Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Foundations
CE 2330
Civil Engineering Materials and Construction
Function of foundation
Transmit loads to sub-soil in such a way that
Settlements are within permissible limits,
without causing cracks in the
superstructure, and
Soil does not fail in shear
Foundations
Reduce load intensity (by distributing over large
area)
Distribute loads evenly (minimize unequal
settlements)
Provide level surface
Provide lateral stability
Protect against undermining and soil
movements
Can you draw some foundations on your own???
Broad Classification
Shallow foundations when depth <= width (in open
excavation, sometimes w>d is also allowed)
- Spread footings
- Combined footings
- Strap footings
- Mat foundations
Deep foundations
- Piles
- Piers
- Wells
Shallow Foundations
Depth of footing
Footings should be carried below top (organic)
soil, miscellaneous fill, abandoned foundation,
debris, or muck
According to NBC of India, D depends on:
- Securing adequate bearing capacity
- How deep shrinking and swelling soils exist
(clays)
- How deep is the frost penetration (in sand and
silt)
Design of isolated
column footings
similar to strip wall
footings
Excavation complete;
reinforcement laid in
position
Isolated footings
Used for columns
Grillage foundations
Used when load is heavy
and bearing capacity is
poor
Primarily for steel
columns (primarily
industrial structures)
Consists of two layers of
steel I-sections in
transverse directions,
encased in concrete (to
prevent corrosion)
Combined footings
Why? Columns too close, bearing
capacity low, end column near property
line
Typically, rectangular or trapezoidal plan
Rectangular CG of footing = CG of
combined loads of the two columns
Trapezoidal Unequal loads on two
columns
Raft foundations
Used when:
Soil bearing capacity is low
Building loads are heavy
Spread footings cover large area
Difficult to control differential settlement
Reduce settlement on highly compressible
soils (Weight of structure + raft ~ Weight of
soil excavated)
Rafts
Machine foundations
For heavy machines
Dynamic loads
Rough guide: ratio of weight of foundation to
machine weight may be kept between 2.5 3.5
Permissible bearing pressure under dynamic
loads may be taken as to of pressure for
static loads
Covered in IS 2974
Get some pictures of machine foundations from our labs!
Deep Foundations
Heavy loads
Top soil has poor bearing capacity
High water level, with large fluctuations
Tough to retain soil in open excavations
Structure close to sea (scouring may occur)
Foundation close to canal or deep drainage lines
Top soil of expansive nature
Piles
Classification of piles
Concrete piles
- Precast
- Cast in situ
Driven piles (cased/uncased)
Bored piles (pressure, under-reamed, and compaction piles)
Timber piles
Steel piles
- H-pile
- Pipe pile
- Sheet pile
Composite piles
- Concrete and timber
- Concrete and steel
Bored Piles
Procedure:
Ground is bored with auger
Concreting is done with/without casing
Pressure piles:
Compressed air forces concrete down,
while steel tube is withdrawn; Pile dia >
dia of bore; hence, soil is compressed;
better friction
3 sizes: Dia 340 mm, 440 mm, and 500
mm
Depth < 25 m
Sheet piles
Under-reamed pile
Bored cast in situ pile
having one or more
bulbs formed by
enlarging the borehole
for the pile stem using an
under-reaming tool
Bulbs increase bearing
capacity
Diabulb ~ 2.5 Diastem
Pile cap
Piles
Box caisson
Built on land and floated to site where
it is sunk in position
Used when load bearing stratum is
available at shallow depth, and where
loads are not very heavy
Mainly used for breakwater and
seawall
Open Caissons
Very popular for bridges in India
Many shapes possible; easy and
uniform sinking for circular
sections
Important features:
1. Well cap
2. Top plug
3. Sand filling
4. Steining
5. Curb
6. Cutting edge
7. Bottom plug (no reinforcement)
Caissons
Extensively
reinforced
caissons under
construction
References