BC201 BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES III

Module II
SOIL: BEARING CAPACITY
1 SOIL-Bearing Capacity
Bearing Capacity

➢ Capacity of the soil to support the load applied to the ground.

➢ Maximum vertical stress that the ground surface can support without
significant settlement or foundation failure.

➢ The maximum load per unit area which the soil can carry without yielding or
displacement is termed as the Bearing capacity of the soil.
2 SOIL-Bearing Capacity

Ultimate Bearing Capacity (UBC)

➢ The intensity of loading, at the base of the foundation, at which the soil
support fails in shear is called Ultimate Bearing Capacity (UBC) of soils.

Safe Bearing Capacity (SBC)

➢ The maximum intensity of loading that the soil will safely carry without risk
or shear failure is called the Safe Bearing Capacity (SBC) of soil.

➢ This is obtained by dividing the ultimate bearing capacity by a factor of

safety.
➢ Normally varies from 2-3
3 SOIL-Bearing Capacity

Methods or techniques used for improving the Bearing Capacity of Soil

1. Increasing the Depth of foundation

2. Draining the soil

3. Compacting the soil.

4. Replacing the soil

5. Using grouting materials.

6. Stabilization of soil with chemicals.

3 Methods or techniques used for improving the bearing capacity of soil
1. Increasing the Depth of foundation

➢ By increasing the depth of foundation bearing capacity can be increased.

➢ At deeper depths, the over burden pressure of soil is higher, hence the soil is more
compact.
➢ Weight and cost of foundation increases.

2. Draining the soil

➢ Increase in percentage of water content in soil, the bearing capacity decreases.
➢ Sandy gravelly soil drained by laying porous pipes at gentle slopes.
➢ Lead to wells or nearest water body.
3 Methods or techniques used for improving the bearing capacity of soil
3. Compacting the soil

➢ Compacting, increases density and shear strength, so bearing capacity increases.

➢ Methods.
➢ Rolling the soil using rollers.
➢ Spreading stones, gravel or sand and ramming.
➢ Sand/ Concrete piles.

4. Replacing the poor soil

➢ Poor soil is removed and the gap is filled by superior materials ( Sand, Stone, Gravel)
➢ Slow compacting by stages: Useful for black cotton soils.
3 Methods or techniques used for improving the bearing capacity of soil
5. Using Grouting material.

➢ Useful for soils with pores, fissures, or cracks.

➢ Poor soil bearing strata is hardened by injecting the cement grout under pressure.

6. Stabilization of soils with chemicals.

➢ Costly method.
➢ Chemical solutions, like, silicates of soda and calcium chloride is injected with pressure
to the soil.
➢ Chemical along with soil particles form a gel like structure and develops a compact
mass.
RETAINING WALLS
3 Retaining walls
RETAINING WALLS
➢ Retaining wall is a structure that are designed and constructed to withstand lateral pressure of
soil or hold back soil materials.
➢ The lateral pressure could be also due to earth filling, liquid pressure, sand, and other granular
materials behind the retaining wall structure.

➢ Materials: PCC/RCC/Rubble/Brick/Reinforced brick

MAJOR TYPES OF RETAINING WALLS

Gravity type Cantilever type Piling type Anchor type

3 Retaining walls
RETAINING WALLS: Uses

➢ Improving property appearance

➢ Create a flat area

➢ Prevent erosion

➢ Make a slope useful

➢ Improve slope drainage

➢ Hold back water

➢ Simplify maintenance
3 Retaining walls
1. Gravity type Retaining walls
➢ Gravity retaining wall depends on its self weight only to resist
lateral earth pressure.
➢ Commonly, gravity retaining wall is massive because it requires
significant gravity load to counter act soil pressure.
➢ Sliding, overturning, and bearing forces shall be taken into
consideration while this type of retaining wall structure is
designed.
➢ It can be constructed from different materials such as concrete,
stone, and masonry units.
3 Retaining walls
1. Gravity type Retaining walls

Rubble type RCC Type

3 Retaining walls
2. Cantilever type Retaining walls
➢ It is constructed from reinforced concrete, precast
concrete, or prestress concrete.

➢ Cantilever retaining wall is the most common type

used as retaining walls.

➢ Cantilever retaining wall is either constructed on site

or prefabricated offsite i.e. precast

➢ The portion of the base slab beneath backfill

material is termed as heel, and the other part is
called toe.
3 Retaining walls
2. Cantilever type Retaining walls

Pre cast type cantilever retaining wall Cast in place type cantilever retaining wall
3 Retaining walls
3. Piling type Retaining walls
➢ Pile retaining wall are constructed by driving reinforced
concrete piles adjacent to each other.

➢ Piles are forced into a depth that is sufficient to counter the

force which tries to push over the wall

➢ Piled walls offer high stiffness retaining elements which are

able to hold lateral pressure in large excavation depths with
almost no disturbance to surrounding structures or properties.
3 Retaining walls
3. Piling type Retaining walls

Slope stabilization piling type Contiguous piling type

3 Retaining walls
4. Anchor type Retaining walls
➢ This type of retaining wall is employed when the space is limited or thin retaining wall is
required.
➢ Anchored retaining wall is suitable for loose soil over rocks.
➢ Deep cable rods or wires are driven deep sideways into the earth, then the ends are filled
with concrete to provide anchor.
➢ Anchors (tiebacks) acts against overturning and sliding pressure.
3 Retaining walls
4. Anchor type Retaining walls
SETTING OUT
 SETTING OUT

➢ Setting out a building is the process of transferring architectural proposals from drawings into
the ground.

Objectives
➢ It establishes the location points for site boundaries, foundations, columns, center-lines
of walls and other necessary structural parts.
➢ Also, it establishes the building's correct extent, angle and level.

Initial procedures
➢ Clearing of Site: Setting out is usually undertaken once the site has been subject to a condition
survey, and has been cleared of any debris, unwanted vegetation or obstructions.
➢ Leveling: Works necessary to create required levels may also have been completed before
the layout process begins.
 SETTING OUT
Base line
➢ The baseline is a straight reference line in respect to which the building’s corners are located on
the ground. It often coincides with the ‘building line’.

Building layout
Larger profile: Often the easiest way of laying out a building shape is to first lay out a large rectangle
which will enclose the entire building or the greater part of it.
Alterations / Deductions: Once this is done, deductions and alterations can be made to obtain
the precise layout required.

Trenches
Layout: The layout of trenches establishes the excavation size, shape and direction, as well as the
width and position of walls.
Excavation: Trenches are excavated once the building outline has been set out.
Manual/Machine: The width is often marked with a line of dots of dry lime powder for accurate
excavation by hand, whereas the center line is marked for accurate machine excavation.
Centre line
Plan
Centre line
Plan with
site
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