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International collage of Business & Technology

No.36.De Mel Krester Place,
Colombo 04
Sri Lanka

Foundation construction
(Module- Learning Skills)

Prepared by:

 Arshad Akeel (CL/HDCVL/17/36)

 Sandali (CL/HDCVL/17/20)
 Kanishkar (CL/HDCVL/17/18)
 Ushan (CL/HDCVL/17/19)
 Nipun (CL/HDCVL/17/13)
 Sahan (CL/HDCVL/17/01)

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
1.1 What is foundation
2.0 Process of building a foundation
3.0 Types of foundation
3.1 Shallow foundation
3.1.1 Spread Footing foundation
3.1.2 Combined foundation
3.1.2.1 Rectangular combined foundation
3.1.2.2 Trapezoidal combined foundation
3.1.2.3 Raft foundation

3.2 Deep foundation

3.2.1 Pile foundation
3.2.2 Pier foundation
3.2.3 Compensated foundation
3.2.4 Caisson foundation

4.0 Purposes of foundation

4.1 Functions of foundation
5.0 Materials used in foundation
6.0 Type of Machines used for foundation
7.0 Reference

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1.0 Introduction

By Arshad Akeel

1.1 What is foundation?

 Foundation is the main part of construction. It is the basement layer of a high-rise building
which should support the total weight of the building. And this huge amount of load
transmits its whole weight to the earth. Therefore foundation should be stronger enough to
withstand its huge weight. Therefore a good foundation is important for each and every
building, if not the construction will collapse and get destroyed. (Kuiper., 2022)

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2.0 Process of building a foundation

By Kanishker

 The foundation construction is the main process of construction structure, where the steps
of the foundation construction should be done perfectly. There are necessary essential
components for the structure.
 The steps for the foundation construction;
 Should clean all the unnecessary items with necessary machines or methods. The soil
should be tested for the construction and to design the structure.
 Arrange the area by, digging the area to build the foundation by (X) depth (X- depends on
structure). Soil compaction method is done to reduce the pores in empty air spaces. This
method is done, that all the soil particles are pressed together, where there won’t be gaps
between soil particles. The soil should be kept dry, if the soil is wet add sand to the soil.
After this waterproofing should be done, a good waterproofing material is polythene.
 Build a frame in the ground with thin wooden blocks to pour the cement.
 Fill the cement and fix a straightedge to cross over the cement. Move the straightedge to
remove the balance cement over after filling the cement (to remove the excess cement
while it is wet).
 After removing the excess cement remove the straightedge.
 Wait until the cement is dry.

(the constructor, 2009)

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3.0 Purpose of foundation

By Nipun

 The lower component of a building, usually below ground level, that distributes the loads
of the superstructure to the supporting soil is known as the foundation. The section of the
structure that is in direct touch with the ground and through which loads are transmitted is
called a foundation.

 The basis for all support structures is provided for the following purposes.
 The major cause for a structure's stability is its foundation. The construction will be more
stable if the foundation is robust.
 The right design and construction of foundations give a proper surface for the substructure
to develop in a level and firm bed.
 The use of a specially built foundation aids in the prevention of lateral movement of the
supporting material.

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 The load is evenly distributed throughout the surface of the bed when it is supported by a
good foundation. This consistent transmission helps to prevent the building from settling
unevenly. Differential settlement is a construction impact that should be avoided.
 The foundation's job is to distribute the weight from the structure evenly across a vast base
area and subsequently to the earth beneath it. The load that is delivered to the soil should
be within the soil's permissible carrying capability.

2.1 Functions of Foundation

The primary roles of the foundation can be enumerated as follows, based on the
purposes of the foundation in construction

 Assist the structure's overall lateral stability.

 The purpose of a foundation is to provide a level platform for the development of
substructures.
 The distribution of load is done equitably.
 The load intensity is decreased to match the soil's safe bearing capacity.
 The effect of soil movement is fought and avoided.
 The construction of foundations solves the difficulties of scouring and undermining.

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3.0 Types of foundation

By Sandali

 There are two types of foundation grants.

1. Shallow foundation

2. Deep foundation

3.1. Shallow foundation

 It transfers the structural load to the earth surface which is very close to the earth. The
shallow foundation is 1.5m to 3m above the soil surface. It also divides that category into
3 more subparts.

1. Spread footing foundation

• Pad foundation

• Strip foundation

2. Combined foundation

• Rectangular foundation

• Trapezoidal foundation

• Strip foundation

3. Mat or raft foundation

(Magar, J. Et al. 2020)

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3.1.1 Spread footing foundation

 Spread footing is a foundation that shifts the weight of the building from the earth retaining
structures to the ground. This is a foundation that supports a lower foundation or group of
columns with a wider base compared to the load bearing foundations. This is important to
residential spaces. (school of PE 2017)

3.1.1.1 Pad foundation

 This foundation will be used if the soil here has sufficient strength and is not deep enough
to build. (Neenu, 2013)

3.1.1.2 Strip foundation

 A small concrete slab reinforced with steel. It can be used for conventional materials and
concrete floors. (building and pest inspection, 2020)

3.1.2. Combined foundation

 Adding 2 or more columns close to each other in one term makes the weight of the building
evenly spaced.
(Continued in Pg:-10)

