FOUNDATIONS

PREPARED BY
Md. Ibrahim Mostazid
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering, HSTU.

Hajee Mohammad Danesh science &

Technology University
 OBJECTIVES

►To have an idea about the substructure

►To know the different types foundations

2.1 Footing/foundation
The foundation of a building is that part of walls,
piers and columns in direct contact with the ground
and transmitting loads to the ground.”

Super-structure
Ground Level

Foundation

Distribute building load to the ground

Figure 2.1: Load distribution of foundation.
2.2 Purpose of foundation
Foundations are used to fulfill the following purposes:
a) To distribute the load of the structure over a large
bearing area so as to bring the intensity of load
within the safe bearing capacity of soil.
b) To load the bearing surface at a uniform rate to avoid
differential settlement.
c) To prevent the lateral movement of supporting
material.
d) To attain a level and firm bed for building
operations.
e) To increase the stability of the structure as a whole.
2.3 The importance of foundations in building constructions

a) Buildings are built for a purpose: schools for education,

offices for work, theatres for culture. Each is
constructed for a specific purpose behind with a
specific provision of foundation.
b) Buildings are constructed to be aesthetically pleasing as
well as to fulfill the purpose for which it was created.
c) Foundations do not typically contribute to the
architectural aesthetics of a building. Yet, without
suitable foundations, a building will not function
effectively, will be unsafe and its architectural merits
will rapidly fade.
2.4 Requirements of foundation
Foundations should be constructed to satisfy the
following requirements:

a) Structural stability
b) Not impairing function of the building
c) Durability
d) Economy
2.5 Types of foundations
Foundations are generally of two types:
a) Shallow Foundations (D<= B)
b) Deep Foundations (D> B)
G L

B
Figure 2.2: Foundation trench
 Types of Foundation

Shallow foundation Deep foundation

Pile Pier/Cofferdams Well or Caissons

Spread Strap Combined Mat footing Grillage Eccentrically

footing footing footing loaded
footing
Rectangular Trapezoidal

Wall footing Column footing Inverted arch

footing
Single Stepped Sloped
2.5.1 Shallow Foundation
The foundation provided immediately below the lowest part
of the structure near the ground level, transferring load
directly to the supporting soil, is known as shallow
foundation.
The depth of shallow foundation is equal to or less than its
width. Shallow foundations are generally of 2 to 3m depth.

Figure 2.3: Shallow Foundation

2.5.1.1 Spread footing
Which spread the super imposed load of wall or column over
larger area.
i. These foundations are common in residential
construction that includes a basement, and in many
commercial structures. But for high rise buildings
they are not sufficient.
ii. A spread footing is circular, square or rectangular slab
of uniform thickness.

Figure 2.4: Isolated footing

2.5.1.2 Wall footing or strip footing
is a continuous strip of concrete that serves to spread the
weight of a load-bearing wall across an area of soil.

WALL
WALL

II FOOTING
PCC
I FOOTING
PCC
SIMPLE
FOUNDATION STEPPED
FOUNDATION
Figure 2.5: Different types of wall footing
2.5.1.3 Column footing
is a type of foundation which is commonly used under column.
► It is provided under columns to transfer the load safely to bed
soil
► These footings may be slab, stepped or sloped ones.

Figure 2.6: Different types of column footing

2.5.1.4 Inverted Arch Footing/Foundation
is used to be provided for multistoried buildings in olden
times
 However, with the advent of reinforced cement concrete construction
practice, inverted arch footing is rarely done these days.
 One of the drawbacks in this type of construction is that the end piles have
to be specially strengthened by buttresses to avoid the arch thrust tending
to rapture the pier junction.
 However, the advantage of inverted arch construction is that in soft soils
the depth of foundation is greatly reduced.

Figure 2.7: Inverted arch footing

2.5.1.5 Strap footing
If the independent footing of two columns are connected by
a beam it is called a strap footing.
 It is used when the distance between the columns is so
great that a combined trapezoidal footing becomes quite
narrow, with high bending moments.

