BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 1

GROUP MEMBERS ID

1. YOHANNES MULUGETA……………………………UU78937R

2. DANIEL HAILU………………………….……………….UU80946R

3. FASSIL MEKURI…………………………………………UU80866R

4. RUTH SAHLEMARIYAM……………………………..UU80977R

5. ZERIHUN GONFA……………………………………...UU 80492R

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MANGEMENT DEPARTMENT

SECTION: CTMR1N1/12
 Building construction Assignment 1

1. Discuss various functions served by foundations.

 Foundations provide the structure's stability from the ground
 To distribute the weight of the structure over a large area in order to avoid
overloading the underlying soil (possibly causing unequal settlement).
 To anchor the structure against natural forces including earthquakes, floods,
droughts, frost heaves, tornadoes and wind.
 To provide a level surface for construction.
 To anchor the structure deeply into the ground, increasing its stability and
preventing overloading.
 To prevent lateral movements of the supported structure (in some cases).

2. What are the requirements of a good foundation?

 The design and the construction of the foundation is done such that it can
sustain as well as transmit the dead and the imposed loads to the soil. This
transfer has to be carried out without resulting in any form of settlement that
can cause stability issues for the structure.
 Differential settlements can be avoided by having a rigid base for the foundation.
These issues are more pronounced in areas where the superimposed loads are
not uniform in nature.
 Based on the soil and area it is recommended to have a deeper foundation so
that it can guard any form of damage or distress. These are mainly caused due to
the problem of shrinkage and swelling because of temperature changes.
 The location of the foundation chosen must be an area that is not affected or
influenced by future works or factors.

3. What are the causes of failure of foundation? What remedial measures

would you adopt?
1. Uneven settlement of soil:
 It is the first common causes of foundation failure. In this foundation failure, The
cracks are developed in a foundation or buildings due to the Uneven settlement
of soil. Due to that, the durability of building is reduced. Also due to cracks, the
reinforcement of foundation are corroded.
 Causes of uneven of soil:
 Uneven distribution of load
 Change in soil Bearing capacity
 Eccentric loading etc.

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Remedies measures:

 The foundation should be supported on a rock or hard surface.

 The foundation should be designed keeping in mind the type of soil.

 The pressure on the soil should not exceed Permissible bearing pressure on it.

2. Uneven settlement of masonry:

The mortar used in masonry is compressed or shrink by applying a heavy load on it before it
hard properly due to that, the masonry settles unevenly.

Due to the uneven settlement of masonry, cracks are developed in foundation which causing
failure of the foundation.

Remedies measures:

 The mortar used in masonry should be exactly stiff and have the required workability.

 The masonry work should be lifted slowly together.

 If cement mortar is used in one day, the height of the wall should not exceed 1.5 m.

 The masonry should be cured properly for 10 days.

3. Sub-soil Moisture movement:

It is the one of the most common causes of foundation failure, which is mainly occur in
cohesive soil. Such a defect occurs where the Water table change it position many times. This
fluctuation of ground water causes foundation failure. If the water table Going down,
compresses the soil which causes cracks in the structure. And In the case of water table going
rise then the subsoil swell which developed more swelling pressure. In this case foundation
have great resistance against swelling pressure otherwise foundation fail.

Remedies measures:

 In such a situation, the footing steps should be lowered down to the hard rock.

4. Lateral force applied on a super structher:

The lateral force is applied to the superstructure due to wind, earthquake. If foundation or
structure is not designed to resist such forces then the foundation or structure fails due to
overturning.

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 Building construction Assignment 1

Remedial measures:

 To prevent this type of failure, the foundation of the structure should be kept wide and
lateral forces like wind, earthquake, should be taken into consideration while designing
the structure.

5. Lantern movement of soil:

The soil on sloping land or river bank collapses due to horizontal or inclined force. This type of
failure is occurring in soft soil or granular soil.

Remedial measures:

 Building a retaining wall.

 Lower the seat piles.

6. Evaporation by trees and shrubs:

The trees around the construction absorb water from the ground around the foundation so that
the structure settles and cracks appear.

Remedial measures:

 The depth of the foundation should be kept at least 1 m.

 Fast-growing trees should not be grown at a distance of 8 m from the wall.

7. Atmospheric action:

Heavy rainfall, change in temperature, etc. cause damage to the foundation.

Remedial measures:

 The water table can be kept low.

 After the foundation masonry is done, the sides of the trench should be filled with soil
with proper compaction.

