FOUNDATION SYSTEMS

- Foundation is a part of walls, piers, and columns in direct contact with the transmitting load to the
ground. A foundation is provided for its purposes, to give enough stability to the structures against
various disturbing forces, such as wind and rain, to distribute the total load coming on the structure on a
larger area, to prepare a level surface for concreting and masonry work to support the structures.

• UNDERPINNING
- Underpinning is strengthening and reinforcing an
existing foundation of a structure, typically by
extending the depth and breadth of the
foundation. Underpinning is the reinforcement of
an existing building foundation. It is required
when the original foundation is no longer strong
enough to support the house. This is usually a
result of a change to the soil structure, whether
due to the type of soil or some external influence
on the soil.

- The original foundation isn’t strong/stable enough to support the existing structure
- The initial use of the structure has changed, requiring foundational reinforcement
- The soil is not competent to withstand the weight of the structure
- Another story is being added to the structure, requiring deeper foundational footings to help support
greater load-bearing capacity
- It is cheaper to repair/reinforce than buy new
- Seismic activity, drought, flood, or other acts of God have compromised the structure’s structural
security,

In this method, the entire length of the foundation to be

underpinned is divided into sections of 1.2 to 1.5 m lengths. One
section is taken up at a time. a hole is made in the wall for all
divided sections above the plinth level, and a needle is inserted
in the hole. The needle may be made of a material of stout,
timber, or steel section. Bearing plates are placed above the
needle to support the masonry above it. The supporting
arrangement of the needle is made by crib supports (wooden
blocks) on both sides of the wall and screw jacks.
 -
In the Pile method of underpinning, as the name suggests
Piles are installed by proper driving technique along both
sides of the wall to be strengthened. The piling technique
normally used are borehole pile on under-reamed piles are
used. After that, concrete or steel needles are penetrated
through the wall and are connected to the Pile. These
needles function as beams and act as pile caps also. The
pile method is suitable for clayey soils, waterlogged areas,
and also in weak bearing strata.

For underpinning work in walls, the wall should be divided

into legs for bays, and is bay is treated individually that
prevents fracture, damage, or settlement of the walls.

Jack pile underpinning is done where the traditional

underpinning is uneconomical because of the depth of
suitable bearing capacity of subsoil. The main advantage
of Jack Pile and defining is it is vibration-free and flexible
because the pile depth can be adjusted to suitable subsoil
conditions encountered. In this system, the existing
Foundation is span over the heads of the pipe caps which
are cast into the Jack pile heads after the hydraulic jacks
had been removed which Makes the Foundation in good
condition

Where the traditional or Jack pile underpinning techniques

are unsuitable for the existing Foundation condition, then
the needle and pile underpinning method can be used for
the best result. As shown in the figure below the big work in
this method above the existing Foundation should be in a
sound condition. And the piles used are generally in small
diameter bored piles.etc.
 • EXCAVATION SUPPORT

Excavation support systems are used to minimize the excavation area, to keep the sides of deep excavations
stable, and to ensure that movements will not cause damage to neighboring structures or to utilities in the
surrounding ground.

Types of Excavation Support:

- Soldier Pile and Lagging

Soldier piles are nothing but I-sections that consists web between two flanges. These I-sections are drilled
into the ground around the periphery of an excavation.
The piles are driven to the point slightly below the
required excavation depth. Weak concrete is used for the
grouting of piles. The spacing between every two
adjacent piles is limited to 10 feet. After that exaction is
done and the surrounding soil is well supported by the
flanges of piles. In between the piles, wood lagging is
used. The lagging consists of long timber sheets or planks
placed behind the front flanges of piles to support the soil
between the piles. The timber is 2 to 4 inches thick, so,
some manual excavation behind the front flange is
needed. To offer a strong bond between horizontal wood
sheets and the front flange, welded studs, clips, etc. are
used.

