MODULE III
FOUNDATIONS
● Main part of the building
● Known as sub structure
● Should be designed properly to resist all the forces
● Must suit with the soil characteristics
● Foundation must be able to distribute load evenly
● Must be safe against sliding, overturning and undermining
● Must provide a firm and level surface
BEARING CAPACITY OF SOIL
● The type, depth and shape of the foundation is determined based on the load
it has to distribute to the soil
● The behaviour of soil is very important
● The supporting power of soil without any failure is called bearing capacity
● Bearing capacity depends on 1) Properties of soil like cohesion, angle of
internal friction, density 2) Settlement 3) Position of water table 4) Type, size
and shape of foundation
TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS
Shallow Deep
For smaller projects
transfer the load to a suitable strata
When top layer of soil can handle the load depth more than width
Depth is less than or equal to width
SHALLOW 1. Isolated or column footing
2. Wall or strip footing
3. Combined footing
4. Continuous footing
5. Cantilever footing
6. Inverted arch footing
7. Grillage foundation
8. Raft or Mat foundation
DEEP 1. Pile foundations
2. Well foundations
SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
1. Isolated or column footing
● Foundation provided for a column to transfer load
● Can be simple, stepped or sloped
● Constructed in stone masonry, brickwork, concrete
2. Wall or strip footing
● Provided throughout the length of a wall or continuous structure
3. Combined footing
● Footing is constructed for 2 columns
● May be rectangular or trapezoidal
● When isolated footings may overlap, combined footings can be used
4. Continuous footing
● Footing for 3 or more columns in a row
● Can overcome the differential settlement and earthquake to an extent
5. Cantilever/ strap footing
● It consists of an exterior column and interior column
● A strap or a cantilever beam connects the two columns
6. Inverted arch footing
● Used to transmit loads above an opening to the supporting walls
● End columns are designed to resist the outward pressure caused by arch
action
● Used for bridge piers, tanks, reservoirs etc
7. Grillage foundation
● Constructed by rolled steel joists
● Can be placed in single tier or double tier
● The joists are embedded in concrete
● Used for single column or more columns
● Suitable for heavy structural loads
● Eg: Columns of railway platforms
8. Raft or mat foundation
● Used when the load is heavy and soil has less bearing capacity
● Single slab for many number of columns
● For highly compressible soils
DEEP FOUNDATIONS
● Have very large depth compared to width
1. Pile foundations
● When load to be transferred a a greater depth due to the poor bearing
capacity of the top soil
● Pile is a slender structural member made of concrete, steel, timber or
composite materials
Factors to be considered for the selection of deep foundations
1. Loose soil in the top layer
2. Position of ground water table
3. When grillage or raft is not economical
4. To avoid the scouring action of water
5. Top layer is expansive, has low bearing capacity
1. Classification based on materials Timber
COncrete
Steel
Composite
Sand piles
2. Classification based on the type of action End bearing
Friction
WELL FOUNDATIONS
● Bridges and other water retaining structures rest on well foundation
● It is a well type structure built at the ground level and sunk to the desired
depth
