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Assignment in Foundation

The document discusses different types of foundations used in construction projects. It describes shallow foundations like individual footings, combined footings, strip foundations, and raft or mat foundations. It also describes deep foundations like pile foundations and drilled shafts or caissons. The document then discusses activities in constructing concrete foundations and causes and examples of foundation failures and methods for foundation repair.

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Francis Prince Artiaga
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
798 views

Assignment in Foundation

The document discusses different types of foundations used in construction projects. It describes shallow foundations like individual footings, combined footings, strip foundations, and raft or mat foundations. It also describes deep foundations like pile foundations and drilled shafts or caissons. The document then discusses activities in constructing concrete foundations and causes and examples of foundation failures and methods for foundation repair.

Uploaded by

Francis Prince Artiaga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FRANCIS PRINCE S.

ARTIAGA BSCE-V

CE 513

Foundation

I. Introduction

In construction, foundations are generally known as the structures below a building's columns.


They are responsible for ensuring the stability of their structures by transferring its weight to
the ground. Foundations are usually built with conventional construction materials, such as
concrete, stone, and steel.
Foundation is a part of a structural system that supports and anchors the superstructure
of a building and transmits its loads directly to the earth. To prevent damage from
repeated freeze-thaw cycles, the bottom of the foundation must be below the frost line.
The foundations of low-rise residential buildings are nearly all supported on spread
footings, wide bases (usually of concrete) that support walls or piers and distribute the
load over a greater area. A concrete grade beam supported by isolated footings, piers,
or piles may be placed at ground level, especially in a building without a basement, to
support the exterior wall. Spread footings are also used—in greatly enlarged form—for
high-rise buildings. Other systems for supporting heavy loads include piles, concrete
caisson columns, and building directly on exposed rock. In yielding soil, a floating
foundation—consisting of rigid, boxlike structures set at such a depth that the weight of
the soil removed to place it equals the weight of the construction supported—may be
used.

II. Types of Foundation and their Uses

Following are different types of foundations used in construction:

1. Shallow foundation

 Individual footing or isolated footing

Individual footing or an isolated footing is the most common type of foundation


used for building construction. This foundation is constructed for a single column
and also called a pad foundation. The shape of individual footing is square or
rectangle and is used when loads from the structure is carried by the columns.
Size is calculated based on the load on the column and the safe bearing capacity
of soil. Rectangular isolated footing is selected when the foundation experiences
moments due to the eccentricity of loads or due to horizontal forces. For
example, Consider a column with a vertical load of 200 kN and a safe bearing
capacity of 100 kN/m2 then the area of the footing required will be 200/100 =
2m2. So, for a square footing, the length and width of the footing will be 1.414 m
x 1.414 m.

 Combined footing
Combined footing is constructed when two or more columns are close enough
and their isolated footings overlap each other. It is a combination of isolated
footings, but their structural design differs. The shape of this footing is a rectangle
and is used when loads from the structure is carried by the columns.

 Strip foundation

Spread footings and wall footings are used for individual columns, walls and
bridge piers where the bearing soil layer is within 3m (10 feet) from the ground
surface. Soil bearing capacity must be sufficient to support the weight of the
structure over the base area of the structure. These should not be used on soils
where there is any possibility of a ground flow of water above bearing layer of soil
which may result in scour or liquefaction.

 Raft or mat foundation

Raft or mat foundations are the types of foundation which are spread across the
entire area of the building to support heavy structural loads from columns and
walls.

The use of mat foundation is for columns and walls foundations where the loads
from the structure on columns and walls are very high. This is used to prevent
differential settlement of individual footings, thus designed as a single mat (or
combined footing) of all the load-bearing elements of the structure. It is suitable
for expansive soils whose bearing capacity is less for the suitability of spread
footings and wall footings. Raft foundation is economical when one-half area of
the structure is covered with individual footings and wall footings are provided.
These foundations should not be used where the groundwater table is above the
bearing surface of the soil. The use of foundation in such conditions may lead to
scour and liquefaction.

2. Deep Foundation
 Pile foundation

Pile foundation is a type of deep foundation which is used to transfer heavy loads
from the structure to a hard rock strata much deep below the ground level.

 Drilled Shafts or caissons

A drilled shaft, also called as caissons, is a type of deep foundation and has an
action similar to pile foundations discussed above, but are high capacity cast-in-
situ foundations. It resists loads from structure through shaft resistance, toe
resistance and/or combination of both of these. The construction of drilled shafts
or caissons is done using an auger.

III. Activities in the Construction of Concrete Foundation

 Marking of foundation layout at site.

 Earth excavation up to the required depth by means of machine.

 Earth excavation and leveling of soil by means of hand operated tools.

 Placing of PCC.

 Placement of reinforcement steel.

 Erection of concrete formworks for footings.

IV. Problems and Solutions

What are causes of failure of foundation?

Causes of foundation failure
 Sub-soil moisture movement.

 Unequal settlement of sub-soil.

 Unequal settlement of masonry.

 Lateral movement of sub-soil.

 Lateral pressure on the wall.

 Atmospheric action.

 Weathering of sub-soil due to tree and shrubs.

What is an example of foundation failure?

One example of a famous foundation failure right here in Texas is South Padre Island's Ocean


Tower. However, construction of the tower couldn't be completed because
of foundation problems discovered in early 2008. The expansive soil beneath the tower began
to compact, causing the building to sink and lean.

Best Methods of Foundation Repair

 Underpinning.

 Shimming using supplemental piers.

 Foundation wall repair.

 Water Management.

 Shimming using existing piers.

 Grouting.

 Mud jacking.

 Stabilizing foundation soil.
Outline for Feasibility Study

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