Soil nailing is another technique for protecting excavated

ground. It is an economical and rapid process. In this case,
the soil is reinforced in situ to make it stable. For soil nailing,
firstly shallow cut is excavated and then the cut is coated with
shotcrete. Shotcrete is nothing but concrete that is sprayed
through pipes with some force. On the shotcrete area, soil
nails are drilled and grouted. The Group of nails installed on
a grid holds the soil in a stable manner. The same process is
repeated until the required depth is reached. Soil nailing is
more effective and easier if it is done with subsequent layers
of installation. Even though it is rapid in construction it needs
skilled persons who are having knowledge of geo technology
and craftsmanship. Soil nailing should be more effective
above the groundwater table level.
• SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
- A shallow foundation is a type of building the foundation that transfers the structural load to the earth
very near to the surface, rather than to a subsurface layer or a range of depths, as does a deep foundation.
A shallow foundation is applied in cases where the good load-bearing soil is at a relatively low depth.
The foundation depth must meet the safety requirements of the breakdown, whereby after the load
application, the complete structure settlement will be within acceptable limits.

Types of Shallow Foundations:

- Strip Footing

A strip footing is provided for a load-bearing wall. A strip

footing is also provided for a row of columns that are so closely
spaced that their spread footings overlap or nearly touch each
other. In such a case, it is more economical to provide a strip
footing than to provide a number of spread footings in one line.
A strip footing is also known as continuous footing.

- Spread or Isolated Footing or Individual Footing

A spread footing also called isolated footing, pad footing, and

the individual footing is provided to support an individual
column. A spread footing is a circular, square, or rectangular
slab of uniform thickness. Sometimes, it is stepped or hunched
to spread the load over a large area.

- Combined Footing:

A combined footing supports two columns. It is used when

the two columns are so close to each other that their
individual footings would overlap. A combined footing is
also provided when the property line is so close to one
column that a spread footing would be eccentrically loaded
when kept entirely within the property line. By combining
it with that of an interior column, the load is evenly
distributed. A combined footing may be rectangular or
trapezoidal in plan.
- Strap or Cantilever Footing

A strap (or cantilever) footing consists of two isolated footings

connected with a structural strap or a lever. The strap connects
the two footings such that they behave as one unit. The strap is
designed as a rigid beam. The individual footings are so designed
that their combined line of action passes through the results of
the total load. a strap footing is more economical than a
combined footing when the allowable soil pressure is relatively
high and the distance between the columns is large.

- Mat or Raft Foundations

A mat or raft foundation is a large slab supporting a number of columns and walls under the entire structure
or a large part of the structure. A mat is required when the allowable soil pressure is low or where the
columns and walls are so close that individual footings would overlap or nearly touch each other. Mat
foundations are useful in reducing the differential settlements on non-homogeneous soils or where there is a
large variation in the loads on individual columns.

• SPREAD FOOTING
- A spread footing foundation has a wider bottom portion compared to a load-bearing foundation; the
wider bottom "spreads" the weight of the structure over a larger area for greater stability. Spread
footings are used to support a foundation or set of piers below a building. To add additional support,
spread footings are constructed with concrete and reinforced with steel.

- Wall Spread Footing

Wall Footing is also known as strip footing. These
types of wall footing strips of continuous concrete
could spread the load of the structure to a wide area
of soil. This is one shallow type of footing that can
be constructed as plain cement concrete footing or
reinforced concrete footing. Wall footings are
constructed in the form of a pad or spread and strip
footings, used to support structural and
nonstructural walls by transmitting and distributing
the loads to the soil, in such a way that the load-
bearing capacity of the soil does not exceed.
- Isolated Footing or Column Footing
Isolated Footing known as Column Footing, Pad Footing, or
Isolated Spread Footing is used to carry the imposed by the
columns and transfer evenly to the soil beneath. As that of
wall footing, it could also consist of either reinforced or
non-reinforced material. Isolated footings are economical,
easy to construct, require less excavation operation, and are
easy to construct.

- Combined Footing
Footing supporting two or more columns and transferring
their imposed load evenly to the soil beneath can be termed
as combined footing. The main role of the footing is to
distribute uniform pressure of the structure to the ground
beneath. Its construction depending on the above purpose is
done such that the center of gravity of the footing area
should be equal to the center of gravity of the two columns
or more column footing is supported.

- Strap footing
Strap Footing Consists of two or more column footings
strapped together by a concrete beam. It functions as a
medium to distribute the weight of either heavily or
eccentrically loaded column footings to adjacent footings to
obtain stability. A strap footing is a conjunctive element
used with columns that are located along with a building’s
property or plotline. It connects an eccentrically loaded
column to a column that is well inside the foundation area,
so as to transmit the moment caused by an eccentricity to
the interior columnar foot.

