CONSTRUCTON

TECHNOLOGY
FOUNDATION SYSTEMS
ASSGNMENT 1
MBEM 2014-2016
GROUP 1
BY
1. Amit Moza
2. Anwesha Samanta
3. Kanika Sachdeva
4. Pallav Paban Baruah
5. Raspreet Nayyar

FOUNDATION TYPES AND THEIR SELECTION

CRITERIA
CATEGORY

Shallow
foundation
s
A shallow
foundation,
according to
Terzaghi is one
whose width is
greater than its
breadth
(

Df
1 ).
B
Shallow
foundation
systems are
less costly than
deep
foundations and
are used when
the soil at
shallow depth is
sufficiently
strong to
withstand
safely the
stresses that
are likely to be

COMMO
N
TYPES

SELECTION CRITERIA

Spread
footings

A spread footing is provided to support an

individual column.
Used in low rise buildings where the
superimposed load is such that it can be safely
supported by the soil at shallow depths.

Strip
footings

Rectangul
ar
combined
footings

Trapezoid
al
Combined
footings
Strap
footing

Strip footings are used under load-bearing

walls. They are usually long reinforced concrete
members of uniform width and shallow depth.
Sometimes a strip footing is also provided for a
row of columns which are very closely spaced
that their spread footing touches or overlaps
each other.
Supports two columns.
Provided when two columns are close to each
other that their individual footing would overlap.
Also provided when the property line is so close
to one column that the spread footing would be
eccentrically loaded when kept entirely within
the property line.
Selection criteria is same as rectangular
combined footing.
However it is selected when the load supported
by the two columns are quite different and it
becomes economical to tapper the side
supporting lesser superimposed load.
A strap footing consists of two isolated footing
connected by a long reinforced concrete strap.
It is provided when the distance between the
two columns is large such that combined
footing becomes uneconomical.

imposed on it
by the
structure.

CATEGORY

Deep
foundation
s
Deep
foundations are
costly to build
and hence are
provided when
the soil at
shallow depths
is unable to
safely support
the structure.
Shallow
foundation

Raft
foundatio
n

A mat / raft foundation is a large slab

supporting a number of columns and walls
under the entire structure or a large part of the
structure.
Provided when the allowable soil pressure is
quiet low and to prevent differential settlement
on non-homogeneous soil ie. When the soil
conditions are quiet erratic.

Grillage
foundatio
n

Grillage foundation is used to transfer heavy

structural loads from steel columns to a soil
having low bearing capacity. There are many
advantages of grillage foundation. The major
advantage is it is economical and it is light.
Grillage foundations does not require deep
cutting because the required base area with
required pressure intensity is obtained at a
shallow depth.

COMMO
N TYPES

SELECTION CRITERIA

Piles
Foundatio
n

Provided in high-rise superstructures suited in

locations susceptible to earthquake, risk of soil
liquefaction, high ground water level.

Caissons
and Well
foundatio
n

Caissons are hollow substructures designed to be

constructed on or near the surface and then sunk as
a single unit to their required level. Used in river

and marine under-water construction such as

bridge foundation, oil rigs, intake wells etc.

Under
reamed
pile
foundatio
n.

system is
unsuitable in
such case as
the firm ground
is so deep that
it cannot be
reached
economical
using shallow
foundation
systems. Then
the stresses
originating
from the

Tension
Pile

These type of pile foundations are provided in

black cotton soil areas where the soil has
expansive properties.

Tension piles are foundation systems used in

structures located out on sea like offshore oilrig,
jetty etc.
These piles are subjected to tensile forces and
are used to anchor down the structure
subjected to hydrostatic uplift forces or uplifts