UNDERPINNING

Underpinning is a method for repair and

•

strengthening of building foundations. 

• The placing of a new foundation below

an existing foundation is known as
underpinning of foundation.

BUILDING 16091AA044
16091AA058
CONSTRUCTI 16091AA048
Sourabh
16091AA055
shekhar
ON
Situations that demand Underpinning :

 A building with deep foundation is to be

constructed adjoining to an existing building.

 The settlement of existing foundation has taken

place resulting in serious cracks in the wall

 The basement is to be provided to an existing

building

 The existing foundations are to be deepened so as

to rest them on a soil of higher bearing power.
Points to be attended to :
 Shoring and strutting : the necessary shoring and strutting should be
provided to the structure to make it safe for carrying out the process of
underpinning

 Examination of structure : the structure should be carefully examined

before underpinning Is commenced and poor masonry work should be
suitably rectified.

 Repairs : necessary to carry out urgent repairs before commencing

underpinning.

 Checking arrangements : levels maybe marked on the structure and

the movement of structure during underpinning should be checked and
recorded.

 Expensive operation : underpinning Is an expensive operation.

 Bearing plate : when RS joist is used as a needle, the bearing plate is

provided to avoid the crushing on masonry .
 Methods of underpinning
PIT METHOD:

•Pit method is the traditional method

of underpinning, as it has been
followed by centuries.

• The method involves extending the

old foundation till it reaches a stable
stratum.

•The soil below the existing

foundation is excavated in a
controlled manner through stages.
When strata suitable is reached, the
excavation is filled with concrete and
kept for curing, before next
excavation starts.

•In order to transfer the load from old

 Pile method

•In this method, piles are driven on

adjacent sides of the wall that
supports the weak foundation.

• A needle or pin penetrates through

the wall that is in turn connected to
the piles.

•These needles behave like pile caps.

•Settlement in soil due to water

clogging or clayey nature can be
treated by this method.
 Cement grouting :

This method is used to

restore slab or pavement
which is settled.
 Operation is simple.
 The holes are drilled in the slab
and the cement grout is forced
under pressure through these
holes.
 Pressure is maintained until
cement grout has set.
 Chemical consolidation:

 In this method the soil under the existing

footing is consolidated by using chemicals
 Perforated pipes are drilled with an inclined erection,
the inclination slopes are so adjusted that the entire area
under the existing footing comes under the command of
the inclined
When pipes.
the pipes are being driven,
the solution of sodium silicate in
water is injected through the pipes.
 The pipes are then withdrawn

and during the withdrawal of pipes

the calcium or magnesium chloride
is injected through the pipes.
The chemical reaction takes place

between these two chemicals and

the soil is consolidated.
This method is used when the soil
Freezing :

 In this method, the freezing pipes are driven

below the existing footing and the soil is frozen.

 This method is rarely adopted for two main reasons :

o Expensive
o More time is required for the installation
of freezing pipes.
Vibrofloatation :

 Underpinning is carried out by vibrating the

sand and increasing its density which
ultimately results in the increase of bearing
capacity of the soil.
 This method is useful for granular or sandy soil and before
the process of underpinning starts, the building or any of
its structural component sis shored carefully.
 The vibrating equipment or the soil to be compacted is to
be isolated from the building and its shoring.