place. The
extensively tough thing to place them is drilling the hole.
• If the rock (soil) with a high bearing capacity is between 3 m to 7 m, it may be extremely effective.
• If the load is not relatively large, however, the upper 3 m to 7 m soil is not desirable and it may be applied
effectively.
The disadvantages of the well foundation are as follow,
• It can not be established in contaminated areas due to the high amount of drilling needed to locate the caisson.
There is a risk of additional contamination throughout the area.
• Professionals are essential for the construction of this type of foundation.
 Types of Well Foundation
• Open Caisson
• Box caisson
• Pneumatic caisson
Open caisson
• The caisson which is without its top and bottom is called open
caisson.
• This type of caisson is like a well with vertical sides only.
• It may be square, rectangular, oval or any other suitable shape.
• Open caissons are usually made of RCC or of steel plates riveted
or welded together.
Box caisson
• Box caissons consist of boxes with four sides and a bottom. The top
of these boxes is open.
• The concrete box is fabricated on the ground. Prepared box
caissons are floated to the foundation location and placed on pre-
prepared bases.
• Once placed in an appropriate place, the whole void space is filled
with concrete in such a way that it becomes an integrated part of
the previously prepared base.
• The suitability of this foundation is confined only to those areas
where proper bearing stratum is available at shallow depth and
where loads are not very heavy.
Pneumatic caisson
• A pneumatic caisson is open at bottom and closed at top.
• This is useful at locations where it is not possible to adopt
wells .
• They are suitable when the depth of water is more than 12 m,
and maximum depth water up to 35 m .
• The essential feature of a pneumatic caisson is that
compressed air is used to remove water from the working
chamber at the bottom , and the foundation work is carried
out in dry conditions.
• In order that subsoil water may not enter the working
chamber, the pressure of air in the chamber is kept just
higher than that of water at that depth.
• However, the maximum pressure is limited from the
considerations of health of persons who work inside the
chamber.
• Normally, the tolerable air pressure under which a man can
work is limited to 0.35 N / mm2.
Oen caisson

Advantages:
• The caisson can be constructed to large depths.
• The cost of construction is relatively less than other types of caissons.

Disadvantages:
• Progress of construction in boulder deposits is very slow.
• The concrete sealed under water is not very effective.
• Inspection of the bottom of the well is not possible.

Box caisson

Advantages:
• The cost of construction of box caissons is low.
• It can be used where other types of caissons cannot be constructed.

Disadvantages:
• It is difficult to provide the foundation base below the water level, especially for deep excavations.
• Bearing capacity of the foundation base has to be properly assessed. Care has to be taken to protect the foundation base
from scour.
Pneumatic caisson

Advantages:
• There is a complete control over the sinking of the caisson, so that tilts and shifts can be detected immediately by the
staff in the working chamber and corrective measures can be taken effectively.
• The bottom of the chamber can be sealed effectively as it is maintained under dry conditions.
• Obstructions to sinking, such as boulders, can be removed easily.

Disadvantages:
• Pneumatic caissons are costlier than other types of caissons.
• The depth of the caisson below the groundwater table is limited to about 35 m during construction, as the staff in the
working chamber cannot withstand a pressure more than 0.35 N / mm2
Shapes Of Well Foundation
Wells have various shapes and accordingly, they are named as,
•Circular Well
•Double D Well
•Twin Circular Well
•Double octagonal well
•Square / Rectangular Well
Circular Well
• Circular wells are simple in construction, easy to sink, and require minimum steining thickness due to lower
flexural stresses than in other types.
• A circular well has the minimum surface area for a given weight, leading to greater sinking effort available. Circular
wells possess high strength and are subject to low bending stresses due to the absence of sharp corners.
• As every point on the cutting edge is at a constant distance from the center of the dredge hole, chances of tilting
of wells during sinking are less.
• If the length of the pier is long, the use of circular wells will become uneconomical, and also cause excessive
obstruction to the flow. Circular wells offer less resistance to lateral loads. The maximum diameter of circular wells
is generally limited to 9 m.

Double D well
• The main advantage of double-D wells is their high lateral stability.
• They are generally used for the piers and abutments of bridges which are too long to be accommodated on a
circular well.
• These wells can be sunk easily. But considerable bending moments are introduced in the steining because of
pressure difference between inside and outside of the well.
• Additionally the square corners at the partition well provide maximum resistance to sinking.
Twin Circular Well
• Twin circular well are sunk very close to one another such that they are held with a common well cap. These wells
are sunk adjacently and simultaneously.
• These wells are preferable where the length of pier cannot be accommodated on a double D or double octagonal
well.
• Twin circular wells are beneficial when the depth of the foundation is less and the foundation soil contains a
high bearing capacity.
• But, the major drawback is that there will be a differential settlement and tilting between the two wells with
the loosening of sand between them or due to uneven sinking, even though the two wells are rigidly attached by a
heavy top cap unless the soil or rock is uniform.

