TYPES OF FOOTINGS

IDEATION

What is foundation?

Foundation is an important part of the structure which transfers the load of the structure to the
foundation soil. The foundation distributes the load over a large area. So that pressure on the
soil does not exceed its allowable bearing capacity and restricts the settlement of the
structure within the permissible limits. Foundation increases the stability of the structure. The
settlement of the structure should be as uniform as possible and it should be within the tolerable
limits.

Why we provide Foundations or Footings?

In simple words Consider that 1m3 of concrete weight i.e., 2400 Kgs to 2600 Kgs depending
on mix. Think for a Two storeyed building how much concrete needed? How much quantity
of bars needed? to construct a building. Foundation is to be strong enough to bear that all loads
without any settlement So for spreading the vertical load to large area footings are constructed.

Main Functions of foundations:

1. Distribution of loads
2. Stability against sliding & overturning
3. Minimize differential settlement
4. Safe against undermining
5. Provide level surface
6. Minimize distress against soil movement
Depending on Soil bearing capacity of a particular location. Different Types of Footings are
selected and constructed.

Different types of Foundations:

Foundations are mainly classified into two types:

1. Shallow Foundations
 2. Deep foundations
If depth of the footing is equal to or greater than its width, it is called deep footing, otherwise
it is called shallow footing.

Difference between footings and foundations:

Footing is a part of foundation which is constructed with concrete or brickwork masonry and
acts as a base to the floor columns and floor walls. The main function of footing is to transfer
the vertical loads directly to the soil. The term footing is used in conjunction with Shallow
foundation commonly.

Where We Provide Shallow foundation and Deep foundation?

Foundations may be shallow or deep foundations depending upon the load and type of
foundation soil. If the load to be supported is very high and soil is of low bearing capacity,
Deep foundations are provided. If the soil has adequate bearing capacity at reasonable depth
then shallow footings are provided.

Shallow Foundations or Spread Foundations:

Spread foundations are used when the soil has sufficient strength within a short depth below
the ground level. Shallow foundations need enough area to transfer the heavy loads to the base
soil. As mentioned above, we chose shallow foundations when the soil has adequate Soil
bearing capacity. Footings in Shallow foundations may be of Masonry, Plain concrete or
reinforced concrete. The depth of shallow foundations are generally less than its width.
Different types of Shallow foundations are further divided into two types, depending on the
soil bearing capacity:
 1. Isolated footing:

Footings which are provided under each column independently are called as Isolated footings.
They are usually square, rectangular or circular in section. Footing is laid on PCC. Before
laying PCC, termite control liquid is sprayed on top face of PCC to restrict the termites to
damage the footing. Isolated footings are provided where the soil bearing capacity is generally
high and it comprises of a thick slab which may be flat or stepped or sloped. This type of
footings is most economical when compared with the other kind of footings.

Advantages of Isolated Footing:

1. Economical when columns are placed at longer distances.
2. Workmen with little or no knowledge can easily construct.
3. Ease of Constructability: Excavation, Form-work, Reinforcement placement and placing
of Concrete is at ease.

(i) Flat or Pad or Plain footing:

These kind of footings are generally square or rectangular or circular in shape which are
provided under each column independently. Flat or Pad Footing is one of the Shallow
Foundations. It is circular, square or rectangular slab of uniform thickness.
(ii) Stepped footing:
These types of footings are constructed in olden days now they are outdated. As from the name
its resembling that, footings are stacked upon one another as steps. Three concrete cross
sections are stacked upon each other and forms as a steps. This type of footings are also called
as a Step foundation. Stepped footing is used generally in residential buildings.
(iii) Sloped Footing:
Sloped footings are trapezoidal footings. They are designed and constructed with great care to
see that the top slope of 45 degree is maintained from all sides. When compared the trapezoidal
footing with the flat footing, the usage of concrete is less. Thus, it reduces the cost of footing
in concrete as well as reinforcement.

(iv) Shoe or eccentric footing:

Shoe footing is the half cut-out from the original footing and it has a shape of shoe. They are
constructed on property boundary, where there is no provision of setback area. It is constructed
at the corner of the plot when the exterior column is close to the boundary or property line and
hence there is no scope to project footing much beyond the column face.. Column is provided
or loaded at the edges of shoe footing. Shoe footings are constructed when the soil bearing
capacity is 24KN/m2
(v) Combined footing:
A footing which has more than one column is called as combined footing. This kind of footing
is adopted when there is a limited space. Due to lack of space we cannot cast individual footing,
Therefore footings are combined in one footing. They are classified into two types based on
their shape:

1. Rectangular combined footing.

2. Trapezoidal combined footing.

II. Raft or Mat Foundation or footing:
When the column loads are heavy or when the safe bearing capacity of soil is very low, The
required footing area become very large. As mentioned this footing is in shallow foundation.
So in order to spread the load over large area with less depth then we have to increase the
footing area. If we increase footing area the footings are overlapped each other, instead of
providing each footing on each column all columns are placed in common footing. A raft
foundation is a solid reinforced concrete slab covering entire area beneath the structure and
supporting all the columns. Such foundation due to its own rigidity minimizes differential
settlements.
It is provided in a places like seashore area, coastal area area where the water table is very high
and soil bearing capacity is very weak.

