ECE 4213

Foundation Engineering II

Mat Foundations

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

Department of Civil Engineering
Dr. Eng. Thuo J. N.

Definitions

Mat Foundations – also referred to as Raft Foundations

- is a combined footing that may cover the entire area under a
structure supporting several columns and walls.

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 Types of Mat Foundations

(i) Flat plate

The mat is of uniform thickness.

Types of Mat Foundations

(ii) Flat plate

Thickened under columns.

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Types of Mat Foundations

(iii) Beams and slab

The beams run both ways,

and the columns are
located at the intersection of
the beams

Types of Mat Foundations

(iv) Flat plates with pedestals

The beams run both ways,

and the columns are
located at the intersection of
the beams

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Types of Mat Foundations
(v) Slab with basement walls as part
of the mat

The walls act as

stiffeners for the mat

Structural Design of Mat Foundations

Methods

i) Conventional rigid method

ii) Conventional approximate flexible method
iii) Finite-difference
iv) Finite-element methods

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Conventional Rigid
Method

Conventional Rigid
Method

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 1
Determine mat Dimensions

Calculate the total Column Loads

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 2
Determine the pressure on the soil, q, below the mat at points
A, B, C, D, ……

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 2….

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 3
Compare the values of the soil pressures determined in Step
2 with the net allowable soil pressure to determine whether
q ≤ qall(net)
.
Step 4

Divide the mat into several strips in the x and y directions.

Let the width of any strip be B1
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Conventional Rigid Method
Step 5

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 5…

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Conventional Rigid Method
Step 5…

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 6

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Conventional Rigid Method
Step 6…

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 6…

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Conventional Rigid Method
Step 6…

In US standard Units-

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Conventional Rigid Method

Step 7

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Conventional Rigid Method
Step 8

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Approximate Flexible Method

1. Study and make short note on this method
2. Highlight the main differences between conventional
flexible method and approximate flexible method
3. Comment on which method you would prefer a mat design
in a project where ground properties have been determined
using prescriptive methods (conventional flexible method and
approximate flexible method ?). Give reasons.

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Raft Foundations Homework

Questions 8.1 to 8.6 (Das, B. M. (2015). Principles of

foundation engineering, 8th Edition).

Due Date: 20th June 2021

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