Foundation Engineering

CE 424

3. Types of foundation & foundation

materials

Engr. Cristopher A. Benito

Department of Civil Engineering
University of Southern Mindanao
 Contents
– Introduction
– Shallow Foundations
– Deep Foundations

2
3
 Introduction
 Why different types of foundations?
 General types of foundations

4
 Introduction

 Why different types of foundations?

What type of foundation you choose will depend upon many

factors:

• Structure: type, use, loadings, code requirement.

• Ground: layers, subsurface soil condition, groundwater.
• Cost

5
 Introduction

 General types of foundations

Foundation might be:

• Shallow, or
• Deep

High building
They could be constructed from:
• Concrete (reinforced)
• Steel
• Other materials: Timber, Stones,…

Low-rise building supported by

Shallow foundations
(footings)

Deep foundation
(piles)
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 Shallow foundations
 Definition
 Advantages
 Types of shallow foundations

7
 Shallow foundations

 Definition
• Shallow foundations are those founded near to the
finished ground surface; generally where the
founding depth (Df) is less than the width of the
footing (B) and generally less than 3m.
• Shallows foundations are used when surface soils
are sufficiently strong and stiff to support the
imposed loads.
• They are generally unsuitable in weak or highly
compressible soils, such as poorly-compacted fill,
peat, and alluvial deposits, etc.
Df

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 Shallow foundations

 Advantages
• Cost (affordable)
• Construction procedures (simple)
• Material (mostly reinforced concrete)
• Labor (doesn’t need high experience)

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations

1 Spread
Shallow Foundation

2 Combined

3 Mat (Raft)

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations
often rectangular or square and are
used to support single columns. This is
1 Spread one of the most economical types of
• Pad foundations footings and is used when columns are
spaced at relatively long distances.
Shallow Foundation

• Strip foundation

Column

2 Combined

Pad footing

3 Mat (Raft) Column Column

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations

1 Spread
• Pad foundations Strip footings are continuous
Shallow Foundation

• Strip foundation foundation used to support walls.

2 Combined Wall

3 Mat (Raft)
Strip, continuous, or wall footing

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations

Combined footings are used when two columns are so

1 Spread close that single footings cannot be used or when one
column is located at or near a property.
Shallow Foundation

Column Column
Cross section

2 Combined
• Rectangular
• Trapezoidal combined footing
• Strap footing Footing

Plan view
3 Mat (Raft)

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations

1 Spread
Shallow Foundation

Column Column

2 Combined
• Rectangular
• Trapezoidal

View plan of Trapezoidal combined Footing

3 Mat (Raft)

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations
Consist of two single footings connected
with a beam or a strap and support two
1 Spread
single columns. This type replaces other
combined footings and is more economical.
Shallow Foundation

Column Column

Strap Cross section

2 Combined
Footing Footing
• Rectangular
• Trapezoidal
• Strap
Strap beam
3 Mat (Raft) Plan view

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations

1 Spread Consists of one slab usually placed under

the entire building area.
Shallow Foundation

Column
Cross section

2 Combined
Footing

Plan view
3 Mat (Raft)

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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations
Raft foundations are used, when soil
bearing capacity is low, column loads are
1 Spread heavy, single footings cannot be used, piles
are not used, and differential settlement
Shallow Foundation

must be reduced.

2 Combined

3 Mat (Raft)
Steel reinforcement
for the raft
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 Shallow foundations
 Types of shallow foundations

1 Spread
Shallow Foundation

A raft foundation normally consists of a

concrete slab which extends over the entire
loaded area. It may be stiffened by ribs or
beams incorporated into the foundation.

2 Combined

Raft
Beam

3 Mat (Raft)
Soft soil

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 Deep foundations
 Definition
 Types of deep foundations

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 Deep foundations

 Definition

• Deep foundations are those founding too

deeply below the finished ground surface
for their base bearing capacity to be

High building
affected by surface conditions, this is
usually at depths >3 m below finished
ground level.
• Deep foundations are used when there
are weak soils near the surface or when
loads are very high, such as very large
skyscrapers.
• Deep foundations derive their support
from deeper soils or bedrock. Soft soil

Bedrock
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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations

1 Piles
Deep Foundation

2 Piers

3 Caissons

Compensated
4
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations
Piles are relatively long, slender members
1 Piles that transmit foundation loads through soil
strata of low bearing capacity to deeper soil
or rock strata having a high bearing capacity.
Deep Foundation

2 Piers
Piles used as a foundation
for structure

3 Caissons

Compensated
4
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations
In addition to supporting structures, piles
are also used to anchor structures against
1 Piles uplift forces and also to assist structures in
resisting lateral and overturning forces.
Deep Foundation