When number of column in more than one row, provided with a combined footing, the footing
is called mat or raft foundation.

How to decide which footing is to be adopted Isolated footing or Raft footing:-

1. If the bearing capacity of the soil is very good and the super structural load is very small
The use of isolated foundation is recommended.
2. If the bearing capacity of the soil is very low, like less than 100kpa (this is not an exact
number but it could be used as a boundary)
3. If the super structural load to be transferred to the foundation is very high that the area
of the isolated footing to be used is more than half the area covered by the building (this
is recommended by Joseph.E Bowles)
4. When we provide elevator in the building a separate raft may be provided on the elevator
shaft.
5. When the soil contains lenses ( or weak zones ) that should be bridged then raft might be
used.
Raft footing does not have Neck column, they start directly From the ground surface but
reinforcement of neck column starts from Raft.

III. Strip foundation:

Strip foundation is also called as Wall footing. As name itself showcasing that, it is a strip type
footing which follows the path of Superstructure Wall. This type of footing is constructed for
Load bearing walls. It is a continuous strip of concrete that serves to spread the weight of a
load-bearing wall across an area of soil. The strip footing foundation width is decided by
considering bearing capacity of soil. Greater the bearing capacity of soil lesser is the width of
the Strip footing.

Advantages of Strip Footing:

1. It doesn’t require expensive tools to construct.
2. Easy to build
3. Not required skilled labour to construct.
Disadvantages of Strip footing:
1. Less durable when compared with other types of footings
2. This type of footing is not suitable for specific types of soils

Deep foundations or Pile Foundations:

If the depth of a foundation is greater than its width, the foundation laid is known as deep
foundation. In deep foundation, the depth to width ratio is usually greater than 4 to 5. Deep
foundations as compare to Shallow foundations distribute the load of the super structure
vertically rather than laterally. Deep foundations are provided when the expected loads from
superstructure cannot be supported on shallow foundations.
Pile footings:
A pile is a long vertical load transferring member made of timber, steel or concrete. In pile
foundations, a number of piles are driven in the base of the structure.
They are constructed where excessive settlement is to be eliminated and where the load is to
be transferred through soft soil stratum, where the Soil bearing capacity is sufficient. These
types of footings are provided when the Soil bearing capacity of soil is very weak and the
Ground water table (level) is high. These types of the footings are generally designed on sea
shore areas, bridges to construct pillars, etc.
The main objective of providing piles under the footing is to prevent structure from settlement.
If we don’t provide pile under the footing, then the building will have settlement. Piles are
hammered in to the ground till hard strata (in compressible) layer of earth is found.

Pile foundations are divided into two types they are:-

1. Pre cast Piles.

2. Cast-in-situ piles.
1. Precast Piles:
Precast piles are casted at factory and transported to the site. This kind of piles are readymade
and used where there is less place to cast pile. Precast piles are not economical and requires
more money to transport piles to the site.

The Pre-cast concrete piles are usually reinforced or Pre-stressed concrete piles. These piles
occupied more space for casting and storage, and takes more time to set and cure. The precast
concrete piles are generally used for a maximum design load of about 800 kN except for large
Pre-stressed piles. The length of precast concrete piles varies from 4. 5 m to 30m. The Pre-
stressed concrete piles as compared to Pre-cast and reinforced concrete piles are lesser in
weight & easy to handle having high load carrying capacity and are extremely durable.
Advantages of Precast Piles:
 Reinforcement provided in Precast piles are not liable to change it place and disturbed.
 The cost of Precast piles manufacturing is less because large number of precast piles are
manufactured at a time.
 The defects in pile can be easily identified after the removal of formwork, and these
defects (such as presence of cavity or hole) can be repaired before driving the pile in site.
Disadvantages of Precast Piles:
 These piles are heavy so it requires special equipment to carry and transport the pile to
site.
 Sufficient care must be taken at the time of transportation, otherwise piles may break.
 For embedding these piles in field, heavy pile driving equipment is required.
 These piles are costly as extra reinforcement is required to bear handling and driving
stresses.
 Post insertion of pile in ground it is not possible to increase the depth of pile. As the
length of the pile is restricted.

2. Cast-in-situ piles:
The piles which are casted on site. And don’t require any transportation is called cast-in-situ
piles. The cast-In-situ concrete piles are casted in position inside the ground and need not to be
reinforced in ordinary cases. These piles are not subjected to handling or driving stresses. The
cast- in-situ concrete piles are generally used for a maximum design load of 750kN.