Chapter 15 Machine Foundation

Foundation is the supporting part of the structure. It is a transmission or structural connection whose design depends
on the characteristics of both the structure and the soil and rock beneath.

TYPICAL LAYOUT OF A MACHINE FOUNDATION

FUNCTIONS OF MACHINE FOUNDATION

1. To support the weight of the machine and distribute this weight and its own over safe sub-soil area
2. To absorb vibrations produced by the machine
3. To maintain proper alignment of the machine

DESIGN OF A MACHINE FOUNDATION

1. Length of the Foundation; L
𝑳 = 𝑳𝑩 + 𝟐𝒄
Where:
LB = length of the bedplate
C = cleareance
2. Upper width of the Foundation, a
𝒂 = 𝒘 + 𝟐𝒄
Where:
W = width of the bed plate
C = clearance
3. Weight of Foundation, Wf
𝑾𝒇 = 𝟑 𝒕𝒐 𝟓 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑾𝒎
𝑾𝒇 = 𝒆 𝒙 𝑾𝒆 √𝑵
Where:
Wn = weight of the machine in kg
We = weight of the engine
N = engine speed in rpm
E = empirical coefficient
VALUES OF THE EMPHERICAL COEFFICIENT e IN FOUNDATION FORMULAS
TYPE OF ENGINE CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT NO. OF CYLINDER ue

1. SINGLE -ACTING Vertical 1 0.15

2. SINGLE -ACTING Vertical 2 0.14
3. SINGLE -ACTING Vertical 3 0.12
4. SINGLE -ACTING Vertical 4,6 and 8 0.11
5. SINGLE -ACTING Horizontal 1 0.25
6. SINGLE -ACTING Horizontal duplex 2 0.24
7. SINGLE -ACTING Horizontal twin duplex 4 0.23
8. DOUBLE-ACTING Horizontal 1 and 2 0.32
9. DOUBLE -ACTING Horizontal twin tandem 4 0.20
4. Weight of Machine Foundation, Wf:
The weight of the machine foundation can be computed on the Hp of the engine.

WEIGHT OF THE MACHINE FOUNDATIONS PER BRAKE METRIC HORSEPOWER (BHP)

PRIME MOVER SINGLE CYLINDER MULTI-CYLINDER
Gas engine 1135 kg 730 kg
Diesel engine 910 kg 570 kg
Steam engine 320 kg 230 kg
Steam turbine Not to exceed permissible deflection as stated
By turbine manufacturer

5. Volume of Machine Foundation, Vf:

The volume of the foundation can be computed based on kW of the engine.
VOLUME OF CONCRETE FOUNDATION IN m3/kW
NO. OF CYLINDERS 1 2 3 4 5 TO 8
1. HIGH SPEED ENGINE 0.152 0.095 0.076 0.065 0.057
2. MEDIUM SPEED ENGINE 0.190 0.118 0.095 0.80 0.072
3. LOW SPEED ENGINE 0.228 0.152 0.114 0.099 0.087

6. Volume of the Machine Foundation if the density is given; Vf:

𝑾𝒇
𝑽𝒇 =
𝝆
APPROXIMATE DENISTY OF BUILDING MATERIALS:
MATERIALS Density in kg/m3
Plain concrete, stone 2323-2403
Plain concrete, slag 2082
Palin concrete, cinder 1602
Reinforced concrete, stone 2403
Brick masonry, pressed 2243
Brick masonry, common 1922
Ashlar masonry, granite 2643
Ashlar masonry, limestone 2563
Ashlar masonry, sandstone 2243
Sand and gravel 1602-1762
Cinder fill 641-721

DATA ON CONCRETE MIXES TO YIELD 1 CUBIC METER CONCRETE

Safe compressive
Cement Sand Stone Weight
Mixture Application stress
(sacks) (m3) (m3) (tons/m3)
(tons/m2)
1:2:3 9.2 0.51 0.77 ROOFS, SILLS, TANKS 2.66 328.78
R.C., FLOORS, BEAMS AND
1:2:4 7.8 0.44 0.88 2.66 328.10
COLUMNS
𝟏
𝟏: 𝟐 : 𝟒 7.3 0.52 0.83 BUILDING WALLS 2.66 273.42
𝟐
1:3:5 6.2 0.52 0.86 FOUNDATIONS AND FOOTINGS 2.66 218.73
CINDERS,
1:2:4 8.6 0.49 YARD3 R.C. FLOORS 1.99 153.11
0.98
SLUG,
1:2:4 8.6 0.49 YARD3 R.C. FLOORS 2.13 153.11
0.98
7. Lower Width of the Machine Foundation, b :
𝑺𝑨𝑩𝑷 𝑾𝒎 + 𝑾𝒇 𝑵(𝑾𝒎 + 𝑾𝒇 )
= 𝒃=
𝑵 𝒃𝑳 𝑺𝒃 𝑳
Where:
SABP = soil allowable bearing pressure
N = factor of safety

Note:
 If b<a, then; let: b=a, which means that the foundation is a rectangular cross section
 The safe soil bearing capacity is computed using a factor of safety of 2

8. Depth of the Machine Foundation, h

𝒂+𝒃 𝟐𝑽𝒇
𝑽𝒇 = ( ) 𝒉𝑳 𝒉=
𝟐 (𝒂 + 𝒃)𝑳

9. Weight of Steel bar reinforcements:

𝟏
𝑾𝑺𝑩 = % 𝒕𝒐 𝟏% 𝒙 𝑾𝒇
𝟐
Where:
WSB = weight of steel bar
Wf = weight of the foundation