Double octagonal Well

• These wells are considered to be better than Double D wells in numerous aspects.
• Most preferably the square corners are eliminated such that the bending stress are reduced considerably.
• Additionally these wells provide higher resistance against sinking than Double D well because of increased area.
Square/Rectangular well
• A Square/rectangular section is used for well foundations of small depth, of up to 8 m.
• For large-size piers or abutments, double rectangular wells with two dredge holes are used.
• The bending stresses are, however, very high in the steining due to sharp corners.
• A rectangular section is more economical than a square section.

Note:
The choice of a particular shape of well depends upon the size of the pier, the cost and ease of sinking, the
considerations of tilt and shift during sinking and the vertical and horizontal forces to which well is subjected.
Components of well Foundation
Well Cap
• The Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) slab contributed at the top of the
well is identified as the well cap.
• It should be of sufficient strength to transmit forces from pier to body of
the well.
• The dimension should be sufficient to accommodate the pier.
Recommended minimum thickness is 0.75m.

Steining
• It is wall of the well and is built over a wedge shaped portion called well
curb.
• The steining is designed in such a way that it can be sunk under its own
weight.
• The thickness should be sufficient so as to overcome skin friction
developed during sinking by its own weight.
• The minimum reinforcement in well steining should be 5 to 6 kg/m3 of
which 75% is to be provided as vertical and 25% as lateral ties.
Cutting Edge
• It is lowermost part of well. It provides a comparatively sharp edge to cut Well Curb
the soil below during sinking operation. • The well curb supports steining.
• The cutting edge is either projected below the curb as sharp edge or can • The curb should be slightly projected from steining to
also have flat bottom. reduce skin friction during sinking of well.
• The projected edge is likely to be damaged in strata of gravels and • It is made of RCC with steel cutting edge.
boulders. In such case flat bottom cutting edge is provided.
Components of well Foundation
Bottom plug
• The bottom plug is made bowled shape in order to have an
inverted arch action.
• The bottom plug transmits load to soil below when sunk to its final
depth.
• The bottom part is concreted to seal bottom completely.
• The bottom plug which is confined by the well curb acts as a raft
against soil pressure from below.
• It has to extend for a minimum height of 30 cm above the top of
the well curb. Concreting should be completed at one stretch for
the bottom plug.

Sand filling
After concreting the bottom plug sand is filled above bottom plug and
below top plug. Sand enhances self weight of well and thus provides
stability of well, reduce tensile stress produced by bending moment,

Top plug
This is plug at the top of well below well cap. This helps in
transferring the load through granular material into steining.
Forces Acting On a Well Foundation

Dead loads: it includes weight of superstructure (pier/abutment) + self weight of well.

Live loads:Railway and road if designed on well foundation

Impact loads: the impact loads is the result of live load and shall be considered only during the design
of a pier cap and the bridge seat on the abutment. However, for other components of the well this effect
shall be neglected.

Wind loads: the wind loads shall be seen only on the exposed area in elevation and hence acts
laterally on the bridge.

Water pressure: the water pressure due to water current is acted on the portions of substructure that
lies between the water level and the maximum scour level. The intensity of water pressure on piers parallel
to direction of flow is given by P = kV2
Forces Acting On a Well Foundation
Longitudinal forces
Longitudinal forces occur due to tractive and braking forces. These are transmitted to the substructure mainly through
fixed bearings and friction bearings

Earth Pressure:
Rankine’s and Coulomb’s principle are used to calculating the pressure of the Earth.

Seismic force:
Seismic forces are necessary when wells are constructed in seismic areas.
DEPTH OF WELL FOUNDATION

The depth of a well foundation is selected on the following criteria:

 The well should be taken deep enough to rest on a firm strata having adequate bearing capacity to withstand the loads
transmitted by the super structure through piers or abutments
 The grip or embedded length below the lowest scour level should be adequate. This is required to develop sufficient
passive resistance to count the overturning moment due to horizontal forces acting on the bridge deck as well as due to
wind and water forces.
 Scouring can be defined as process due to which the particles of soil or rock around periphery of abutment or pier of
bridge over a water body gets eroded and removed over a certain depth called scour depth.
 The depth of bottom of well below the maximum scour level is known as grip length.
 The depth of foundation should be chosen considering the grip length and bearing capacity of soil.
 The depth of scour can be ascertained through actual soundings at or near the site proposed for the bridge during or
immediately after a flood.
 Design discharge is greater than flood discharge for which sounding has been made. Moreover there would be an increase
in the velocity of flow caused by construction of bridge. Therefore the maximum scour should be greater than measured
scour.
 If case actual soundings cannot be done the depth of scour is calculated by Lacey’s formula
Q = discharge, m3/s
f = silt factor = 1.76 𝑑𝑑𝑚𝑚 dm= mean particle size, mm

The grip length may be taken as one-third of the maximum scour depth. According to IS;-the depth of foundation should not
be less than 1.33 times maximum scour depth.
 WELL SINKING
• Laying the well curb
• Well Steining
• Sinking Process

