Foundation

Part of the structure – lies below the ground level – transmitting load to the ground.

Functions /Objectives of Foundation

The load on the superstructure(above the ground) is distributed over a large area of soil.
The intensity of the load (Pressure) NOT GREATER THAN S.B.C. of soil.
Lateral stability of the structure against Horizontal forces (Wind,Earthquake).
Reduce Soil erosion/removal due to wind or rain
Provides a LEVEL surface for the superstructure to be raised on it.
Provide safety against UNDERMINING or SCOURING by water or burrowing animals.

Bearing Capacity of Soil

Ability of the soil to support the load coming on it without any sort of failure.

Other names – Bearing power / Bearing Value.

Ultimate Bearing Capacity: Intensity of the loading (Maximum) at the base of the foundation, which will cause shear
failure in the supporting soil.

Safe Bearing Capacity: Ultimate bearing capacity / Factor of safety(FoS)

FoS – 2 to 3

Safe load < Maximum Load the soil can withstand without failure.

How to improve the Bearing capacity of weak soil?

Increase the depth of foundation

Compaction of base soil
Confining the soil
Grouting
Chemical treatment
Proper drainage provided.

Loads on foundation

Dead load: Self-weight of various structural components (considering future construction also).

Live Load: Super imposed /Movable load on the floors. Eg.: persons, materials, snow…

Wind Load: The intensity of pressure due to the wind.

Essential Requirements of a Good foundation

Resist any future unexpected adverse effects on its performance

Safe and stable against any possible failure.
No settlement or deflection to such extent that will impair its usefulness.
Types of foundation

• Shallow foundation
• Deep foundations

Shallow foundations (sometimes called 'spread footings') include pads ('isolated footings'), strip footings and rafts.

Deep foundations include piles, pile walls, diaphragm walls and caissons.

Shallow foundations

• Pad foundations
• Strip foundations
• Raft foundations

• Shallow foundations are those founded near to the finished ground surface; generally where the founding depth
(Df) is less than the width of the footing and less than 3m.
• Shallow foundations (sometimes called 'spread footings') include pads ('isolated footings'), strip footings and
rafts.
• Shallows foundations are used when surface soils are sufficiently strong and stiff to support the imposed loads;
they are generally unsuitable in weak or highly compressible soils.

SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

Spread or Pad foundations

Pad foundations are used to support an individual point load such as that due to a structural column.

They may be circular, square or rectangular. They usually consist of a block or slab of uniform thickness, but they may
be stepped or sloped if they are required to spread the load from a heavy column.

Pad foundations are usually shallow.

Strip / Continuous / Wall footings

Strip foundations are used to support a line of loads, either due to a load-bearing wall, or if a line of columns need
supporting where column positions are so close that individual pad foundations would be
inappropriate.
Raft foundations

Raft foundations are used to spread the load from a structure over a large area, normally the entire area of the structure.
They are used when column loads or other structural loads are close together and individual pad foundations would
interact.

A raft foundation normally consists of a concrete slab, which extends over the entire loaded area. It may be stiffened by
ribs or beams incorporated into the foundation.

Raft foundations have the advantage of reducing differential settlements as the concrete slab resists differential
movements between loading positions. They are often needed on soft or loose soils with low bearing capacity as they can
spread the loads over a larger area.

COLUMN FOOTING / ISOLATED FOOTING

• Total load / Area of distribution < S.B.C. of soil

• Used for single columns
• Stepped or sloped
• Square, Rectangular or Circular
Grillage foundation

A framework of heavy timbers, steel, or reinforced concrete beams laid longitudinally and crossed by similar members
laid upon them to spread a heavy load over a larger area, esp. for use where the ground is not firm.
A series of steel beams, bolted together and placed over a footing; used to distribute a concentrated column load over the
top of the footing.

