FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

(EAT 456)

CHAPTER 1
MAT FOUNDATIONS

LECTURE 1A
 LECTURE OUTLINES

1. Introduction

2. Combined Footings

3. Mat Foundations

4. Reason to Consider Mat Foundations

 INTRODUCTION

Under certain circumstances, it may be

desirable to construct a footing that:

Combined • Support a line of two or

Footings more columns

• More than one line of

Mat
columns, supported by
Foundations a concrete slab
 COMBINED FOOTINGS

1) Combined footing is preferred when:

 The columns are spaced too closely that if isolated footing is
provided soil beneath may have a part of common influence zone.

 The bearing capacity of soil is such that isolated footing design

require extent of column foundation to go beyond the property line.

2) Types of combined footings:

a) Rectangular combined footing
b) Trapezoidal combined footing
c) Strap beam combined footing
 a) Rectangular Combined Footing

 If 2/more columns carrying almost equal loads, rectangular combined footing is provided.
 Proportioning of foundation will involve the following steps:

Step 1: Area of Foundation

Q  Q2
A 1
q net  all 

Step 2: Location of resultant force

Q2 S
x
Q1  Q2
Step 3: For uniform distribution of pressure under the
foundation, the resultant load should pass through the
centre of foundation base:
a) Length of foundation;L  2 L1  x 

b) Offset on other side; L2  L  S  L1  0

Step 4: The width of foundation; B  A

L
 b) Trapezoidal Combined Footing

 If one of the columns is carrying much larger load than the other one, trapezoidal combined
footing is provided.
 Proportioning of foundation will involve the following steps:

Step 1: Area of Foundation;

Q1  Q2
A
q net  all 
Step 2: Location of resultant force;
Q2 S
x
Q1  Q2
Step 3: For uniform distribution of pressure under the
foundation, the resultant load pass through the centre of
foundation base:
 B  B2  L
x  L1   1 
B
 1  B 2  3

Step 4: The width of foundation; A   B1  B2 

L
 2 
 c) Strap Combined Footing

Used to connect an eccentrically loaded column footing to an interior column so that the
moment can be transferred through the beam and have uniform stress distribution
beneath both the foundations. „

This type of footing is preferred over the rectangular or trapezoidal footing if distance
between the columns is relatively large. „

• Some design considerations:

– Strap must be rigid ( Istrap/Ifooting > 2)
– Footings should be proportioned to
have approximately equal soil pressure
in order to avoid differential
settlement.
– Strap beam should not have contact
with soil to avoid soil reaction to it.
 MAT FOUNDATIONS

1)Mat foundations are generally used with soil that has

low bearing capacity.

2) Types of combined footings:

a) Flat plate mat
b) Flat plate thickened under columns
c) Beams and slab

d) Flat plate with pedestals

e) Slab with basement walls (rigid frame mat)

 a) Flat Plate Mat

 A flat plate mat is used for

fairly small and uniform
column spacing and
relatively light loads.

 A flat plate type of mat is

suitable when the soil is not
too compressible.
 b) Plate Thickened under Columns

 For columns subjected to

very heavy loads usually
the flat plate is thickened
under columns to guard
against diagonal shear and
negative moments.
 c) Beams and Slab

 When the column spacing

is large and carries
unequal loads it would be
more economical if beam
and slab raft is used.

 This type of mat is

particularly suitable when
underlying soil is too
compressible.
 d) Flat Plates with Pedestal

 The function of this mat is

same as that of flat plate
thickened under columns.

 In this mat pedestals are

provided at the base of the
columns.
 e) Slab with Basement Walls

 This type of mat is used

when columns carry
extremely heavy loads.

 In such design, basement

walls act as ribs or deep
beam.

 When the depth of beam

exceeds 90 cm in simple
beam and slab mat, a rigid
frame mat is referred.
REASON TO CONSIDER MAT FOUNDATIONS

1) Structural loads are so high and soil conditions are so poor (If spread footings
are more 1/3 of building footprint area, it would probably be more economical).

2) Soil is very erratic to differential settlements, or soils that are expensive or

subject to differential heaves.

3) Structural loads are erratic (flexural strength of mat absorb these irregularities).

4) Lateral loads are not uniformly distributed through the structure (may cause
differential horizontal movements in spread footings or pile caps).

5) Uplift loads are larger than spread footings can accommodate.

6) Bottom of the structure is located below the GWT (waterproofing is important

concern).
 -END-
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