FOUNDATION DESIGN

Design Consideration:

Design of foundation involves two aspects, viz., soil design and structural

design.

Soil design includes :

1. Determination of depth of foundation Df which depends on some practical

criteria and soil strata.

2. Determination of allowable bearing pressure of soil at the level

Df which depends on the properties of soil at and below that level.

3. Determination of plan dimensions of the footing which depends on

geometry of the structure, the loads on the column and allowable bearing

pressure of soil.

4. Determination of upward soil pressure on the footing.

Structural design includes:

5. The design of footing, i.e., concrete and reinforcements. Footings are

designed for flexure and shear (both one way and two way action),

bearing and bond, mainly due to the soil pressure from the soffit of the

slab. The design is more or less similar to that of beams and two way

slabs supported on columns. Additional design considerations being the

transfer of force from the column to the footing and also safety against

sliding and overturning when horizontal forces are acting on the

structure. Since footings are buried below the ground level, deflection

control is not important but crack widths should be limited to 0.3 mm,

with general detailing requirements and it is desirable to provide a clear

 cover of 75 mm for protection of main reinforcements especially under

aggressive environment.

6. The maximum pressure on the soil should not exceed the allowable soil

pressure i.e., SBC

7. The settlement of footings shall be nearly uniform as possible. To

minimize the differential settlement, the footings are proportioned to get

equal soil pressure under each column. This is done by providing footing

area very near to the required area considering SBC of soil. If under one

column, the exact required area of footing is provided and for another

column in the same structure, a larger area than required is provided,

the soil pressure under both the columns is different which may lead to

differential settlement. This is usually avoided.

8. The centre of gravity of loads and c.g. of footing should coincide (if they

do not coincide, a moment will be induced in footing)

9. For calculating the base size of the footing, the loadings with partial

safety load factor γf =1.0 should be considered. (For arriving base area

working load should be considered). For calculating bending moment

ultimate should be considered after arriving the base area.

10. When loads are being transferred from column to the footing below, the

face of the columns will be subjected to maximum bending moment.

Thus for calculation of moment, maximum moment at the face of the

column has to be considered.

 11. When the footing is subjected to one way bending, the footing will be

sensitive to vertical shear and if the when the footing is subjected to two

way bending, the footing will be sensitive to punching shear.

12. Maximum vertical shear in a footing will be at a distance of effective

depth of the footing from face of the column .

13. Maximum punching shear will occurs at around the column at a

perimeter half the effective depth away from face of the column.

14. When the section of the footing suddenly changes, vertical planes at

those location will be critically stressed. At these locations care should be

taken to provide sufficient development length. In addition to these

locations, sufficient development length has to be provided at all planes

where the bending moment is critical.

15. If the load transferred from the column to the foundation below is

tensile, the tensile stress will be resisted by the steel reinforcement

provided. If the compressive loads are transferred they will be resisted

by bearing between column and footing.

Depth of Foundation:

1. Minimum depth of foundation as per IS 1080-1982 is 500mm from

Ground Level.

2. As per Rankine’s theory

Minimum depth of foundation =p/w (1-sin Φ /1+sin Φ) 2
where p=gross bearing capacity
w =density of soil
Φ =angle of response of soil

3. But in practice, the foundation depth is kept at 0.90m or even

more.
4. It is customary practice to place the foundation of a “simple
footing” at a minimum depth of 1.50m from GL or at least 1.50
times the width of footing. In cold climates the depth is Kept at a
minimum of 1.50m below surface because of possible frost action.

5. For building of six storey or more, it may be kept at 1.5m to 2.0m.

For tall isolated Structures, like water towers, the foundation
depth may be at 3.0m also.

6. A few practical requirements also may have to be considered while

deciding the depth of foundation such as the existing foundation of
nearby building, the possible influence of future expansion etc. If
the height of building is more, the horizontal forces acting on the
building such as wind force are large. As a thumb rule, minimum
depth of foundation may be selected as 5% to 10% of the height of
building.

7. Where the moisture content may vary and cause shrinkage, the
depth must be considered with the minimum moisture content
variation(1.50m to 2.0m).In case of black cotton soils of expansive
nature, the zone of movement may be as deep as 3.0m to
3.50m. This is why ,the under reamed piles in expansive clays are
taken to minimum depth of 3.50m.
Practical Dimensions of Footing:

1. Size of footing : 1000 mm to 3000 mm in multiples of 250 mm.

2. Maximum depth near column face:

500 to 1000 mm in multiples of 50 mm.

Depth of footing can be calculated using any one of the

following approximate methods.

(a) Thumb rule based on projection of footing

Depth of footing D =650 x a where

a= projection of footing from face of column in metres

and D is in mm.

(b) Thumb rule based on side of the footing for Fe 415 / Fe

500 steel.

Net upward soil pressure D / A value

in t / m2

5 1/7

10 1/5.5

15 1/5.0

20 1 /4.5

25 1 /4.0

30 1 /3.50

Note :

1) Increase 20% for sloped and stepped footing.

2) p = Net upward pressure in t / m2

 D = Overall depth of footing in cm.

A = Average side of footing in cm.

3) Minimum depth at the edges =200 mm

(150 mm according to IS 456-2000)

4) Minimum Dia. of bar : 8 Φ RTS

Preferable dia of bar : 10 Φ RTS

Thumb rule:

Up to 2.0 m width : use 10 Φ RTS

Above 2.0m &Up to 3.0 m width : use 12 Φ RTS

Above 3.0 m width : use 16 Φ RTS

(iv) Minimum reinforcement :

Not less than 0.15% of c.s area for mild steel &

0.12% when HYSD bars are used if footing is considered as slab.

(v) Maximum spacing of bar : 200 mm

(180 mm for Tor 40 as per IS 456-2000).Practical spacing 150mm.