Laying the well curb

 If the river bed is dry, the cutting edge over which the well curb is to be built is placed at the position after excavating
the river bed up to 15 cm.
 For water logged area temporary sand island is made before placing the curb.
 For the area having water depth more than 5m, curb is made on the dry ground at the river bank and floated to the
required position.
 WELL SINKING
• Laying the well curb
• Well Steining
• Sinking Process

Well Steining
 After laying and sinking the well curb , masonry in well steining is done,
 The steining is raised by about 1.5 m at a time and its sinking is done after allowing at least 24 hours for setting.
 Well steining must be built in one straight line from bottom to top.
 After sinking of one stage is completed, all damaged portions of the steining at the top of the previous stage should be
repaired properly before masonry in the next stage is prepared.
 Once the well has acquired a grip length of about 6m in ground the steining can be raised by about 3 m at a time.
 The height of Steining built at any stage should be such that well does not lose stability.
 WELL SINKING
• Laying the well curb
• Well Steining
• Sinking Process

Sinking Process
 Sinking process is started after having cast the well curb and the first stage of steining and allowing enough time for
curing.
 The well is sunk by excavating materials from the inside of the curb mechanically or manually.
 To accelerate the process of sinking, additional loading known as kentledge is applied on the well generally in the form of
sand bags.
 As the well is sunk frictional resistance starts acting. In such cases, the frictional resistance developed on its outer
periphery is reduced by forcing jet of the water on the outer face of the well.
 In some cases pumping out of water from inside the well is effective in well sinking. However this method should be
discouraged at early stage when depth is shallow.
 It is not desirable to pump the out water unless the well has gone deep enough so that chances of tilt and shift are reduced.
Tilt and Shift
 Shifting and tilting occur generally during the sinking
phase of well foundations. If proper care is not taken,
they can cause grave problems which may lead to the
weakening of the stability of foundations.
 When the well is moved away horizontally from the
desired position, it is called shifting of the well
foundation.
 When the well is sloped against vertical alignment, it is
called tilting of the well foundation.
Causes of tilt and Shift
 Non Uniform bearing capacity
 Obstruction on one side of well below cutting edge
 Method of sinking: Material should be removed from
all sides equally otherwise the well may experience tilt.
 Irregular casting of steining will cause less friction on
one sidethat may lead to chances of tilting of well.
Measures to prevent tilt and shift
• The diameter of well curb should be more than the
external diameter of steining. Generally,
a difference of 40 to 80 mm is recommended.
• The well steining should be symmetrically placed over
the curb.
• The outer surface of the well curb and steining should
be smooth.
• All the sides should be uniformly dredged.
• The cutting edge should be uniformly thick and sharp.
Limitations
• The maximum tilt allowed in case of well foundation is
1 in 60.
• The shift in well foundation should not be more than 1
% of depth of sunk.
• Beyond the above limits, well foundation is considered
as dangerous and in such a case, remedial measures to
rectify shifting and tilting should be followed.
Rectifying Methods
 Eccentric loading
• The well tilt can be rectified by placing eccentric
loading on the higher side. Higher side is
nothing but the opposite side of tilt or lower
side.
• A loading platform is constructed on the higher
side and load is placed on it.
• This eccentric load will increase downward
pressure on higher side and correct the tilt.
• The amount of load and eccentricity is decided
based on the depth of sinking.
• Greater is the depth of sinking of well, larger
will be the eccentricity and load.
Rectifying Methods
 Regulation of grabbing
• Unequal dredging causes tilt and hence if
higher side is grabbed more by regulated
dredging, tilt can be rectified. This
method is not very effective if well is
sunk to a great depth.
• In that case a hole is made in steining on
higher side and by hooks the rope of grab
is pulled towards the higher side.
Rectifying Methods
 Pulling the well
• In this method the well is pulled towards the higher
side by placing on or more steel rope round the
well with vertical sleepers packed in between to
distribute the pressure over large area of well
steining and tying it to tackle anchor.
• The pulling of the ropes is carried out by winches.
• Wooden sleepers should be used during puling to
avoid damage to the well steining.
Rectifying Methods  Strutting the well
• This method is used to avoid further increase of tilt
 Pushing the well rather than rectifying it. The well is strutted on
• The tilt can be rectified by pushing the tilted well tilted side by suitable logs of wood.
with a suitable arrangement through hydraulic jack
resting against vertically sunk well
Rectifying Methods
 Water jetting
• Water jetting on external surface of well on the
higher side is another remedial measure for
rectifying tilt.
• When water jet is forced towards surface of well,
the friction between soil and well surface gets
reduced and the higher side of well becomes
lowered to make well vertical.
Rectifying Methods

 Providing obstacles below cutting edge

Temporary Obstacles in the form of wooden sleepers,
sand bags or suitable hooks placed below the cutting
edge on the lower side of the well are useful in
avoiding further tilt of the well, while other measures
to rectify the tilt is being adopted.