Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

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July 28, 2010 2 Comments

r Q 8 X

Forces are at Work Beneath the Feet that Must be Reckoned With Before
Designing an Underground Structure

By Claude Goguen, P.E., LEED AP and Ronald Thornton, P.E.

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

Everyone probably remembers the images of US Airways Flight 1549 drifting in

the middle of the Hudson River Jan. 15, 2009, while frightened passengers
disembarked onto the wings. The courageous actions of the pilots and flight crew
were credited for saving the lives of all on board. But it was a physical force that
kept the airplane afloat a force known as buoyancy.

Buoyancy is also an important element of the annual National Concrete Canoe

Competition hosted by the American Society of Civil Engineers. More than 200
university teams compete for Americas Cup of Civil Engineering. The University
of Berkeley won the 22nd NCCC title this past June.

In the case of Flight 1549, or if youre building a concrete canoe, buoyancy is a

good thing. For those in the underground utility business, however, it can be a
pain if it is not accounted for in the design.

Buoyancy is defined as the tendency of a fluid to exert a supporting upward force

on a body placed in a fluid. The fluid can be a liquid, as in the case of a boat
floating on a lake, or the fluid can be a gas, as in a helium-filled balloon floating in
the atmosphere. A simple example of buoyancy can be seen when trying to push
an empty water bottle downward in a sink full of water. When applying a
downward force to the water bottle from your hand, the water bottle will stay
suspended in place. But as soon as you remove your hand, the water bottle will

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

float to the surface. The buoyant force on the object determines whether or not the
object will sink or float.

Buoyancy wasnt officially documented and conceptually grasped until Archimedes

(287-212 B.C.) established the theory of flotation and defined the buoyancy
principle. He realized that submerged objects always displace fluid upward. Then
with that observation, he concluded that this force (buoyant) must be equal to the
weight of the displaced fluid. Archimedes then went on to state that a solid object
would float if the density of the solid object were less than the density of the fluid
and vice versa. But what is the basic procedure to follow in order to determine
whether an underground concrete structure will resist buoyant forces?

It can be determined if an underground concrete structure will float or sink using

basic principles. Essentially a concrete structure will not float if the sum of the
vertical downward forces is greater than the vertical upward force. When applying
this principle to a structure below grade, it can be said that if the buoyant force
(Fb) is greater than the mass of the structure and the combined mass of soil
surcharges and objects contained within the structure, the structure will float.

Why is buoyancy an important factor in the design of an underground concrete

structure? The simple answer is that the buoyant forces created by water need to
be resisted to prevent the structure from floating or shifting upward.

Determining water table levels

When designing an underground precast concrete structure, it is necessary to

know what structure to make as well as its intended use. Typically contractors
who need precast structures will present precasters with details on what they
need and give design requirements and information on the underground
conditions.

Not always, however, do they inform precasters about every detail, especially job
site conditions and problems in the construction area. Site and subsurface
conditions are vital pieces of information needed for the design calculations to

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

optimize the performance of the structure in the installed condition and to

prevent flotation. So how does the design engineer determine when there could be
a potential problem with the jobsite conditions and with flotation?

First, the design engineer should review and investigate the plans, specifications
and soils reports to gain more insight about the project and the underground
conditions. After obtaining the requirements and specifications for the structural
design, the design engineer should obtain extensive information on the soils and
subsurface conditions. One of the first factors that must be determined when
analyzing an area in which the concrete structure will be placed below grade is the
water table, or groundwater level. Obtaining this information will help the
designers identify sites where flotation may or may not be a factor in the design.
How can one determine the water table level in the project area?

The design engineer should check the soils report to obtain more information on
the area. The soils report is typically the most reliable source of data, as its based
on a study of the jobsite conditions. If there isnt a soils report, core drilling may
be necessary. By core drilling in the vicinity of the project, the depth of the water
level from grade can be determined. It should be noted that groundwater levels
identified on drilling reports are only a snapshot in time and may not account for
seasonal variations. Another possible source of information would be from local
well drillers, who typically maintain records of water table levels.

After the water table level has been determined and it is known that there will
most likely not be a problem with buoyancy or flotation issues, the designer can
focus on maximizing the structure without the consideration of buoyant forces. In
most cases, flotation will not be a problem in areas of the country without
groundwater (parts of Texas, Arizona and Nevada) and where the groundwater is
below the anticipated depth of the structure. The fact that the buoyancy force
exists presupposes that the water table at the site is at an elevation above the
lowest point of the installed structure. If your structure is to be placed above the
groundwater level (according to the sites water table), less concern is needed. On
the other hand, areas where flotation causes potential problems are typically at
low elevation where the water level is at grade (valleys, ocean shores) and in

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

areas where groundwater is present below grade at the time of installation (before
soil has been compacted).