2 Piers

3 Caissons

Compensated
4
foundations

Piles used as a retaining wall

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations
Pile caps are thick slabs used to tie a group
1 Piles of piles together to support and transmit
column loads to the piles.
Deep Foundation

Column
2 Piers
Pile Cap
Cross section
Piles
3 Caissons

Compensated
4 Plan
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations
Pile length and size have to be designed to
1 Piles tolerate all possible loading conditions.
Deep Foundation

Column
2 Piers

3 Caissons

Compensated Broken
4
foundations Piles

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations
Pile length and size should be designed to
1 Piles tolerate all possible loading conditions.
Deep Foundation

Column
2 Piers

3 Caissons
Shanghai building collapse

Compensated Broken
4
foundations Piles

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations

1 Piles Based on method of installation:

• Driven piles (displacement piles): made
Deep Foundation

of steel, pre-stressed concrete, timber, or

composite.
2 Piers
• Bored piles (replacement piles): Augured
and cast in-situ.
• Other piles: Sheet-pile, Micropiles,
3 Caissons Suction Piles, Vibrated Stone Columns

Compensated
4
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations Driven Piles

1 Piles Board piles

Driven piles
Deep Foundation

2 Piers

3 Caissons

Compensated
4
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations

1 Piles Driven or displacement piles

Deep Foundation

2 Piers

3 Caissons

Compensated
4
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations
Bored piles
Pile length and size have to be designed to
1 Piles tolerate all possible loading conditions.
Deep Foundation

2 Piers

3 Caissons

Compensated
4
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations

1 Piles Bored or replacement piles

• Advantages: - length can be varied, very long lengths possible
Deep Foundation

- removed soil can be compared with design data

- penetration tests can be carried out in boreholes
2 Piers - very large bases can be possibly formed
- drilling tools can break up boulders, obstructions,..
- little noise and vibration during construction
- no ground heave
3 Caissons
• Disadvantages: - piles liable to squeezing and necking in soft soil
- special techniques required for concreting in water
bearing ground
Compensated - concrete cannot be inspected after installation
4
foundations - enlarged bases cannot be formed in collapseable soil
- cannot be easily extended above ground
- boring may cause instability and settlement of
adjacent structures 31
 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations

1 Piers are foundations for carrying a heavy

Piles structural load which is constructed in-situ in a
deep excavation.
Deep Foundation

2 Piers

3 Caissons

Compensated
4
foundations

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations

1 Piles
Deep Foundation

2 Piers

3 Caissons

Caissons are a form of deep foundation which are

constructed underwater above seabed, then sunk to the
Compensated
4 required level by excavating or dredging material from
foundations
within the caisson.

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 Deep foundations
 Types of deep foundations
• These are deep foundations in which the relief of stress
1 Pilesdue to excavation is approximately balanced by the applied
stress due to the foundation.
• The net stress applied is therefore very
Deep Foundation

small. A compensated foundation

normally comprises a deep basement.
2 Piers

Original Site Remove soil

equal in
3 Caissons
Soft soil susceptible weight to
to settlement or low the building
bearing strength
Soil pressure at this level is no
4 Compensated greater than when original soil was
foundations in place

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References:
1. Das, Braja. Principles of Foundation Engineering, 7th edition. CENGAGE Learning,
2011.
2. Budhu, Muni. Soil Mechanics and Foundations, 3rd edition. JOHN WILEY & SONS,
INC. 2011
3. Arora, K.R., Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 6th edition. 2003.
4. Khitoliya, R. K. (2015). Foundation engineering. I K International Publish.
5. Baxter, I. (2023). Foundation engineering. NY Research Press.
6. Jirásko, D. (2017). Foundation engineering. Czech Technical University in Prague.
7. Baxter, I. (2023a). Foundation engineering. NY Research Press.
8. Simons, N. E., & Menzies, B. (2001). A short course in foundation
engineering. Telford.
9. Site investigation. (2015). Foundation Engineering for Expansive Soils, 59–73.
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118996096.ch3 .
10. Review of soil mechanics concepts and analytical techniques used in foundation
engineering. (2013). The Foundation Engineering Handbook, 15–70.
https://doi.org/10.1201/b15592-5.

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 References
• Braja M Das, 2011, Principles of Foundation Engineering,, 7th ed.
• Previous course materials at KSU
• http://www.slideshare.net/stootypal/types-of-foundation
• http://data.bolton.ac.uk/staff/phm2/files/Semester1/J3%20PJ4%20Geotechnic
s/Pile%20Foundations%20v1.00%20Oct2010.pdf

• Geotechnical on the web:

http://environment.uwe.ac.uk/geocal/foundations/founbear.htm.

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