Strap Foundation

STRAP FOUNDATION
A strap foundation is a shallow type of foundation with footings connected (strapped) together by
a beam.
The most common form of construction is using reinforced concrete footings and beams. This type
of foundation is similar to a pad foundation if the strap beam is removed. It could be used where
the base of a column falls on or is obstructed by permanent existing underground structures or
where the base of the column must not exceed or project beyond property line.
The strap beam is primarily required to restrain the overturning force or moment due to the
eccentricity of the column base close to the underground structure or property line.
Design consideration
During design, the sizing of the footings connected together must be adequately proportioned to
ensure that the bearing pressure under the footings connected together are uniform and equal, and
the resultant force or load on the connected footings passes through the centroid of the connected
bases.
Construction consideration
During construction the earth or soil underneath the strap beam must be loosened and left un-
compacted
coinloorke 08292012
Resources
~ Reinforced Concrete Design (Sixth edition), B. Mosely, J. Bungey and R. Hulse.
~ Simplified reinforced concrete design (Second edition), V. Oyenuga.
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Cantilever Footing, Strap Footing – Definition and Design
Contents:
What if Strap Beam is not provided?
Cantilever Action
When to use Strap Footing or Cantilever Footing?
Design of Strap Footings
A strap footing also known as cantilever footing, is a special case of combined foundation in which
two separate footings are tied together by a beam called tie beam or strap beam.
Mostly in cities, the houses are adjacent to each other due to limited and congested space available
i.e. the outer walls are touching each other and having a limited space for an isolated column
footing.
This restriction can also arise in cases when a utility line or some sewerage line is passing the area
under construction and the relocation of such service is impossible. The situation is explained in
the figure below;
The column located at the property line has an eccentrically loaded footing. The offset in column’s
footing is because otherwise it would encroach into the adjacent property.
So in such cases the cantilever foundation is very handy and useful to ensure structural stability
without disturbing the aesthetic appearance of the building. The purpose of providing the strap
beam or tie beam is to counterbala nce the asymmetrical load.
It is also sometimes termed as balanced foundation. This “specifically” means that the loading
from the superstructure is cantilevered out by a ground beam over the pad foundation that is
designed to have uniform bearing stress.
What if Strap Beam is not provided?
Well usually in simple isolated footing, the center of gravity for the superimposed loads and that
of the footing overlaps and is in one line. But in case of Cantilever footing one column is
supporting the superimposed load by cantilever action thus it is not possible and thus strap beam
is provided.
The strap beam avoids the overturning effect and thus if the strap beam is not provided the
foundation and in turn the structure will overturn.
Due to the eccentricity in column there are huge moments created at the base of the column which
causes overturning effects. Hence to overcome these overturning moments a restoring
moment/stabilizing moment is required to be produced, mostly by the self-weight of footing and
overburden soil over the footing.
Since the cantilever foundation is connected with a strap beam with another footing the moments
are resisted by a combined effect of the self-weight of columns, footing and overburden soil
pressure from both footings.
If at all you are said to not use strap beam, the plan dimensions and thickness of the footing has to
be huge, which economically is bad.
So in a nutshell, technically it is possible to make an eccentric footing without strap beam but
economically it is not viable and thus in all such cases a strap beam is seen.
Cantilever Action
Did you know what Cantilever Action is?
Mostly in structure, the elements of buildings are supported at both ends for supporting the applied
load.
However, in some cases an overhanging structure is needed like a sunshade or a plinth protection
slab away from the structure. In such cases a cantilever structural element i.e. beam or a plate is
constructed that is anchored only at one end.
In cantilever structures the applied load is transferred to the single ended bracing by converting it
into bending moment and shear stress. The design of element is thus based to resist bending
moment and shear stresses.
When to use Strap Footing or Cantilever
Footing?
The first situation is already explained above i.e. when the property line restricts the column to be
eccentric on a footing. But from design point of view, the cantilever or strap footing is used when
1. X < L/3
2. When the distance between two columns is so large that a combine footing becomes excessively long
and narrow.
Site Picture of Cantilever Footing
Design of Strap Footings

The assumption that are made for the design are :-
 Strap is infinitely rigid
 Strap is pure flexural member and does not take soil reaction. (To confirm with this, strap is
constructed slightly above soil or soil under strap is loosened.).
1. Assume a1, width of the effected footing and establish the eccentricity, e of the soil reaction force
R1
e = (a1-a’)/2
e = Xc – Xr
2. Determine the magnitude of the Soil Reaction force by taking moments about R2
R1 = P1 (Xc / Xr) + Ws (Xs / Xr)
In this equation the weight of the strap, Ws may be neglected if the strap is relatively short.
3. Determine the reaction R2 from equilibrium consideration
R2 = P1 + P2 + Ws – R1
4. Determine the size of footings using known values of R1, R2 and σult.
b 1 = R1 / (σ1 * a1)
b 2 =R2 / (σ2 * a2)
5. For square footing b2 = a2 = square root (R2 / σa2)
For rectangular footing assume some value of a2 and determine b2.
It should be noted that the actual bearing pressures under the footings should not very different
from each other in order to minimize differential settlement.
6. Determine and draw shear force and bending moment diagrams along the length of the footings.
7. Select depths of footings for shear reinforcement.
8. Select steel reinforcement for bending requirement.
9. In short direction, the footings analyzed as spread footing subject to uniform soil pressure.
10. Design strap as flexural member for the shear and moment obtained above.

Strap Foundation

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STRAP FOUNDATION

What if Strap Beam is not provided?

Design of Strap Footings

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