Subsurface investigations:

Subsoil conditions are examined using test borings, provided by soil engineer (geotechnical).

Number of borings and location of borings depends on building type and site conditions.

Typically for uniform soil conditions borings are spaced 100-150 apart, for more detailed work,
where soil footings are closely spaced and soil conditions are not even borings are spaced 50 apart.

Larger open warehouse type spaces, where fewer columns are present (long span) required less
boring samples.

Borings must extend to firm Strata (go through unsuitable foundation soil) and then extend at
least 20 feet more into bearable soil.
Location of borings samples are indicated on engineer plan.

Borings are not taken directly under proposed columns.

Borings indicate: depth, soil classification (according to the unified soil system), and moisture
content and sometimes ground water level is shown as well. (Physical properties: particle size, moisture
content, density).

Soil report recommendation should be based on testing of materials obtained from on site borings
and to include:
1.

Bearing capacity of soil.

2.

Foundation design recommendations.

3.

Paving design recommendations.

4.

Compaction of soil.

5.

Lateral strength (active, passive, and coefficient of friction).

6.

Permeability.

7.

Frost depth.

Surface investigations:

High Water Table.

Presence of trouble soils: Peat, soft clay, loose silt, or fine water bearing sands.

Rock close to the surface (require blasting for excavations).

Dumps or Fills.

Evidence of slides or subsidence.

Factors Affecting Selection of Foundation are:

1. Loads from Building:
The first factor considered is loads from building on the foundation. This load is a combination of dead
load and imposed loads on the buildings. Other loads such as wind loads, earthquake loads, snow loads
etc. are also considered based on location.

The quantity of loads depends on the type of structure, number of floors and material of construction. As
the number of floors increases, the dead load and imposed loads also increase. Choice of material for
construction such as reinforced concrete or steel construction also has impacts on foundation. Reinforced
concrete buildings exert more loads on the foundation compared to steel structures.
Based on the safe bearing capacity of structure and quantity of loads on foundation, type of foundation
and its base area is calculated.
2. Type of Soils:
Soil is a mixture of solid particles, moisture and air. Soil can be of many types such as clayey soil or
expansive soil, sandy soil or loose soils etc. The soil near surface is called as top soil and below a depth of
300mm is called as sub soil. Generally subsoil is used as base for foundation for small buildings.

However, soil investigation should be carried out to know the nature of soil, depth of water table, type of
soil, depth of different layers of soil and to know the bearing capacity of soil at different levels for large
structures.
When the load is transferred from the structure to soil through foundations, the soil tends to consolidate
and settlement of foundation occurs. This consolidation process can be quick in case of non-cohesive soils
such as sands and can even take years for other soils. The complete settlement of foundation in sandy soil
may occur even before the building construction has been completed. Clayey soil can hold the water for
longer time and thus settlement is very slow and can take years. Soil clayey holds large amount of water,
and thus settlement of foundation is large in such soils.
The settlement of foundation causes cracks in building walls, beams, slabs etc. and building can even fail
in case of large settlement.

The soil investigation is necessary when the loads from the building are large and the bearing capacity
cannot be estimated based on type of soil condition at site.

The soil investigation should be carried out for following information:

The nature and thickness of made-up ground/top soil above the sub-soil

The nature, thickness and stratum depth of sub-soil

An assessment of allowable bearing pressure

Groundwater levels, chemicals in the ground, etc.

Existing structures or hazards in the ground.

3. Type of Structure in Neighborhood:

The selection of foundation for building construction can also be done based on the type of foundation
selected for the buildings in the neighboring buildings for the same types. Based on the success
or failure of foundations for such buildings, decision can be taken for the selection of foundation.
4. Types of Foundations:
Types of foundation such as isolated foundations, combined footings, pile foundations and raft or mat
foundations etc. based on the type of soils and loads from the buildings can be selected based on
suitability and requirement.

TECHNIQUES USED FOR IMPROVING BEARING CAPACITY OF SOIL

The following techniques can be used for improving bearing capacity of soil as per the site condition.

Increasing depth of foundation

Draining the soil

Compacting the soil

Confining the soil

Replacing the poor soil

Using grouting material

Stabilizing the soil with chemicals

1. INCREASING DEPTH OF FOUNDATION

At deeper depths, the over burden pressure on soil is higher; hence the soil is more compacted at deeper
depth. As a result it shows higher bearing capacity. This is applicable only for cohesionless soils such as
sandy and gravelly soils. This method of improving bearing capacity of soil is not applicable if the subsoil
material grows wetter as depth increase. This method has a limited use because with increase in depth, the
weight and cost of foundation also increases.

2. DRAINING THE SOIL

With increase in percentage of water content in soil, the bearing capacity decreases. In case of sandy soil,
the bearing capacity may reduce as much as 50% due to presence of water content. Cohesionless soils

(i.e. sandy & gravelly soils) can be drained by laying the porous pipes to a gentle slope, over a bed of
sand and filling the trenches above the pipes with loose boulders. These trenches subsequently should
lead to the nearest well or any water body.

3. COMPACTING THE SOIL

If we compact soil using appropriate method, then there will be increase in its density and shear strength.
As a result the bearing capacity of soil also increases. There are many methods of compacting soils on
site. Few of them are mentioned below.

By spreading broken stones, gravel or sand and thereafter ramming well in the bed of trenches.

Using an appropriate roller as per the soil type to move at a specified speed.

Br driving concrete piles or wood piles and withdrawing piles and subsequently filling the holes
with sand or concrete.

4. CONFINING THE SOIL

In this method, the soils are enclosed with the help of sheet piles. This confined soil is further compacted
to get more strength. This method is applicable for shallow foundations.

5. REPLACING THE POOR SOIL

In this method the poor soil is first removed and then the gap is filled up by superior material such as
sand, stone, gravel or any other hard material. In order to do this, first excavate a foundation trench of
about 1.5 m deep, and then fill the hard material is stages of 30 cm. Then compact the hard material at
every stage. This method is useful for foundations in black cotton soils.

6. USING GROUTING MATERIAL

This method is applicable for soils where there is presence of pores, fissures or cracks etc underneath the
foundation. In this method, poor soil bearing strata is hardened by injecting the cement grout under

pressure, because it scales off any cracks or pores or fissures etc. For proper distribution of the cement
grout, the ground is bored and perforated pipes are introduced to force the grout.

7. STABILIZING THE SOIL WITH CHEMICALS

This method of improving bearing capacity of soil is costly and applied in exceptional cases. In this
method, chemical solutions, like silicates of soda and calcium chloride is injected with pressure into the
soil. These chemical along with the soil particles form a gel like structure and develop a compact
mass.This is called chemical stabilization of soil and used to give additional strength to soft soils at
deeper depths.