Activity 3.2.

8 Foundation Types and

Considerations
Introduction
Someone once said, It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it is the
construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time. Although a building is
architecturally beautiful and structurally sound, if the foundation cannot safely
support it, the building is doomed to failure. An engineer takes many factors into
consideration when designing a foundation system. The type of foundation specified
for a building depends on the loading, the sie and shape of the building,
en!ironmental conditions, the soil conditions, and the cost of construction. In this
acti!ity you will learn about many different types of foundations and when each is
used. "ou will also in!estigate soil and en!ironmental conditions for a site to pro!ide
information necessary to the design of a foundation.
Equipment
#aper
#encil
rocedure
$esearch the following foundation types and draw sketches of each one. %escribe the
conditions under which each might be used.
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-.A Acti!ity /.'.0 1oundation Types 2 #age )
Typical
1oundation
Systems34sage
%iagram3Sketch
-ontinuous
5Strip6 1ooting
with Stem ,all
4sage7 +ight
1rame
construction.
4nder foundation
walls
Spread 1ooting
with #ier
4sage7 low rise
buildings
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-.A Acti!ity /.'.0 1oundation Types 2 #age '
Typical
1oundation
Systems34sage
%iagram3Sketch
Slab8on89rade
with Thickened
Slab
4sage7
$esidential and
light commercial
use, shallow frost
depth
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-.A Acti!ity /.'.0 1oundation Types 2 #age /
Typical
1oundation
Systems34sage
%iagram3Sketch
:at 51loating6
1oundation
4sage7 hea!y
loads on weak
soil
#ile and #ile -ap
4sage7 weak
shallow soil with
deep good soil.
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Typical
1oundation
Systems34sage
%iagram3Sketch
-ast8in8Situ #ile
and 9rade <eam
4sage7 ,eak
shallow soil with
good intermediate
soils
=isit the 1.:A :ap Ser!ice -enter at !ttp"##$$$.msc.fema.gov#. -reate a
1I$:.TT. for the >eystone +ibrary $eno!ation site 5-hoose 1I$:ette under %!at are
you loo&ing for'6. Then answer the following ?uestions.
Is the >eystone +ibrary $eno!ation site in an A @one or = @oneA
Bow does this affect the building designA
Conclusion
). Bow do weight and applications of loads affect the design of a structureA
If you put more weight the structure must be stronger.
,hat factors determine whether soil is suitable to support a structureA
,hat type of soil you are building on. Some soils are stronger than others.
,hat considerations influence the depth and height of the foundationA
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1rost %epth and soil strength
,hat are the typical modes of failure of a concrete footingA
<ending, Shear, and #unch Through failure
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