Plan
Plan

Section Section

Figure 2.8: Strap footing

2.5.1.6 Combined footing
A combined footing is the one which supports two columns and it
may be rectangular or trapezoidal in plan.
The aim is to get uniform pressure distribution under the
footing. For this the center of gravity of the footing area should
coincide with the center of gravity of the combined loads of the
two columns.
Combined footings are used in the following situations:
a) When the columns are very near to each other so that their
footings overlap.
b) When the bearing capacity of the soil is less, requiring more
area under individual footing.
c) When the end column is near a property line so that its
footing can not spread in that direction.
 Plan

c R C C SLAB c

Section
Figure 2.9: Combined footing
 2.5.1.7 Mat foundations
are used to distribute heavy column and wall loads across the
entire building area, to lower the contact pressure compared to
conventional spread footings.
It is most suitable foundation when the soil at the site proposed
for the construction of a structure is erratic, soft clay, made up
ground or marshy land with low bearing capacity.
 Mat foundation is constructed
of RCC slab covering the whole
area of the bottom of the
structure. The slab is provided
with steel reinforcing bars in
both directions. When column
loads are heavy, the main beams
and secondary beams are
provided monolithically with
raft slab.
 C C
MAIN BEAM
R C C SLAB
PCC BED

SECTION ALONG AA COLUMN

MAIN
BEAM

SECONDARY
A A
BEAM

Figure 2.10: Mat foundation

Raft foundation
2.5.1.8 Grillage foundation
 A type of foundation often
used at the base of a
column. It consists of one,
two or more tiers of steel
beams superimposed on a
layer of concrete, adjacent
tiers being placed at right
angles to each other, while
all tiers are encased in
concrete. Figure 2.11: Grillage foundation
 This is dependable foundation and is used in those place where the load of the
structure is pretty and bearing capacity of soil comparatively poor.
 This type of foundation generally used for heavy structure columns piers and steel
stanchions etc.
 The grillage foundation helps in distributing the load over a wider area of subsoil.
2.5.1.9 Eccentrically loaded footings

The footings are so designed and proportioned that the C.G. of

the superimposed load coincides with the C.G. of the base area,
so that the footing is subjected to concentric loading, resulting
in uniform bearing pressure.

Figure 2.12: Eccentrically loaded footings

2.5.2 Deep Foundation
Deep Foundations are those

 in which the depth of the foundation is very large in

comparison to its width.
 which are not constructed by ordinary methods of
open pit excavations.
 are used to transmit the loading to a deeper, more
competent strata
 are usually at depths deeper than 3m.
Pile foundations are used -
a) In cases where
i. The strata of good bearing capacity is not available near
the ground
ii. The space is restricted to allow for spread footings
b) In these cases the foundation of the structure has to be taken
deep with the purpose of attaining a bearing stratum which
is suitable and which ensures stability and durability of a
structure.
c) The bearing stratum is not the only case. There may be
many other cases. For example, the foundation for a bridge
pier must be placed below the scour depth, although
suitable bearing stratum may exist at a higher level.
2.5.2.1 Pile foundations

Piles are structural members that are made of

steel, concrete or timber.

24
Figure 2.13: End bearing pile
Pile foundation is more commonly used in building
construction.
Pile foundations are used in the following situations:
a) The load of the super structure is heavy and its
distribution is uneven.
b) The top soil has poor bearing capacity.
c) The subsoil water level is high.
d) There is large fluctuations in subsoil water level.
e) Canal or deep drainage lines exist near the foundation.
f) The structure is situated on the sea shore or river bed.
Piles can be divided in to two major categories:
1. End Bearing Piles
If the soil-boring records presence of bedrock at the site
within a reasonable depth, piles can be extended to the
rock surface
2. Friction Piles
When no layer of rock is present depth at a site, point bearing
piles become very long and uneconomical. In this type of
subsoil, piles are driven through the softer material to
specified depths.
 Figure 2.15: End bearing pile

Figure 2.14: Friction pile

Concrete Piles

General facts
 Usual length: 10m-20m
 Usual load: 300kN-3000kN
Advantages
 Corrosion resistance
 Can be easily combined with a concrete superstructure
Disadvantages
 Difficult to achieve proper cutoff
 Difficult to transport
2.5.2.2 Pier foundation
A Pier foundation consisists of a cylindrical column of
large diameter to support and transfer large super-imposed
loads to the firm strata below.
 The difference between pile foundation and pier
foundation lies in the method of construction.
 Though pile foundations transfer the load through
friction and/or bearing, pier foundations transfer the
load only through bearing.
 Generally, pier foundation is shallower in depth than
the pile foundation.
2.5.2.3 Well foundation
► Well foundation is a box of timber, metal, reinforced
concrete or masonry which open both at the top and
bottom, and is used for building and bridge foundations.

 Taj Mahal was built on such

foundations. Wells are also type
of deep foundations. The main
difference between a well and a
pile foundation is that, while a
pile is flexible like a beam under
horizontal loads, the well
undergoes rigid body movement
under such loads.