International Journal of Engineering Research and Development

e-ISSN: 2278-067X, p-ISSN: 2278-800X, www.ijerd.com

Volume 12, Issue 10 (October 2016), PP.34-39

Design of Shallow Foundation under Downward, Uplift and Side

Thrusts Loadings for Transmission Lines Tower.
Prof. R.G. Bade1, Mr. Zeeshan Qureshi2, Mr. Shrikant Yadav3.
1
Assistant Professor At Anjuman College Of Engineering And Technology, Department Of Civil Engineering,
Nagpur (India).
2
Student Of Graduation Programme In Department Of Civil Engineering At Anjuman College Of Engineering
And Technology, Nagpur (India).
3
Student Of Graduation Programme In Department Of Civil Engineering At Anjuman College Of Engineering
And Technology, Nagpur (India).

Abstract:- India has a large population all over the country and the electricity supply is need of this population
creates requirements of a large transmission and distribution. In transmission line towers, the tower legs are
usually set in concrete which generally provides good protection to the steel.
In transmission line towers, foundation plays an important role in safety and satisfactory performance of the
structure as it transmits the load from structure to earth. In present study, a typical 220 KV double circuit
transmission tower is considered, for designing the foundation manually with respect to loadings viz downward,
uplift and side thrusts. A proposed site was considered situated on the banks of river analyzed and design the
transmission tower in STAAD PRO and on the basis of analysis results and soil investigation reports the three
forces are validated in the designing of foundation manually.
In this paper, the tower foundation is designed manually with reference to CBIP manual (central board of
irrigation and power) and a methodology is obtained for designing the foundation as per conditions malleably.
Objectives
 To study the types of foundation as per the desired loadings on different types of soil
 To study the designed parameters and checks required for designing the transmission tower foundation as
per CBIP manual.
 To designed the safe and durable foundation on the proposed site near kanhan river, Nagpur, India.
Keywords:- transmission lines, foundation.

I. INTRODUCTION
Foundations of any structure plays on important role in safety and satisfactory performance of the
structure as it transmits the loads from structure to earth. The towers legs are usually set in concrete which
generally provides good protection to the steel. Without having a sound and safe foundation, structure cannot
perform the functions for which it has been designed. Therefore, the importance of foundation need not to be
over emphasized.
The sizes of transmission line tower are increasing because of the present day high, extra high and
ultra-high voltage transmission, resulting in heavier loads and as such requiring bigger and heavier foundations.
A large number of foundation are normally required in any transmission line project. Thus, the total cost of
foundation in a transmission line project becomes quite substantial. Apart from the financial aspects, past
records show that failures of tower foundations have also been responsible for collapse of towers. These failures
have usually been associated with certain deficiencies either in the design which certainly depends on the types
of loadings on the foundation or classification or construction of foundation. Many times, foundations cast are
over safe because of inappropriate classification, resulting in wastage of resources. From engineering point of
view, task of design and selection of most suitable type of tower foundation is challenging because of the variety
of soil conditions encountered enroute the transmission line and remoteness of construction sites. The
foundations in various types of soil have to be designed to suit the soil conditions of particular type.

A. Types of Loads on Foundations:

The foundations of towers are normally subjected to three types of forces. These are:
i. The compression or download thrust;
ii. The tension or uplift;
iii. The lateral forces or side thrusts in both transverse and longitudinal directions.

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 Design Of Shallow Foundation Under Downward, Uplift And Side Thrusts Loadings For...

B. Basic Design Requirements:

To meet the varying needs in respect of soil conditions and loadings quantum several types of
foundations have been used for the transmission line towers. Design philosophy of tower foundation should be
closely related to the principles adopted for the design of the tower which the foundation has to support. A weak
or unsound foundation can make a good tower design useless. Functionally, the foundation should be strong and
stable. It should take care of all the loads such as dead loads, live loads, wind loads, seismic loads, erection
loads, etc. causing vertical thrust, uplift as well as horizontal reactions. For satisfactory performance, it should
be stable and structurally adequate and be able to transmit these forces to the soil such that the limit soil bearing
capacity are not exceeded.

C. Soil Parameters:
For designing the foundations, following parameters are required:
i. Limit bearing capacity of soil;
ii. Density of soil; and
iii. Angle of Earth frustum.
These soil properties are normally obtained either by conducting in-situ or laboratory test on soil
samples collected from the field during Soil Investigation or from available testing record of the area.

D. Soil Investigation:
The design of tower foundation is fully dependent upon condition of soil that will support the
foundation and the nature of loadings. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate the soil for engineering
properties. There are number of procedures for collection of soil data covered in various Indian Standard Codes
of practice like IS: 1892, IS: 1888, IS: 2131 etc. and standard books on Soil Mechanics and Foundation
Engineering. Selection of anyone of these depends on the suitability and merits of the procedure for a given soil
condition.

