Building Construction

Chapter 2: Foundations and

basement
20th Push 2064
 Content
Underpinning of foundation of existing
building
Shoring of existing building during
foundation strengthening
Retaining properties and waterproofing of
basement
Sealing of cracks in basements
 Underpinning of foundation of
existing building
Underpinning is:
the method of excavating under the building
without making any harm to the existing
foundation
helpful to increase the depth of the foundation
to increase the capacity of the foundation in
order to transfer the increased load
 Underpinning of foundation of
existing building
Necessity of underpinning
Underpinning is necessary if the excessive
settlement has occurred due to:
A. uneven loading,
B. unequal settlement of subsoil,
C. Action of subsoil water,
D. Action of tree roots etc.
 Underpinning of foundation of
existing building
The process of underpinning
carried out making holes at regular intervals
usually at 1.2-
1.2-1.8m
the entire load of the wall is transferred to the
needles inserted into the cut holes which rest
on the sole pieces or jacks at ground level
the load is carried out for a short duration and
hence the foundation could be strengthened
or further deepen
 Underpinning of foundation of
existing building
The process of underpinning ( contd…)
When the foundation of a wall is to be
replaced, only 90 to 120cm longer part is cut
and the new construction work is carried out
When longer walls are to be underpinned, the
work starts from the central part of the wall
and is gradually expanded towards both the
ends
removed after setting up the newly
constructed structure is finally set with full
strength and there is no danger of further
damages
Underpinning of foundation of
existing building
The sequential stages
of underpinning
Stage 1: suitable holes
are driven through the
walls for inserting the
needle beams, one end
of which is resting on the
wooding block resting on
a small concrete block
and the longer end is left
largely unsupported for a
small temporary support
near the wall on the
side..
side
Underpinning of foundation of
existing building
Stage 2: Excavation is
carried out under the
unsupported end of
needle beams to the
desired depth and the
sides are held in place
by adequate timbering
timbering..
The unsupported
needle beam is
supported by a wooden
post which rests on a
concrete block
block.. The
temporary support
provided to support the
longer end is removed
removed..
 Underpinning of foundation of
existing building

Stage 3: Excavation
trench is widened so
that the trench goes
under the foundation
to be underpinned
underpinned..
The offsets of the
existing foundation
are cut off.
off.
Underpinning of foundation of
existing building

Stage 4: The new

foundation is laid
and a new wall is
built up to the
underside of the old
foundation..
foundation
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
is basically provided to support the unsafe
structure preventing it from falling down
not only supports the ill structure but also
contributes in the avoidance of danger to
any person from its collapse
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
situations prescribed for shoring
if the wall is bulging, leaning and unstable due to
subsidence;
if basement is being constructed and impact is felt
to the nearby sound walls;
if the wall is being demolished and the adjacent
walls to be protected,
if the lower wall is to be punctured for large
openings;
if the supporting wall is to be removed and replaced
by beam;
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Types of shores
Dead shores
Raking shores
Flying shores
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Dead shore:
is prescribed to render vertical support to
walls, roofs and floors and if the lower part of
the wall is to be removed or punctured
In this system the shores support the dead
load which acts vertically downwards
The simplest type of dead shore consists of
beam or needle, head plate, shore legs and
adjustments
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Dead shore (contd…)
Needles are placed at the
distance calculated on the
basis of the load to be
carried out which usually
are equal to 1.2 –1.8m c/c
shores are also provided at
the regular intervals similar
to the needles
to prevent the vertical
props or shores from lateral
displacement, sleepers and
bracings are also provided
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Raking shore:
recommended in such type of construction
when the modification in the adjoining walls is
to be performed
the load from the wall and the floors are
transmitted to the ground by the means of
sloping struts or rakers
Careful and high supervisory needed for this
process, as it has to transfer the maximum
load from wall and the floors to the ground
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Raking shore (contd…)
ground on which the load is being transmitted
should be arranged in an inclined base in
order to create a safe base called as platform
made of 200X100 mm timbers
one raker for each floor is required and the
inclination of the rakers must be in between
40°° to 70°
40 70° to the horizontal
usually three rakers are arranged in this type
because one single raker might not work for
all load
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Raking shore (contd…)
If the building is four or
more storied then
additional supporting
members called as riders
are provided
a wall plate of 230mm X 50
to 76mm is provided with
the help of hooks adjacent
to the wall
The rakers rest on wall
plate and wedged with the
help of needles and further
strengthened by cleat
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Flying shore:
similar to raking shores but are more
advantageous as a clear working space is
provided
If the building is being demolished in the
urban streets where buildings are standing in
a row, this type of shoring is applicable as to
support the walls of the adjoining buildings
can be used between any parallel wall
surfaces within the span of maximum 12m
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Flying shore (contd…)
span if is minimal to 9m a single horizontal
shore is used, if the span is more then two
horizontal shores are provided
consist of wall plates, needles, cleats,
horizontal shores and inclined struts
arrangement of wall plates is similar to raking
shores whereas the load in this system is
carried out by the adjacent walls which are
transmitted through the horizontal members
called shores wedged to the wall plates
 Shoring of existing building
during foundation strengthening
Flying shore:
To ensure the strength
of the horizontal
member, straining sill
is provided. This sill
not only adds the
strength to the
horizontal shore,
rather will contribute
against the lateral
movement of the
horizontal struts.
Water--proofing of basements
Water
Submerged structure or substructure is always
in direct contact of water, therefore water
proofing is must.
The building must be free from moisture
because moisture as damp hampers the building
in a large extent.
For basement, special treatment required in
order to prevent the building from dampness. In
such case, the occurrence of dampness is all
around the building base i.e. floor and wall along
four sides as they all come in contact with the
moist ground
Water--proofing of basements
Water
What could be done in such cases?
special wall construction similar to the construction of
water tank
For the purpose, two layers of wall are constructed
with a film of asphalt in between. Asphalt film is water
proofing agent and restricts the moisture travel
towards the inner skin of the wall
a proper drainage system around the basement floor
may also contribute for the restriction of dampness as
the moisture/water could be collected around the
structure and pumped up and drained out
Sealing of cracks in basement
There should not be any crack anywhere
in the building, but is it always possible?
No.
Cracks on the basement are harmful
because:
There could be the threat of moisture travel
through out the building
There could be threat of building collapse
Sealing of cracks in basement
Proper investigation over the cracks are to
be carried out
If the reason of such cracks is ordinary
(i.e. weakness of material, failure of
bonding materials etc.) and of smaller
magnitude, then such cracks could be
sealed with the help of water proofing
materials. Otherwise, major interventions
are to be carried out.
Sealing of cracks in basement
Process of sealing the cracks
the crack is widened up to a moderate gap
the adjacent surface is chiseled
mortar with water proofing materials is
inserted into the gap
the mortar is left to set and properly cured