Foundation

• The part of the building below the ground

level is known as foundation.
• It is in direct contact to the soil.
• The soil which is located immediately below
the base of the foundation is called sub soil or
foundation soil.
• Its basic function is to transmit the load of
super structure to the sub soil below.
 Purpose of foundation
1. Reduction of load intensity: foundations
distribute the loads of super structure to the
larger area so that the intensity of load at
its base does not exceed the safe bearing
capacity of sub soil.
2. Even distribution of load: Foundations
distribute the non uniform load of super
structure evenly to sub soil, which helps to
minimize differential settlements.
 Purpose of foundation
3. Provision of level surface: foundations provide
levelled and hard surface over which super
structure is constructed.
4. Lateral stability: foundations provide stability
against sliding, overturning due to forces such as
winds, earthquake etc.
5. Safety against undermining: Foundations provide
structural safety against underminings or
scouring due to animals and water.
Essential requirements of good
foundation
Site exploration
Purpose of site investigation
Methods of exploration
Methods of site investigation
 Bearing Capacity of soil
• The supporting power of the soil or rock is referred as
bearing capacity of soil.
I. Gross pressure intensity(q): It is the total pressure at the
base of the footing due to the weight of the super
structure, self weight of the footing and weight of earth
fill.
II. Net pressure intensity(qn): It is the difference in the
intensities of gross pressure after the construction of the
structure and the original overburden pressure.
qn= q- γD, where,

γ= unit wt. of soil above the level of footing

D= depth of footing
II. Ultimate bearing capacity(qf): maximum gross
pressure intensity at the base of the foundation at
which the soil fails in shear.
V. Net Ultimate bearing capacity(qnf): maximum net
pressure intensity causing shear failure of the soil.
qnf = qf - γD
V. Net safe bearing capacity (qns): it is the Net
Ultimate bearing capacity divided by the factor of
safety(F)
qns = qnf / F
I. Safe bearing capacity (qs): it is the maximum
pressure which the soil can carry safely without
the risk of shear failure.
 Methods of estimating bearing
capacity of soil
• The bearing capacity can be determined by
the following methods:
1. Analytical methods
2. Plate load test
3. Penetration test
4. Presumptive bearing capacity values from
codes.
 Analytical method
•
 Analytical method
B. Terzaghi’s Analysis:
qf = CNc + γDNq + 0.5 γ BNγ
Where, qf= ultimate bearing capacity
γ= unit wt. of soil
D= depth of foundation B =
width of foundation
Nc , Nq , Nγ are dimension less number
obtained from terzaghi’s bearing capacity
factors tables and charts.
 Plate Load Test
• It is the field test to determine the ultimate
bearing capacity of soil and probable
settlement under the given loading.
• The bearing plate is a square usually 30 cm.
sq. or 75 cm. sq.
• Thickness of steel plate should not be less
than 25mm.
• The test pit width is made five times the width
of plate(Bp)
Plate Load Test
• The plate is firmly seated in a hole
• A seating load of 70gm/cm2(0.7t/m2) is released
before the actual test is started.
• The load is applied with the help of hydraulic
jack.
• Settlement of plate is observed by 2 dial gauges
which have a sensitivity of 0.02mm.
• Settlements should be observed for each increment
of load after an interval of 1,4,10,20,40,60 minutes
thereafter hourly intervals until the settlement
becomes less than 0.02mm/hr.
• The graph between load intensity and settlement is
plotted .
 Standard Penetration Test
• This test is performed in a clean hole 55 to 150 mm in
diameter.
• A casing may be used to support the sides of the
hole.
• A tube sampler, 50.8mm outer diameter and 35 mm
internal diameter is driven into the undisturbed soil at
the bottom of the hole under the blows of 63.5 kg drive
weight with 75 cm free fall.
• The sampler is first driven through 15 cm as a seating
drive. It is further driven through 30 cm and the number
of blows required for this is counted.
• The number of blows is termed as penetration
resistance
• For ’N’.
N>15, Equivalent penetration resistance(N e)= 15+ (N-15)/2
• Terzaghi’s and Peck’s empirical charts are used for
determining net bearing pressure.
Methods of improving bearing capacity
of soil
 Types of Foundation

Foundation

SHALLOW DEEP

DEPTH ≤ WIDTH DEPTH > WIDTH

Types of shallow foundation
 Deep Foundation
1. Pile Foundation
• It is that type of foundation in which loads are
taken to a low level by means of vertical member.
• It is used when bearing capacity is high at
reasonable depth.
• Types:
✔ End bearing pile
✔ Friction piles
✔ Combined piles
 Pier Foundation
• A pier foundation is a collection of large
diameter cylindrical columns to support the
superstructure and transfer large
super-imposed loads to the firm strata
below.
• It stood several feet above the ground.
• It is also known as “post foundation”.
• It transfers load only through bearing.
Well or Caisson Foundation
• They are much larger in diameter than pier.
• Used in bridges in rivers and lakes.
• Load is transferred through steining.
 Causes of failure of foundation and
their remedial measures
1. Unequal settlement of sub soil: it may result in
cracks in the structural components.
□ Causes:
• Non uniform nature of sub soil
• Unequal load distribution
• Eccentric loading
□ Remedial measures:
• Resting the foundation in rigid strata
• Proper design
• Avoiding eccentric loading
2. Sub soil moisture movement:
□ Causes:
• Excessive moisture results in swelling of sub soil
• In dry season the soil shrinks
□ Remedial measures:
• Safe bearing capacity should be properly determined
• Foundation should be taken at least 50cm lower than
the depth of moisture movement.
3) Lateral pressure on the walls:
• Wall transmitting the loads to the foundation may be
subjected to lateral pressure from pitched roofs or an
arch or wind action, resulting in overturning or
generation of stresses on footing.
4) Lateral movement of sub soil:
□ Causes: when soil move out or squeeze out
laterally under vertical loads specially in sloping
ground.
□ Remedial measure: Sheet piles should be driven
to prevent the lateral movement.
5) Atmospheric Action:
□ Causes: rain, wind etc
□ Remedial measure:
• Filling back of the foundation trenches with good
soil and compacting.
• Providing a gentle slope away from the walls.
 Timbering of Trenches
• When the depth of trench is large, or when
the sub soil is loose, the sides of the
trench may cave in.
• The problem can be avoided by adopting
suitable method of timbering.
• Timbering of trenches sometimes known as
“Shoring” consists of providing timber planks
or boards and struts to give temporary
support to the sides of the trench.
Types of timbering of trenches
 Black Cotton Soil
• These soils have typical characteristics of
shrinkage and swelling due to moisture
movement through them.
• During rainy season moisture penetrates into these soils
due to which they swell.
• During summer season, moisture moves out of soil and
the soil shrinks.
• In designing the footings on these soil, the following
points should be kept in mind:
□ Safe bearing capacity should be properly
determined.
□ Loads on these soils should be limited upto 5t/m2
□ Foundation should be taken at least 50cm lower
than the depth of moisture movement.
□ Bed of foundation trench should be made firm or
hard by ramming.
□ Foundation should be made in dry season and
restrict the moisture into the foundation during rainy
season.
□ Types of foundation used: Strip, mat ,pile and
End of Chapter 1

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