E. Types of Foundation:
Depending upon the ground water table and type of soil and rock, the foundation can be classified as follows:
i. Normal Dry Soil Foundations:
ii. When water table is below foundation level and when soil is cohesive and homogeneous up to the full depth
having clay content of 10 – 15%.
iii. Wet Soil Foundations:
iv. When water table is above foundation level and up to 1.5m below ground level. The foundations in the soils
which have standing surface water for a long period with water penetration not exceeding 1.0 m below
ground level (e.g. paddy fields) are also classified as wet foundations.
v. Partially Submerged Foundation:
vi. When water table is at a depth between 1.5m and 0.75m below ground level and when the soil is normal
and cohesive.
vii. Fully Submerged Foundation:
viii. When water table is within 0.75m below ground and the soil is normal and cohesive.
ix. Black Cotton Soil Foundation:
x. When the soil is cohesive having inorganic clay exceeding 15% and characterized by high shrinkage and
swelling property (need not be always black in colour).
xi. Partial Black Cotton Foundations:
xii. When the top layer of soil up to 1.5m is Black Cotton and thereafter it is normal dry cohesive soil.
xiii. Soft Rock/Fissured Rock Foundations:
xiv. When decomposed or fissured rock, hard gravel or any other soil of similar nature is met which can be
executed without blasting. Under cut foundation is to be used at these locations.
xv. Hard Rock Foundations:
xvi. Where chiselling, drilling and blasting is required for excavation.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Experimental study on corrosion of transmission line tower foundation and its rehabilitation ISSN 2010
2.2 Reliability based design of foundation for transmission line structures (New York) (drilled and spread
foundation)
2.3 Analysis and research for uplift mechanism on foundation of transmission line towers in expansive soil.

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 Design Of Shallow Foundation Under Downward, Uplift And Side Thrusts Loadings For...

II. TEST CONDUCTED

A. SOIL TEST REPORT
Site Proposed- Kanhan (Niri), Nagpur
Properties Sample identification & test results
Core cutter 1 Core cutter 2
Moisture content - % 12.34 9.36
Bulk density – gm/cc 1.660 1.683
Dry density – gm/c 1.477 1.538
Unconfined compressive strength – Mpa 0.2 -
Cohesion – kg/sq.cms C - 0.446
Angle of internal friction – degree - 14.4
Initial void ratio - 0.714
Compression index - cc - 0.215
Specific gravity - 2.622

B. Net Safe Bearing Capacity (IS 6403 : 1981)

Qd = C. Nc. Sc. Ic. dc + q(Nq-1). Sq. dq. iq + 0.5. B. Y. Sy. Ny. Dy. Iy. w
Where,
Qd Net Ultimate Bearing Capacity
C Cohesion = 4.46 tons / sq.m
Ø Angle of internal Friction = 14.4 degree
Y Average Density of Overburden 1.6105 tons / Cu.m
Nc, Nq, Ny Bearing Capacity Factors on Ø (10.664, 3.7636, 2.4784 respectively)
Sc, Sq, Sy Shape Factors (1.3, 1.2, 0.8 respectively)
ic, iq, iy Inclination Factors 1for each
dc, dq, dy Depth Factors (1.0702, 1.0351, 1.0351 respectively)
q Effective Surcharge at 3.5m below G.L. = 8.0525 tons / sq.m
w Water table Corrections 0.5
B Width of footing 2m assumed

Qd = 4.46 x 10.664 x 1.3 x 1 x 1.0702 + 8.0525 x (3.7636-1) x 1.2 x 1.0351 x 1 + 2 x 1.6105 x 0.8 x2.4784 x
1.0351 x 1 x 0.5
Qd = 95.46496 tons / sq.m

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A. Design of Foundation (CALCULATIONS)
220 KV D/C Transmission lines (all the calculations are on the basis of CBIP manual)
Tower type: “DB”
Design loads (limiting/ultimate) (inclusive of overload factor 1.2)

Description Normal Condition Broken Wire Condition

(Reliability) (Security)
(Kgs) (Kgs)
Down thrust 16604 17255
Uplift 14194 14982
Side thrust (t) 2693 3018
Side thrust (l) 2695 2999

Tower slope:
Θ = 9.22
Tan θ = 0.16225
True length = 1.013

Soil/ rock data:

Unit weight of dry fissured rock = 1700 kg/cu,m

Specification Quantity Checks

Volume of concrete (cu.m) 9.868 Uplift Bearing capacity
Dry soil volume (cu.m) 95.832 NC BWC NC BWC
Wet soil volume Nil 11.32 11.29 2230.1 3277.75

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 Design Of Shallow Foundation Under Downward, Uplift And Side Thrusts Loadings For...