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3.1.2.1 Rectangular combined foundation

 These are used when having a rectangular shape and have a carry equal loads. (civil
knowledge 2020)

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3.1.2.2 Trapezoidal combined foundation

 This is a use for a when unequal load from a structure so they cannot make an equal
rectangular one. (civil knowledge 2020)

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3.1.3 Raft foundation

 This raft foundation is a layer of high strength reinforced concrete spread over a large
area of soil and supported by several columns of high loaded walls. (Sadanadam, 2013)

3.2 Deep foundation

 A deep foundation is a foundation that transfers the weight of the building to the basement
itself. It is a foundation with a ridge more than 3m from surface. For high rise buildings,
large structures provide the support needed to build a floor-to-ceiling structure to protect
against shoplifting. The category is further divided into four sub categories.

1. Pile foundation

2. Pier foundation

3. Compensated foundation

4. Caisson foundation

(Magar, J. Et al. 2020)

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3.2.1 Pile foundation

 Longest cylinder made of a strong material such as concrete are a type of foundation that is
inserted into the ground as a series of columns. (school PE, 2017)

3.2.2 Pier foundation

 This type of foundation uses a large diameter column to support the structural and support
the structure and support the permanent layer.

3.2.3 Compensated foundation

 This is a type of deep relief that is closely balanced with the streets caused By the
excavation. (foundation 2022)

3.2.4 Caisson foundation

 This is a waterproof retaining structure used in the construction of a concrete dam as a bridge
tower or during the renovation of ship. (Mishra, 2016)

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5.0 Materials used in foundation

By Sahan

There are different type of materials used in building foundation

1. Wood
2. Stone
3. Sand
4. Concrete
5. Steel
6. Aggregate
7. Concrete blocks
8. Bricks
Wood
 Wood is not suitable as a foundation material but concrete foundation is expensive so it is
often used as an alternative for house foundation. When wood is used in foundation it is
caute with various chemicals to protected t from decay and mites

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Stone
 Stone is very strong advance material. It would be very cheap if it could be found near the
construction site. It is mostly use for curtain walls and low piers. Plastering the stones can
help to prevent the water leaking.

Sand
 Sand is the one of essential ingredients of concrete. It acts as a filler fluid and fills the
remaining space between aggregate. The amount of the sand used determine the strength

and texture of the mixture. When sand is remove from concrete, it becomes less brittle and
more volatile

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Concrete
 The best materials of foundation is concrete because it is durable and strong in compaction.
It is not affected by moisture. Each foundation can be easily molded into any shape
required. It’s main disadvantage is the high cost of cement required to make concrete

Steel
 Steel is the most popular reinforcing material because of its strength and durability. The
steel can be arranged parallel or perpendicular to each other. Generally the steel used as
reinforcements.

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Aggregate
 It is not only one material. It include gravel, sand, slag, crushed stone and recycled
concrete. This main function is to provide compressive strength and bulk to concrete. For
making strong and durable concrete and aggregate need to be clean. Aggregate cover 60-
80% volume of concrete

Concrete blocks
 Concrete block can be used to attractive and durable foundation walls. Because of their
large size concrete blocks deposit faster than bricks. Its main disadvantage is that concrete
block walls are more water resistant than concrete walls.

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Bricks
 The brick masonry foundation is mainly used for its cost effectiveness. Bricks foundation
can be constructed as masonry units only.

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6.0 Type of machines used in foundation

By Ushan

Bulldozer
 A bulldozer is a large machine with a metal blade at the front for pushing fluid.
 Commonly used for thinning large surface mounds, lawn mowing, rock removal etc.
 This machine facilitates the removal of unwanted soil and required soil from the work area.

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 In case of back hoe excavator, the hoe arrangement is on back side and loader bucket is
arranged in front of the vehicle.
 This is widely used equipment nowadays because of its small size and versatility

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Loader
 A loader is a heavy equipment machine used in construction to move aside or load
materials
Such as:- snow , feed , gravel , rock , sand ,woodchips ,etc.

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Tracked Excavator

 This is also called as track hoe.

 It consists of cabinet and long arm.
 Long arm again consists of 2 part’s , the first part which is closure to cabinet is called as
boom and the other part is called as dipper-stick.
 This entire system can rotate 360 degrees.

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Concrete Mixer
 A concrete mixer is a device that homogeneously combines cement.
 Aggregate such as sand or grave and water to form concrete.
 A typical concrete mixer use a revolving drum to mix the components.

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Concrete transit mixer

 A typical concrete mixer use a revolving drum to mix the components.
 For smaller volume works portable concrete mixers are often used so that the concrete
can be made at the construction site, giving the works ample time to use the concrete
before it harden .
 An alternative to a machine is mixing concrete by hand.

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References

Kuiper., K. (2022, 03 01). britannica. Retrieved from www.britannica.com:

https://www.britannica.com/technology/foundation-construction

(The Constructor, 2009)

(Magar,J.Et al,2020)

(School of PE 2017)

(Neenu, 2013)

(Building and Pest inspection, 2020)

(Civil Knowledge, 2020)

(Sadanadam, 2013)

(Foundation, 2022)

(Mishra, 2016)

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