ARC5305 Long-Span & Special

Structures
Chapter One

Introduction to Foundation
systems

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systems
 Outlines
Introduction
Types of Foundations
Loads on Foundation
Selection of Foundation type and principles of its
design

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 Introduction
What is foundation?
A foundation is the lowest artificially built part of a
structure which transmits the load of the structure to
the ground.

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 Introduction
Purposes of Foundations
 Foundations are used for the following purposes:

i. To distribute the load of the structure over a large

bearing area so as to bring intensity of loading
within the safe bearing capacity of the soil lying
underneath.
ii. To load the bearing surface at a uniform rate so as
to prevent unequal settlement.
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 Introduction
To secure a level and firm bed for building
operations.
To increase the stability of the structure as a
whole.
To prevent the lateral movement of the supporting
material.

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 Types of Foundations
Depends on foundation loads and soils bearing
capacity foundations can be broadly classified into
the following two categories.
a) Shallow foundations
b) Deep foundations

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 Types of Foundations
a) Shallow Foundations

The foundations provided immediately beneath the

lowest part of the structure near to the ground level
are known as shallow foundations.
Shallow foundations are further classified into the
following types:-

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 Types of Foundations
i. Spread or Isolated footings
ii. Combined footing
iii.Cantilever footing
iv.Continuous or wall footing
v. Raft/Mat foundation

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 Types of Foundations
i. Spread or Isolated Footings

Used to support individual column.

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 Types of Foundations
ii. Combined Footing

A combined footing supports two or sometimes

three column in a row.
Combined footing is used when property lines,
equipment locations, column spacing or other
considerations limit the footing clearance at the
column locations.

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 Types of Foundations

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 Types of Foundations

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 Types of Foundations
iii. Cantilever or Strap Footing
Cantilever footing consists of two individual
footings connected by a beam called a strap.
Cantilever footing may be used where the distance
between the columns is so great that a trapezoidal
combined footing becomes quite narrow with
resulting high bending moments.

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 Types of Foundations
The strap beam does not remain in contact with
soil so a strap doesn’t transfer any pressure to the
soil.

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 Types of Foundations
iv. Continuous or Wall Footing
 In this type of footing a single continuous reinforced
concrete slab is provided as foundation of wall and
three or more columns in a row.
 This type of footing is suitable at locations liable to
earthquake activities.
 This also prevents differential settlement in the
structure.
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 Types of Foundations

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 Types of Foundations

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 Types of Foundations
iv. Raft/Mat Foundation
A raft or mat is a combined footing that covers the
entire area beneath a structure and supports all the
columns.
When its used?
1) The allowable soil pressure is low or the structure
loads are heavy.

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 Types of Foundations
2) The use of spread footings would cover more than
one-half of the area
3) The soil mass contains compressible layers so that
the differential settlement would be difficult to
control

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 Types of Foundations

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 Types of Foundations

Flat plate mat foundation Two-way beam and slab (Ribbed mat)

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 Types of Foundations
b) Deep Foundations
When the upper ground stratum at a site is weak
and unable to carry the load even by a raft
foundation, then eventually shallow foundation has
to be ruled out and a deep foundation is adopted.
Deep foundations are further classified into the
following types:-

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 Types of Foundations
i. Pile foundation,
ii. Pier foundation or
iii. Well foundation (Caissons)

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 Types of Foundations
i. Pile Foundation
A pile is relatively a small diameter shaft which is
used to transmit the loads to deeper soil layers
capable of supporting the loads.
It is adopted for a heavy loaded structure that is
erected in soils having low bearing capacity
transferred to the group of piles through the pile cap.

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 Types of Foundations

 To ensure stability
against lateral forces, a
pile cap must include at
least three piles otherwise
it should be connected by
the beams to adjacent
caps.

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 Types of Foundations
Classification of Piles

Based on mode of loads transfer

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 Types of Foundations

Based on use

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 Types of Foundations

Based on composition

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 Types of Foundations

Based on method of Installation

 Driven Piles
 Driven & Cast in-situ Piles
 Bored and Cast in-situ Piles

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 Types of Foundations

Bored and Cast in-situ Piles

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 Types of Foundations
ii. Pier Foundations (Drilled Caisson Foundation)
Pier foundation is preferred in a location where the
top strata consists of decomposed rock over lying a
strata of sound rock. In such cases it is difficult to
drive the bearing piles through decomposed rock.
Pile foundations transfer the load through friction and
or bearing, pier foundations transfer the load only
through bearing.
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 Types of Foundations

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 Types of Foundations
iii. Well Foundations (Caissons)
These are box like structures circular or rectangular
which are sunk from the surface of either land or
water to the desired depth.
Much large in diameter than the pier foundations.

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 Types of Foundations

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 Loads on Foundation

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Selection of Foundation type and principles of its design

In selecting the foundation type the following points

must be considered:
 Function of the structure,
 Loads it must carry,
 Subsurface conditions,
 Cost of foundation in comparison with the cost of
the superstructure.

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Selection of Foundation type and principles of its design

Principles of Foundation design:

Step 1: Preparing a foundation plan and estimate the
loads on it.
Step 2: Determine the allowable soil bearing capacity
depending upon the soil investigation report.
Step 3: Depending upon the allowable soil bearing
capacity and structural considerations, determine the
required foundation depth.
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Selection of Foundation type and principles of its design

Step 4: Compute the dimensions of the foundation

based on the given loading and allowable bearing
pressure.
Step 5: Estimate the total and differential settlements
of the structure.

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