Deep foundations
 • Piles

Deep foundations are those founding too deeply below the finished ground surface for their base bearing capacity to be
affected by surface conditions, this is usually at depths >3 m below finished ground level. They include piles, piers and
caissons or compensated foundations using deep basements and also deep pad or strip foundations. Deep foundations can
be used to transfer the loading to a deeper, more competent strata at depth if unsuitable soils are present near the surface.

Piles are relatively long, slender members that transmit foundation loads through soil strata of low bearing capacity to
deeper soil or rock strata having a high bearing capacity. They are used when for economic, constructional or soil
condition considerations it is desirable to transmit loads to strata beyond the practical reach of shallow foundations. In
addition to supporting structures, piles are also used to anchor structures against uplift forces and to assist structures in
resisting lateral and overturning forces.

Piers are foundations for carrying a heavy structural load which is constructed insitu in a deep excavation.

Caissons are a form of deep foundation which are constructed above ground level, then sunk to the required level by
excavating or dredging material from within the caisson.

Piles

• Types of pile
• Types of construction
• Factors influencing choice
• Pile groups

Piled foundations can be classified according to :

the type of pile
(different structures to be supported, and different ground conditions, require different types of resistance) and
the type of construction
(different materials, structures and processes can be used).

Types of pile

• End bearing piles

• Friction piles
• Under reamed pile
• Piles in fill

Piles are often used because adequate bearing capacity cannot be found at shallow enough depths to support the
structural loads. It is important to understand that piles get support from both end bearing and skin friction. The
proportion of carrying capacity generated by either end bearing or skin friction depends on the soil conditions. Piles can
be used to support various different types of structural loads.
End bearing piles

End bearing piles are those, which terminate in hard, relatively impenetrable material such as rock or very dense sand
and gravel. They derive most of their carrying capacity from the resistance of the stratum at the toe of the pile.

Friction piles

Friction piles obtain a greater part of their carrying capacity by skin friction or adhesion. This tends to occur when piles
do not reach an impenetrable stratum but are driven for some distance into a penetrable soil. Their carrying capacity is
derived partly from end bearing and partly from skin friction between the embedded surface of the soil and the
surrounding soil.

Under reamed piles

Piles in fill

Piles that pass through layers of moderately- to poorly-compacted fill will be affected by negative skin friction, which
produces a downward drag along the pile shaft and therefore an additional load on the pile. This occurs as the fill
consolidates under its own weight.

Factors influencing choice of pile

• Location and type of structure

• Ground conditions
• Durability
• Cost

There are many factors that can affect the choice of a piled foundation. All factors need to be considered and their
relative importance taken into account before reaching a final decision.

Location and type of structure

For structures over water, such as wharves and jetties, driven piles or driven cast-in-place piles (in which the shell
remains in place) are the most suitable. On land the choice is not so straight forward. Driven cast-in-place types are
usually the cheapest for moderate loadings. However, it is often necessary for piles to be installed without causing any
significant ground heave or vibrations because of their proximity to existing structures. In such cases, the bored cast-in-
place pile is the most suitable. For heavy structures exerting large foundation loads, large-diameter bored piles are
usually the most economical. Jacked piles are suitable for underpinning existing structures.

Ground conditions

Driven piles cannot be used economically in ground containing boulders, or in clays when ground heave would be
detrimental. Similarly, bored piles would not be suitable in loose water-bearing sand, and under-reamed bases cannot be
used in cohesion less soils since they are susceptible to collapse before the concrete can be placed.

Durability

This tends to affect the choice of material. For example, concrete piles are usually used in marine conditions since steel
piles are susceptible to corrosion in such conditions and timber piles can be attacked by boring molluscs. However, on
land, concrete piles are not always the best choice, especially where the soil contains sulphates or other harmful
substances.

Cost

In coming to the final decision over the choice of pile, cost has considerable importance. The overall cost of installing
piles includes the actual cost of the material, the times required for piling in the construction plan, test loading, the cost
of the engineer to oversee installation and loading and the cost of organisation and overheads incurred between the time
of initial site clearance and the time when construction of the superstructure can proceed.
PILE FOUNDATION - TYPES