RAFT FOUNDATION

RAFT FOUNDATIONS

• The principal of any raft foundation is to spread the

load of a structure on the entire area of the site.
• A raft foundation normally consists of a concrete slab
which extends over the entire area. It may be stiffened
by ribs or beams incorporated into the foundation.
• They are made up of concrete and heavily reinforced
with steel, so entire foundation acts as unit
• Mat or raft foundation is classified as a shallow
foundation since its depth is considerably smaller than
deep foundation, but its width is greater than other
types of shallow foundation.
• It is useful in controlling the differential settlement
and transferring the loads not exceeding the bearing
capacity of the soil due to its integral action.
 WHERE ARE RAFT FOUNDATIONS USED ?
Raft foundation is generally suggested in the following situations:

• Whenever building loads are so heavy or the allowable pressure on soil so small that individual footings would
cover more than floor area.

• Whenever soil contains compressible lenses or the soil is sufficiently erratic and it is difficult to define and assess
the extent of each of the weak pockets or cavities and, thus, estimate the overall and differential settlement.

• When structures and equipment to be supported are very sensitive to differential settlement.

• Floating foundation cases wherein soil is having very poor bearing capacity and the weight of the super-structure is
proposed to be balanced by the weight of the soil removed.

• Buildings where basements are to be provided.

• Buildings where individual foundation, if provided, will be subjected to large widely varying bending moments
which may result in differential rotation and differential settlement of individual footings causing distress in the
building.
Types of Raft
1.Solid slab rafts,

• Flat Raft Mat

• Wide Toe Raft
• Flat Plate/Slab thickened Under Columns
• Flat Plate/slab with Pedestals

2.Slab beam rafts,

3.Cellular rafts,

4.Piled raft foundations; and,

5.Balancing (or floating) rafts.

1. SOLID SLAB RAFTS
A. Flat Raft.
• Flat Raft /Mat Raft Foundations consists a reinforced concrete slab of uniform thickness covering the whole
bearing area.
• This is suitable when the columns are placed with uniform space between them and carrying equal and small
loads. Reinforcement in slab is provided in both directions in the form of steel mesh.
• Two mesh are reinforced at top and bottom of the slab to balance upward and downward bending forces.
Maximum thickness of 300 mm is provided for concrete slab in case of raft foundation.
1.SOLID SLAB RAFTS
B. Wide Toe Raft C. Flat Plate/slab Thickened under Column D. Flat Plate with pedestals

Flat plate type is not suitable when the column loads are very heavy. To make it suitable, slab thickness must be increased.
The heavy loads from column introduces negative bending moments and diagonal shear in to the slab. Hence the slab is
formed with a deeper reinforced ‘toe’ which extends to support the external side of a raft.(Wide Toe Raft). Or to counter
this load the plate are thickened at the base under columns(Flat Plate thickened under Columns) . Sometimes provision of
pedestal under the column without increasing slab thickness also helps to receive heavy loads.

Wide Toe Raft Flat Plate/slab with Pedestals

2. SLAB BEAM TYPE RAFT FOUNDATION
When the loads are unequally distributed and the foundation is vulnerable to distortions, beams included with the slabs
act as stiffeners. The reinforcement of the raft constitutes two layers of meshes, one at the bottom and one at the top.
The beams can provide extra stiffness and prevent distortions and reduce the slab thickness.
The beams can be upstand or downstand depending upon the bearing capacity of soil near the surface. Downstand beams
will give a saving on excavation costs whereas upstand beams create a usable void below the ground floor if a suspended
slab is used
3. CELLULAR RAFT FOUNDATION
These type of foundations are used on soft compressible subsoil such as soft clay or pit.
A blinding layer of 50 to 75mm thick of weak concrete or course sand should be placed under
reinforced concrete (raft) foundation. The function of this layer is to fill in any weak pockets
encountered during excavation.

A cellular raft consists of an arrangement of a solid slab resting on the ground below and a
suspended slab at the top surface. The upper and lower slabs are jointed by intermediate reinforced
concrete walls in both directions
 4. PILE RAFT FOUNDATION
• In this type of Mat Foundation, rafts are supported by pile foundations as shown in the figure.
• These types of foundations are used when the loads coming on the structure are extremely high, the soil
bearing capacity is very low and the water table is very high.
• Piled raft foundations are well suitable for high rise buildings, heavy industrial structures like high rise RCC
chimneys, silos, storage tanks which usually rests on single foundation elements.
• Piled raft foundations eliminate the idea of designing a very heavy raft foundation or a very conservative pile
foundation with larger depths.
• In place of that, they opt for a combination of an optimized raft foundation and pile foundation design capable
of sharing the loads. The raft foundation floats over the pile foundation.
5. BALANCING OR FLOATING RAFT FOUNDATION
• Balancing rafts or floating foundations are used in areas where the bearing capacity of the soil is very poor
and has to maintain the soil settlements within the acceptable range.
• The floating foundation works on the principle that the total weight of the soil along with water removed
from the excavated area shall be equal to the weight of the proposed structure.
 1. SOIL TESTING 2. SHORING

3.EXCAVATION AND COMPACTION 4. BLINDING LAYER 5.BOTTOM MESH & COLUMN

REINF PLACEMENT
 6.UPPER MESH PLACEMENT 7.CONCRETING

8. LEVELLING 9. CURING
REINFORCEMENT DETAILS
NOTE:- THE SIZES ARE DECIDED BY
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ON THE BASIS OF
LOADING AND SOIL CONDITIONS. THE SIZES
MENTIONED HERE ARE TENTATIVE.