Well foundation

POSTED ON JUNE 10, 2012 BY AHMED

The origin of well foundations credits back to prehistoric Indian

engineering. The use of well foundations in India hits back to hundreds
of years ago for providing deep foundation beneath the water level for
monuments, bridges and aqueducts. Most promising example can be
use of well foundation in Taj Mahal.

The well foundation is nearly identical to open caissons. Basically well

foundation may be constructed on the dry bed or after forming/making a
sand island. Most effective use of well foundations is at locations where
the depth of water is higher than 4 m to 6 m as well as the water velocity
is relatively higher. The wells can be fabricated on the bank of river and
then allowed to float to the final required position and then grounded.
Proper care and greater accuracy is required to be exercised while
grounding the well to make sure that its position is set prefect. After the
well has touched the bed, sand bags are then laid/deposited around it for
prevention against scours. Generally, well is sunk into the river by 40
60 cm under the influence of its own weight. Further sinking is done by
excavating the dredge holes to required level.

Necessary parts or components of well foundations;

1. Strong cutting edges: used for sinking mechanism.

2. Well curb: the papered section of the well above cutting edge.
3. Steining: walls of the well made up of brick masonry, stone
masonry and plain or reinforced concrete. It has is constructed
proficiently to withstand imposed loads. Additionally it has to be
weighty enough for overcoming the frictional resistance while
sinking.
Finally when the well has been sunk to the required final depth then the
bottom plug is constructed by concreting. This bottom plug work as the
base of well is filled partially or totally filled with sand. To the top of well,
a top plug is constructed by concreting. Lastly at the top portion a RCC
well cap is constructed for transmitting the loading of super structure to
the well.

Shapes of well foundations

POSTED ON JUNE 9, 2012 BY AHMED

Commonly used shapes of well foundations are as follows:

Circular wells:
Most common shape of well foundations preferably used everywhere is
circular wells. It is featured with very high structural strength and is
convenient in sinking; additionally the chances of tilting are exclusively
minimum. These circular well foundations are perfectly suitable for piers
of the single-line railway bridges and the double-lane road bridges. But
for excessively lengthier piers it turns out to be uneconomical. Thus, the
maximum diameter of circular well is principally limited to 9m.

Double-D wells:
These wells are usually employed on the piers and abutments of the
bridges that are excessively long to be accommodated on a circular well
of 9m diameter. These wells can be sunk easily. But considerable
bending moments are introduced in the steining because of difference in
pressure between outside and inside of the well. Additionally the square
corners at the partition well provide maximum resistance to sinking.

Double-octagonal wells:
These wells are considered to be better than Double-D wells in
numerous aspects. Most preferably the square corners are eliminated
such that bending stresses are reduced considerably. Additionally these
wells provide higher resistance against sinking than double-D wells
because of increased area.

Twin- circular wells:

Two circular identical wells are sunk very close to one another such that
they are held with a common well-cap. These wells are sunk
simultaneously, adjacently. These wells are preferable where the length
of pier cannot be accommodated on a double-D or double-octagonal
well. These wells are found advantages where the depth of sinking is
smaller and the soil strata bearing capacity is greater.

Rectangular wells:
Rectangular wells are principally employed on bridge foundations with
depths up to 7m-8m. In case of larger foundations double-rectangular
wells can be used. The loading stresses at the steining are very high in
rectangular wells.