MACE 60014 Steel and Concrete Structures 2

L5 Foundation Summary Notes

L5 Foundations
Broadly speaking, foundations can be divided into two types:
1. Shallow Foundations
2. Deep Foundations
The type of foundation solution required is governed by
1. Ground Conditions
2. Constructability
A shallow foundation solution utilises relatively large foundation structures to
disperse loads to the ground over a relatively large area. Appropriate
allowable bearing pressures for a shallow foundation solution could be as low
as 50kNm-2. Given that a shallow foundation solution has relatively low
allowable bearing pressures, a shallow foundation solution is more often than
not appropriate for lightly loaded structures (which as a consequence are
often low rise structures). This is not however the norm, as a high rise
structure could be founded on a shallow foundation where allowable bearing
pressures were high at shallow level.
A shallow foundation is generally excavated from ground level using readily
available hand tools or tracked plant. The ability to excavate a shallow
foundation safely relies on the depth to which the plant can reach, and the
ability of the ground to remain stable temporarily during excavation. The
deeper the excavation, the more material will be required to bring a foundation
up towards ground level, and therefore the more costly. Also, the deeper a
shallow foundation is excavated the less safe the process becomes.
It is generally considered that a shallow foundation is applicable where
suitable bearing strata is reached within 3m below ground level, however
each project and contractor will have its own requirements as to what is
applicable.
Where ground conditions are poor within shallow strata, the a deep foundation
solution is likely to be required, to transfer loads through a poor strata and
down to strata suitable to withstand the applied forces.
A deep foundation solution often requires expense machinery to penetrate to
deep strata.
Shallow foundation types
Typical shallow foundation types include:
Reinforced strip footings
Unreinforced strip footings
Trench fill footings
Pad foundations
Raft foundations
Deep foundation types
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MACE 60014 Steel and Concrete Structures 2

L5 Foundation Summary Notes

Typical deep foundation types include:

Piles
o Supporting ground beams
o Supporting pile caps
o Supporting rafts
o Mono piles
Pier Foundations
Caisson Foundations
Raft Foundations
The basis of the structural use of a raft is that the raft is infinitely stiff, such
that loads applied to the raft are evenly distributed across its bearing surface
to provide a uniform bearing pressure. Hence rafts are often used where the
ground bearing pressure is not too high, such that concentrated loads can not
be adequately supported on pad foundations or other shallow bearing
solutions.
In reality the stiffness of a raft will vary greatly, and a truly rigid raft will be very
thick.
Flexible rafts (Mat)
A flexible raft is designed to account for some concentrated loads.
A pseudo type raft will often be designed with edge thickenings and
thickenings under UDLs. The thickenings in a raft are then designed to span
over soft spots within the ground.
Ribbed Mat
A ribbed mat is deigned such that downstands within the raft disperse load
and act to stiffen the raft.
Cellular Raft
A cellular raft is the closest approximation to an infinitely stiff raft. The raft is
formed with hollow voids between a top and bottom slab. The slabs are
stiffened with concrete walls supporting the top and bottom slab. As the raft is
significantly deeper than a flexible or ribbed raft, the stiffness is much greater.
A cellular raft can also be used for buoyancy given the large hollow voids
within the raft.
Piled Foundations
Piled foundations come in many forms.
Broadly speaking there are two types of possible load transfer in a pile:
1. End Bearing
2. Skin friction
There are many different pile types which can be installed in many different
ways including:
Timber Driven
Precast Driven
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MACE 60014 Steel and Concrete Structures 2

L5 Foundation Summary Notes

Steel Driven
Steel Screw
Auger Displacement
Contiguous Flight Augered
Cased Contiguous Flight Augered
Drilled
Bored Piles

The applicability of a pile will depend on the ground conditions and the load
that is to be applied.
Retaining Walls
The purpose of a retaining wall is to support the ground where a change in
level occurs. There are broadly 3 types of retaining wall:
Gravity
o Masonry
o Gabion
o Concrete
o Crib
o Mechanically stabilised earth
Cantilever
o Cast In-situ
o Pre cast
Embedded
o Piled
o Anchored Piled
o Propped Piled
o Nailed (Soil)
Piled Retaining Walls
Numerous different piled retaining walls are available. Each type should be
carefully selected with consideration of: ground conditions; whether the wall is
temporary or permanent; proximity to existing and proposed structures; likely
deflection criteria to be adhered to.
Possible piled retaining walls include:
King Post Wall
Sheet Piling
Contiguous RC
Seacant Walls
Diaphragm Walls

1.0 JDY February 2015