Over load due to concrete Com Uplift kg/m2 kg/m2

(kg) pres
sion
7069 6299 >1 < 95469.6 kg/m2
Hence safe Hence safe

Limit bearing capacity (fissured rock locations): 62500 kg/sq.m

B. Design of dry type foundation
C. Design of chimney

Sr.no Specification Conditions

Normal Broken wire

Mux1 Muy1 Mux1 Muy1
1 Compression with bending 659.1 kN-m 659.1 kN- 659.1 kn-m 659.1 kn-m
m
1.1 Moment at the root of Mux Muy Mux Muy
chimney
49.22 kn-m 49.27 kn- 57.61 kn-m 57.12 kn-m
m

αn αn αn αn
+ +

1 1 1 1
+ +

=0.15 < 1 = =0.17 < 1

Therefore, ok Therefore, ok

2 Tension with bending 700.3 kN-m 700.3 kN- 700.3 kN-m 700.3 kN-m
m
2.1 Moment at the root of 49.22 49.27 57.61 57.12
chimney

αn αn αn αn
+ +
αn = 1 (for tension bending αn = 1 (for tension bending
always) always)
1 1 1 1
= + = +
= 0.14 < 1 = 0.16 < 1
Therefore, ok Therefore, ok

D. Design of Base Slab

Design Bearing Pressure
=0.0197 N/mm2
Sr.no Specification At section XX At section YY
1 Effective depth 476 mm 276 mm
2 Compression reinforcement
Bending moment 188.5 kN-m 108.85 kN-m
AST required 2931.83 mm2 1121.75 mm2
3 Uplift reinforcement
Bending moment 13.26 x 106 N-mm/m 7.65 x 106 N-
mm/m
AST required 1.25 m2 1.25 m2
4 Check for one way shear 0.28 N/mm2 0.35 N/mm2
5 Check for two way shear 0.968 N/mm2 0.968 N/mm2
6 Check for uprooting Design uplift = 14194 kg
Stub section = 200 × 200 × 16
Stub depth below GL = 2800 mm
Ult. Load resisted by stub in slab due to bond
Us = [D × {X×2.0+(X-T) × 2.0}-Npx {X+(X-Ts)} × K] × s
Ultimate permissible bearing
Stress in concrete = 68.84 kg/cm2
Use outer cleat = 3 nos. 110 × 110 × 8 – 440 mm long
Use inner cleat = 3 nos. 110 × 110 × 8 – 250 mm long
Provide 4 nos. of 16 dia. Bolts per cleat pair of 5.6 grade

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 Design Of Shallow Foundation Under Downward, Uplift And Side Thrusts Loadings For...

7 Load resisted by cleat in 136923 kg

bearing

8 Ultimate shear strength of 152438 kg

bolts
9 Ultimate bearing strength of 159744 kg
bolt in stub or cleat

10 Effective strength of stub and 154971 kg which is more than ultimate uplift = 14194 kg
cleat (Hence safe)

11 Check for Bond Design bearing pressure = 0.0197 N/mm2

1.32 N/mm2 < 1.6 N/mm2
Therefore OK

12 Check for sliding F.O.S in Normal condition = 10081/2693 = 3.74 > 1

F.O.S in broken wire condition = 10081/3018 = 3.34 > 1
Hence Ok

13 Check for overturning Total Overturning Moment

Under (NC)
25656.51 kg-m
Under BWC
28284.84 kg-m
Total resisting moment
318361.89 kg-m

Factor of safety
Under NC = 318361.89 / 25656.51 = 12.40 > 1
Under BWC = 318361.89 / 28284.84 = 11.25 > 1
Hence Ok

E. Reinforcement Details
Sketch Length Bars No. of Unit Wt./length Wt./to
(mm) (mm) bars wt. (kgs) wer
(kg/m) (Kgs)

16 16 1.58 116.04 464.16

4590
12 10 0.89 40.85 163.40

2570 10 4 0.62 6.38 25.52

4852 10 4 0.62 6.38 25.52

3350 20 20 2.47 165.49 661.96

2307 6 13 0.22 6.60 26.39

Quantities per Tower

Concrete volume : 47.44 m3(M15) + 4.4 m3(M10)
Excavation volume : 361.68 m3
Reinforcement : 1366.95 kgs

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 Design Of Shallow Foundation Under Downward, Uplift And Side Thrusts Loadings For...

Fig. no. 1 dry fissured type of foundation design

IV. CONCLUSIONS
i. This study shows us how to design the foundation of a transmission lines tower as per the loadings and
also as per the soil investigation reports. It reveals the action of forces acts on the foundation of tower
and what parameters to be taken into account for the safe and stable foundation which satisfactorily
supports the towers to the designed life period.
ii. Through the design we also get enough knowledgeable about the design of the transmission line tower
foundation in the worst condition near or on the banks of river.
iii. It revealed the actual action of forces which is accompanied by downward, uplift and side thrust.

REFERENCES
[1]. Experimental study on corrosion of transmission line tower foundation and its rehabilitation ISSN 2010
[2]. Reliability based design of foundation for transmission line structures (New York) (drilled and spread
foundation)
[3]. Analysis and research for uplift mechanism on foundation of transmission line towers in expansive soil.
[4]. Central board of irrigation and power of transmission line tower (CBIP) manual.

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