 Provide great plinth protection with proper damp proofing.

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 Building construction Assignment 1

4. What do you understand by a ‘shallow foundation’? Draw sketches to show

various types of shallow foundation.

 Is type of building foundation that transfers structural load to the earth very near to the
surface

5. Differentiate between ‘strip footing’ and ‘pad footing’.

 Pad foundation refers to the foundation which is intended for sustaining concentrated
loads from a single point load such as structural columns. Strip foundation is used to
support a line of loads such as load-bearing walls

6. Explain with the help of sketches, the following (i) trapezoidal combined
footing (ii) strap footing (iii) mat foundation.
 Trapezoidal combined footing: footing that results when a combined footing is built in
the form of a trapezoid.

 Strap footing: It is a type of combined footing, consisting of two or more column

footings connected by a concrete beam

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 Building construction Assignment 1

 Mat foundation: a large continuous rectangular or circular concrete slab that carries the
entire load of the superstructure and spreads it over the whole area beneath the
building.

7. Explain the situations in which the pile foundation is preferred.

 Pile foundation is needed in areas where the structures constructed are large & heavy
and the soil underlying is weak

8. Classify various types of piles based on (i) function, (ii) method of

construction and (iii) materials and composition.

 Depending on their function, piles are classified as bearing piles, friction piles, friction-
cum-bearing piles, batter piles, guide piles, and sheet piles.
 Based on the composition of materials, piles are classified as timber piles, concrete
piles, sand piles, or steel piles.
 Based on the method construction, dropping weight Explosion, Vibration and Jacking.

9. Differentiate between pile foundation and pier foundation. How does pier
foundation differ from caisson foundation?

 Pier is inserted down to the bedrock. Caisson is putting a box into underwater and
pouring it with concrete. Pile is a column of material driven by a pile driver.
 Pier foundation differ from caisson foundation
 Pier has a footing. Pier is typically dug out and cast in place using forms.
 Caisson doesn’t have a footing. Caissons are driven into surface condition

10. Describe with sketches the method of setting out foundation trenches.
 Setting out of building foundation trenches is the process of laying down the excavation
line and centerline on the ground

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11. What do you understand by ‘timbering’? Explain with the help of sketches
various methods adopted for different types of soil.
Timbering is a method to prevent trench side soil against collapse. During deep excavation, the
sides of the trench collapse if the soil is not hard. The timbering prevents the side of the
trenches against collapse.

Methods of timbering

There are five main methods for timbering:

1. Stay bracing method

 This type of timbering is used when soil is moderately firm and excavation depth
is not more than 2m.
 Polling boards are placed on the sides of the trench and it is kept in position
with one or two struts rows.

2. Box sheeting method

 This type of timbering, used when loose soil and depth of excavation not more
than 4m. it is a type of loose soil timbering.
 A box-like structure is made using sheeting, Wales, struts and bracing.

3. Vertical sheeting method:

 This type of timbering is used when soil is loose and excavation depth is not
more than 10cm.
 This method is similar to box sheeting
 In each stage vertical sheet, horizontal Wales, strut and bracing are placed.

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4. Runner method:
 This type of timbering is used when digging in very loose soil. Runners are long
and thick wooden planks. Runners have a iron shoe attached to the bottom
edge.
5. Sheet piling method:
 This type of timbering is used when excavating over large area, excavating soil
and its surrounding soil loose and soft, water comes during excavation of soil
 There two types o sheet pile: wooden sheet pile and steel sheet pile

12. Explain ditch sump, well point and deep well system of foundation
dewatering with the help of sketch
Ditch sump: this method of dewatering water is disposed by adjusting the pump of the trench.
Centrifugal pumps are generally more useful. This method is used for shallow bases in
waterlogged areas. In this way ditches size is usually 20cm in diameter of semicircle.

Well point: this method of dewatering the ground water flow is diverted into deep well-points
in the ground and the part to be excavated is kept free from ground water.

Deep well: this method of dewatering is more suitable when digging operation (digging trench)
is lower than water table or artesian water present in soil. This method is useful when the
groundwater level needs to be lowered further.

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 Building construction Assignment 1

13. What are the main causes of foundation failure? Enumerate those sites
considered to be potentially hazardous for foundation construction
The main causes o foundation failure

 Un equal settlement of soil

 Unequal settlement of masonry
 Sub soil moisture movement
 Lateral pressure on superstructure
 Horizontal movement of the earth
 Transpiration of trees and shrubs
 Atmospheric action

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