- Continuous Footing
Continuous footing usually has more than 2 columns, in which loads of each column are transferred to the
footing slab directly, or through a horizontal (longitudinal) beam running parallel to the footing. In case
when a heavy load is spread over a large area, a continuous spread footing is used. Continuous footing is
well suited for Earthquake prone zones, where uneven or differential settlement might occur during
calamities. It is designed to prevent differential settlement of the structure.

- Inverted footing
In older times, multistoried buildings were often
provided with Inverted Arch Footing/Foundation, for
cases where the bearing capacity of the soil is
extremely poor and also the load of the structure is
concentrated over the walls, where again deep
excavations are of concern.
- Grillage Footing
Grillage Footing/Foundation is a shallow type of foundation
that consists of one, two, or more than two tiers of beams
superimposed on a layer of concrete to disperse load over a
wider area of wet or loose soil beneath. It is suitable for
heavy structure columns piers and scaffolds.

- Raft Foundation
Raft Foundation is also a type of Shallow Foundation, capable of spreading the load of the building over a
larger area than other foundations to lower the pressure of a specific portion of the ground. Hence it has
been categorized under spread foundation because of its capabilities to spread the beard load.

- Concrete Spread Footing

For efficiently resisting punching shear and direct shear transferred by column load the depth of footing
should be enough. Also, the reinforcement provided within the footing should be designed to resist bending
moments.
• FOUNDATION WALLS
A foundation wall is a masonry or concrete wall below the
ground level. These walls serve as the main support for
the structure of your home. This means that they are
extremely important to the overall structure of your home.
Foundation walls also form the envelope of a usable
basement.
Types of foundation walls:

- Poured Concrete Slab Foundation

Concrete slab foundations (slab-on-grade foundations) with a thickness of four to eight inches, cost less than
basements or crawl spaces. They work best in climates where the ground doesn't freeze and thaw in the
winter. However, the home’s water and drainage pipes are difficult to access because they lie just a few
inches below the slab.

- Crawl Spread Foundation

Three to four-foot-deep crawl spaces are typically unheated but vented for airflow to prevent moisture
build-up. Crawl space foundations support the entire structure and provide some storage and possibly
enough room for the furnace and water heater. Materials used for crawl space foundation include ICFs,
CMUs, and poured concrete walls.

- Wood Foundation
Building a wood foundation includes below-grade foundation walls made of wood pressure-treated with
chromate copper arsenate (CCA) sitting on a concrete slab atop a bed of crushed gravel or rock. The CCA
provides resistance to fungus, mold, rot, termites, and ants.

- Stone
Common during the early 20th century, charming stone foundations contain stones, bound together with
mortar spread between the stones and on top. Stone foundations require waterproofing to prevent the mortar
from degrading and diminishing the durability and strength of the wall. Also, stone foundations will crack
and bow if the house is not level or improperly built, leading to water leakages.

- Pre-Poured Concrete
The density, strength, and joint-free construction of poured concrete foundations make them more
waterproof than CMU foundations. In addition, poured concrete foundations construct faster than CMU
foundations.

- Concrete Panels
Concrete panel foundations have solid concrete studs for load-bearing support and a concrete footing. Some
also include insulation (R-value ≅ 5) and polypropylene fibers and rebar for strength. A precast concrete
foundation works best with consistent sill heights of a full basement. Different wall heights slow the
building process, lessening the cost benefits.
• COLUMN FOOTINGS
Column Footing – What is the meaning of column footing? A column footing is usually a block of concrete
poured into the bottom of a hole so that the weight placed on the column can be distributed through a larger
area. This helps prevent columns from sinking into the ground over time. A column footing is usually a
block of concrete poured into the bottom of a hole so that the weight placed on the column can be
distributed through a larger area. This helps prevent columns from sinking into the ground over time. There
are four types of shallow foundations: Individual footing or isolated footing. Combined footing. Strip
foundation.

REFERENCES:
https://gharpedia.com/blog/various-types-of-footings-for-your-house/
https://byjusexamprep.com/types-of-footings-i
https://foundationsolutions.com.au/blog/what-is-underpinning-and-when-is-it-
needed#:~:text=Underpinning%20is%20the%20reinforcing%20of,external%20influence%20on%20the%20
soil.
https://wetbasements.com/what-is-a-foundation-
wall/#:~:text=A%20foundation%20wall%20is%20the,envelope%20of%20a%20usable%20basement.