10. Anchor Bolts Recommendation:

The anchor bolts should be imbedded in the concrete at least 30 times the bolt diameter.
 SIZING OF A MACHINE FOUNDATION

I. RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS:

In sizing the dimensions of a foundation, the first to consider are the dimensions of the bedplate of the engine or
machine. Based on good practice in industrial plant and power plant engineering, the following limitations must be
considered to ensure a well-design foundation:

a) The clearance or the distance of the edge of the foundation from the bedplate must be 6 in. (120 mm) to 12 in.
(300 mm) to secure the belts imbedded within the foundation.

b) The vertical distance from the floor or soil level to the top edge of the foundation must be around 6 in. (120
mm) as minimum distance.

c) The foundation depth may be taken to be 3.2 to 4.2 times the engine stroke; the lower factor for a well-
balanced multi-cylinder engine and increased factors for engine with fewer cylinders or on less firm soil.

II. DESIGN BASED ON DIRECT SETTLEMENT:

The first requirement of foundation states that the foundation must have sufficient properly-disposed base area so that
the pressure imposed by it on the supporting soil will not, at any point, exceed the safe foundation soil pressure for that
kind of soil. If this requirement is not satisfied the foundation will sink, either uniformly or non-uniformly.

In designing a foundation under this condition, one can follow the following steps:

1. First, consider a rectangular block shape foundation.

2. Determine the dimensions of the block foundation, length (L) and width (W), by observing the recommended
distances from the edges of the foundation to the bedplate of the engine.
3. With this kind of foundation, the base area is the same as that of L and W of the top of the foundation, being a
rectangular block foundation.
4. Choose an arbitrary depth for the foundation by following the recommended depth of the foundation of an
engine or due to limitations imposed by the soil condition or characteristics,
5. Determine the equivalent weight of the foundation by getting the volume of the foundation and using an
average specific weight of concrete (based on Table 6)
6. Knowing the weight of engine and weight of foundation, check if the induced pressure on the soil does not
exceed the safe soil-bearing pressure by using the equations:
𝑊𝑒 +𝑊𝑓 𝑊𝑒+𝑊𝑓
a) 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 = 𝐴𝐵
= 𝐿∗𝑊
𝑊𝑒 +𝑊𝑓 𝑆𝐴𝐵𝑃
b) 𝐴𝐵
≤ 𝑁
; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑁 = 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑡𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 2
7. If the safe soil-bearing pressure is not exceeded then, the foundation is safe
8. If the safe soil-bearing pressure is exceeded another trial may be done by increasing the base area until the
foundation is safe.
 Example 1: Rectangular Machine Foundation Design

Given: The data of an engine area as follows:

a) 8 in. x 10 in. diesel engine

b) Weight of engine is equal to 3200 kg
c) SABP of location = 5000 kg/m2
d) Bed plate dimensions = 3m x 1.5m
e) Design limit for the depth of foundation to 0.7 m due to soil condition
f) Type of Concrete: Plain Concrete (use 2403 kg/m3)

Required: Design a rectangular block foundation that is safe against direct settlement.

Example 2: Concrete Mix Design

A 1:2:3 mix of concrete with a six gallons water per bag cement is being prepared. Determine the weight of one cubic
foot of finished concrete of the mixture. The materials to be used have the following characteristics:

1 bag cement (1 cu. ft.) weighs 94 lbs

1 cu. ft. sand weighs 105 lbs
1 cu. ft. of stone weighs 105 lbs
Specific gravity of cement 3.1
Specific gravity of sand 2.7
Specific gravity of broken stone 2.7
Solution:

Item Weight Compact Volume

Cement 1𝑥94 94
= 0.486 𝑓𝑡 3
3.1(62.4)
Sand 2 𝑥 105 = 210 𝑙𝑏 210
= 1.246 𝑓𝑡 3
2.7(62.4)
Stone 3 𝑥 105 = 315 𝑙𝑏 315
= 1.870 𝑓𝑡 3
3.1(62.4)
Water 6 50
(62.4) = 50 𝑙𝑏𝑠 = 0.801 𝑓𝑡 3
7.481 62.4
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 4.403 𝑓𝑡 3

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 669 𝑙𝑏𝑠

𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑠;

669
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑡 3 =
4.403

𝒍𝒃
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒕𝟑 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆 = 𝟏𝟓𝟐
𝒇𝒕𝟑
Problem Set:

1. What is the required base area of the foundation to support an engine with specified speed of 1200 rom and
weight of 9000 kg. Assume a safe bearing capacity of soil as 47.867 kPa. Use c=0.11.

2. Calculate the cu. Yard of stone required for a concrete mixture of 1:2:4 of a foundation with dimensions 4mx5m
x6m.

3. What is the length of the machine foundation of the length of the bedplate is 4 meters.

4. If the width of the bedplate is 3m and the clearance is 0.3 what is the upper width of the machine foundation

5. The bedplate dimension of a rectangular foundation cross-section is 2m x 12m. The height of the foundation is 2
meters. Find the weight of steel bars if the weight of the steel bar reinforcements needed is 3/4 percent of the
weight of the foundation. Note: Use density of concrete equals 2,406 kg/m3.

6. A 1:3:5 mix of concrete with a six gallons water per bag cement is being prepared. Determine the weight of one
cubic foot of finished concrete of the mixture. The materials to be used have the following characteristics:

1 bag cement (1 cu. ft.) weighs 94 lbs

1 cu. ft. of Fine Aggregate (sand) weighs 105 lbs

1 cu. ft. of Course Aggregate (stone) weighs 105 lbs

Specific gravity of cement 3.1

Specific gravity of sand 2.7

Specific gravity of stone 2.7