Be aware of seasonal and regional variations

The water table is the upper level of an underground surface in which the soil is
saturated with water. The water table fluctuates both with the seasons and from
year to year because it is affected by climatic variations and by the amount of
precipitation used by vegetation. It also is affected by excessive amounts of water
withdrawn from wells or by recharging them artificially. The design engineer
should make certain to account for seasonal and regional fluctuations in the water
table level in the design of an underground precast concrete structure; this will
ensure that the underground structure will not float or shift upward from a water
table level miscalculation.

Err on the conservative side

If there are no soils reports or previous water table data available for fluctuations
(seasonal and regional), most engineers will design the structure on the
conservative side. This will ensure that the structure will be able to withstand
seasonal and regional fluctuations.
Designing on the conservative side refers to a structure with the water level at
grade, even if flooding in that area is not common. A conservative design pproach
may contribute to offsetting unnecessary and unforeseen costs when sufficient
information about the soil/site conditions is unavailable. Therefore, overdesigning
a structure should be kept to a minimum since this would add substantial costs to
production.

Computing downward (gravity)

forces

After the water table level has been

identified, the design engineer needs to
look at computing all the downward

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

forces that will be acting on the

structure. All vertical downward forces
are caused by gravitational effects,
which need to be calculated in the
design of an underground structure.
Essentially, the engineer determines if
the total downward forces
(gravitational, WT) are greater than the
upward force (buoyant, Fb). The total downward force (WT) is calculated by the
summation of all downward vertical forces (W).

Depending on the design of the underground structure, the total vertical

downward forces (WT) may or may not be the same for all applications. In a
conservative approach, the design of underground structures assumes that the
water table at the specific site is at grade. In this case, it is essential to account for
all vertical downward forces (WT) to ensure that the structure will not float (WT >
Fb). For an underground structure, designed for a worst-case scenario, the
following vertical downward forces (W) need to be considered:

Weight of all walls and slabs

Weight of soil on slabs
Weight of soil on shelf or shelves
Weight of equipment (permanent) inside structure
Weight of inverts inside structure
Friction of soil to soil
Additional concrete added inside structure
Weight of reinforcing steel

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

As noted previously, not all underground structures are the same, and therefore
some of the listed vertical downward forces (W) above may not be included in the
summation of total vertical downward force (WT).

Computing upward buoyant force

As stated in Archimedes Principle, an object is buoyed up by a force equal to the
weight of the fluid displaced. Mathematically, the principle is defined by the
equation:

Fb = gf x nd
Fb = buoyant force (lb)
gf = density of water (62.4 lb/ft)
nd = displaced volume of the fluid (ft)

When analyzing buoyancy-related concrete applications, the structure is typically

below grade and stationary. Assuming the application is stationary in a fluid,
analysis uses the static equilibrium equation in the vertical direction, S Fv = 0.
Analyzing buoyancy related to underground structures requires use of the same
static equilibrium equation, assuming the structure to be stationary and either
submerged or partially submerged in a fluid (in the latter case, the surrounding
soil /fill material and any associated groundwater).

Safety factor guidelines

The Factor of Safety (FS) considers the

relationship between a resisting force
and a disturbing force. In this case, its
the relationship between the weight of
the structure and the uplift force caused
by buoyancy. Failure occurs when that
factor of safety is less than 1.0.
Generally speaking, the greater the FS
the greater the impact to the

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

project/structure. An optimal design

would be an appropriate FS that is
adequate for the conditions present at
that specific site. It is recommended that the designer choose an appropriate FS
after reviewing jobsite information.

According to ACI 350, the safety factor against flotation is usually computed as the
total dead weight of the structure divided by the total hydrostatic uplift force. The
FS should reflect the risk associated with hydrostatic loading conditions.
In situations of flooding to the top of the structure and using dead-weight
resistance only, a FS of 1.10 is commonly used. In flood zone areas, or where high
groundwater conditions exist, a FS of 1.25 can be used. Where maximum
groundwater or flood levels are not well defined or where soil friction is included
in the flotation resistance, higher FS values should be considered.

Buoyancy countermeasures

There are several methods that can be used in the industry to overcome a
buoyancy problem. If the design of the underground structure does not meet the
required safety factor, there are ways to fix the problem. Here are some different
methods used to overcome buoyancy, both before and after shifting or flotation:

1. Base extension (cast-in-place or precast). Using the additional weight of soil

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

by adding shelves is a common method used to counteract buoyancy.

Extending the bottom slab horizontally creates a shelf outside the walls of
the structure and adds additional resistance to the buoyant force. The
additional vertical downward force comes from the additional weight of the
soil acting on the shelves (Wshelf). The size of the shelf can be designed as
large and wide as needed so the buoyant force is resisted. However, limits in
shipping width must be considered. In many cases, this is the most cost-
effective method used to resist the buoyant force (Fb). When pouring the
shelf in place, mechanical connections must be designed to resist the vertical
shear forces. If possible, it is best to have the shelf monolithically poured
with the structure.
2. Anti-flotation slab. Another method that has been used in construction is to
anchor the structure to a large concrete mass (shelf) poured on site or use
precast concrete manufactured off site. The structure sits directly on top of
this large concrete mass that has previously been poured in place or cast,
cured and delivered by an off-site manufacturer. This method can cause
problems, however, because both base slabs must sit flush on top of one
other. If base slabs are not aligned perfectly, cracking due to point loads may
result. Cast-in-place concrete can be expensive and cause delays due to
strength curing time. Precast concrete alleviates alignment and delays for
strength gain, but the sub-base must be level and set flush. A mortar bed
between the two surfaces is recommended. To design the mechanical
connection between the anti-flotation slab and the structure, the net upward
force must be calculated. This calculation can be achieved by multiplying the
buoyant force by the FS, and subtracting the downward force.
3. Increase member thickness. One method used to overcome buoyancy is to
increase the concrete mass (m). This is accomplished by increasing member
thickness (walls and slabs). Increasing the thickness of the walls and slabs
can add a significant downward gravitational force, but this may not be cost
effective. Increasing concrete mass can be an expensive alternative due to
increased materials and production costs.
4. Lower structure elevation and fill with additional concrete. Another method
used to overcome buoyancy is to set the precast structure deeper than

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

required for its functional purposes. This will add additional soil weight on
top of the structure to oppose buoyant forces. Also, with the structure being
deeper in the soil, some contractors opt to pour additional concrete into the
base of the installed precast concrete structure. This will add more mass to
the structure, which helps overcome buoyancy (m > Fb).

It is a fairly simple concept: downward gravitational forces need to exceed upward

buoyant forces. Ignoring this may result in your structure surfacing like a
submarine in the South Pacific. Once a precast vault is installed underground, you
expect it to stay put. Since concrete is about 2.5 times heavier than water, one
would not expect flotation to be much of an issue with buried concrete structures,
but in fact it is a serious consideration in areas of high ground water.

Claude Goguen, P.E., LEED AP, is NPCAs director of Technical Services.

Ronald Thornton, P.E., is a project manager for Delta Engineers in Binghamton, N.Y.,
with more than 25 years of experience in the concrete industry. He has extensive
experience in the design, manufacture and installation of precast products for use in
state, municipal and private projects. Thornton currently serves on the NPCA Utility
Product Committee as well as the ASTM C27 Committee.

Filed Under: Precast Inc. Magazine, Archive - 2009-2010, Precast Magazines

Tagged With: buoyancy, underground structure

Comments

Bob Grotke says

June 13, 2012 at 3:29 pm

The problem of bouyancy became an issue at my workplace a while back. Our

department has used open bottom fiberglass manholes for years and the typical
installation involved dewatering the excavation as required, placing the fiberglass
manhole in the proper orientation for the sewer pipes, and pouring mass

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

concrete around the base of the manhole, typically at least 1 foot thick and 1 foot
wider than the manhole diameter all around. After an initial set, the excavation
would be backfilled and compacted while the dewatering system remained
operating. The interior base of the manhole would be finished with additional
concrete, formed to provide a flow channel with built up concrete haunches to
direct the flow. After construction was complete, the dewatering system would be
removed and the ground water would return to seek its own level. Design was
typically conservative with satuarated ground assumed up to finished grade. We
had never had any problems with this construction, but the engineers managing
the office one day decided that a 2-way reinforcing steel mat was required in the
concrete base to resist unopposed hydrostatic forces that could cause the
cured concrete to fail. I was assigned to determine what reinforcement was
necessary. I stated that none was necessary as the weight of the manhole,
concrete base, manhole lid and frame and the soil surcharge overcame the
bouyant forces, the net force was downward and any resulting bending stress in
the concrete was within the limits allowed by the ACI plain concrete building
code. This resulted in much heated discussion and agravation. I finally told
management that if they sincerely believed the reinforcement was necessary,
they should just direct the crews to install the reinforcement and they wouldnt
get any arguments, however I believed it was not necessary. The bad feelings
resulting from this situation eventually led me to find emplyment elsewhere, but
to this day I wonder if their thoughts about unopposed hydrostatic forces had
any merit.

Reply

ranga says
August 21, 2015 at 3:08 pm

Thanks Claude Goguen

Reply

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Why Buoyancy Forces Cannot Be Ignored

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