FOUNDATIONS AND SUB STRUCTURES

Part of the structure which has direct contact with the ground and transmitting the load of the super structure

to the sub soil.

1.State the Purpose/functions/objectives of Foundations.

1. Base for the structure: Forms the base for the any building structure. Foundation supports weight of
the super structure and transfer load to the soil.

2. Distribution of load on larger area: Foundation distributes the non uniform load of the building to the

Larger area of the soil, so the load exerted on the soil is less than the safe bearing capacity of the soil.

3.Minimization of differential settlement: by distributing the non uniform load evenly on the soil,
foundation minimizes the differential (unequal settlement) of the soil.

4.Safety against the soil erosion and soil movement.

5.Stability to the structure: Gives stability to superstructure against the wind,rail,etc,.

6.Provision of firm level base: Gives firm level base for brick masonry and concreting works.

2. Bearing capacity of the soil: Maximum load per unit area a soil can support without causing undesirable

settlements.

Ultimate bearing capacity of the soil:

Maximum load a soil can withstand without rupturing.

Safe bearing capacity of the soil = Ultimate bearing capacity of the soil / Factor of safety

2. Explain the factors affecting the bearing capacity of the soil? (6 Marks)

Position of water table, Type of soil and its properties such as density, shear strength,etc., Size, shape and
depth of foundation, Type of foundation.

3.Explain the methods to improve the bearing capacity of the soil? (8 Marks)

1.By draining the soil: Sandy soil and gravels can be drained by gravity pipe drainage system or insatalling
shallow tube wells.

2.By increasing the depth of foundation:

-can be applied for sandy soils,

-cannot be adopted where ground water level is high.

3.By compacting the soil: By pressing the soil, open air spaces between particles of the soil will be
reduced, thereby bearing capacity will be increased.

4. By confining the soil mass to restrict the movement: Sheet piles are inserted to form an enclosure, so the
movement of the soil is restricted.
 5. Injecting chemicals: Chemical solutions like silicates are injected under pressure into the soil mass, thereby
forming hard gel to develop a compact mass. This method is very costly.

4. State the requirements of a good foundation?

1. Foundation should transfer the load to the soil.

2. Should transmit the load without affecting the bearing capacity of the soil.

3. Depth of foundation should be sufficient enough to ensure adequate bearing capacity of the soil.

4. Foundation should provide the level surface to the superstructure.

5. Should provide safety against natural events like rain,flood,wind and earth quake forces.

6.Settlement of foundation should be within the limits.

TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS

I.SHALLOW FOUNDATION : - When depth of the foundation is less than or equal to the width of the foundation, it is
called shallow foundation.

- Used for lighter structures like office and residential buildings.

-Built sufficiently on dry ground.

-Cheapest type of foundation.

-Load of the structure spread over the larger area.

-Constructed by masonry, concrete or RCC.

1. SIMPLE FOOTING or

WALL FOOTING:

-Used where good bearing capacity of soil is available, at a depth less than or equal to 3m from the fround.

- Provided to carry light load

-The wall may be brick or stone masonry

-Used in small residential buildings, pump house, watchman cabin.

STEPPED FOOTING:

-Used when there is a sloped ground and to save the cost of concrete.

-Using RCC concrete three floors can be constructed.

ISOLATED OR COLUMN OR INDIVIDUAL FOOTING

-A footing that supports a sing;le column to transfer load of the structure safely to soil bed is known as isolated
or column footing.

-Footing may be square,rectangular or circular in shape.

-Square footings are economical for square and circular columns.

-Column footings may be simple,stepped or sloped.

-In the case of heavily loaded columns steel reinforcement provided in both the directions in the concrete bed.
 COMBINED FOOTINGS:

-A footing which
supports two or more columns is called as combined footing.

-Combined footings made in such way that the center of gravity and the center of gravity of the foundation are
in alignment, so that the load of the columns will be evenly distributed to the soil.

-It is either rectangular or trapezoidal.Used when the space between two columns is less.

-Used when the bearing capacity of the soil is very low.

-used when the column is to be provided with the boundary of the another property, the load may not be
uniform.
TRAPEZOILDAL FOOTING
CONTINUOUS FOOTINGS:

-Prevents differential settlement in the soil.

-Suitable for location liable to earth quake.

-A single continuous RCC slab is provided as two or three columns in a row.

MAT OR RAFT FOUNDATION:

-Mat is like a large spread footing ,covering entire building area. All the building loads are supported on a
common mat.

-This common foundation is provided for all the columns of the building.

-Mat reduces differential settlement.

-Used when load of the structure is heavy.

-Used when bearing capacity of the soil is low.

-Used when columns occur closely.

-Load will be transferred from column to main beam, main beam to secondary beam, secondary beam to mat.

The mat finally transfers the load to the soil.

DEEP FOUNDATION

- When the depth of foundation is more than width of foundation, its called as deep foundation.
- Used when the soil available at 3 to 6 m, is not having the desired bearing capacity.
- Deep foundation transmits the load of a super structure through weak soils to strong soil beds or rock beds
available at greater depth.
- General forms are i) pile ii) Piers iii) well.
1.PILE FOUNDATIONS
- A soil may have low bearing capacity at greater depths (6m or more), its strength cannot be improved by compaction.
In such case pile foundation is used.
-Pile is R.C.C or Timber member, driven into the ground upto the rock or hard surface.
- Part of the load on the pile is taken by friction offered by surrounding soil.
Piles are used under the following conditions.
- Loads to be transmitted to the sub soil are very large and concentrated.
- Providing mat foundation may not be economical.
- When foundation soil is loose and hard stratum is available at about 10m depth.
- Considerable rise or fall of sub soil water level occurs seasonally.
- When the structure is tall and heavy but deep bed of sandy soil is available.
- When there are possible future construction of deep canals close to site.
CLASIFICATION OF PILES :
1. Their material composition.
2. Installation methods.
3. Their functions.
4. Ground effects.
1.Classification bsed on material compostion.
STEEL PILES:
-Rolled H – section piles,Box piles , tube piles are used
- Can have any length.
- To prevent corrosion coated with paint or chemical or encased in concrete.
- Due to smaller cross-section it can driven into the soil easily.
-Box pile is rectangular or octagonal.It is filled with concrete
- When H-section is difficult to driven into the soil, box file is preferred.
-Tube pile can be sunk into ground easily.
CONCRETE PILES :
- Stronger and durable than steel pile.
- Not subjected to decay like timber pile.
i) Cast- in –situ concrete piles:
- Cast in the site itself
- A bore is dug into the ground by inserting a casing.
- Main and Lateral reinforcement rods are placed into the ground, then bore is
filled with cement concrete.
- In case of Raymond pile, the casing is kept inside the ground.
- In case of simplex pile, the casing is withdrawn from the bore after placing the
concrete.
ii) Pre-cast concrete piles:
- Cast in yard and transported to the site, where they have to be driven.
- Reinforcement is provide to enable the pile to resist bending moment developed
during lifting and transportation.
- Piles may have square,circular or octagonal section.
- A soild cast iron shoe is provide at the lower end of the pile to prevent breaking
during driving into hard rock
 COMPOSITE PILES :
- Made of two different materials above another.
- Steel and concrete or timber and concrete are used.
- Timber or steel pile provided below the ground water level.Concrete pile is
provided above the timber or steel pile.
2.Classification based on installation methods:
1.Cast in situ piles 2.Driven piles.
3.Classification based on function.
1.End bearing piles. 3.2. Friction piles. Under reamed piles.

END BEARING PILES:

- When top soil is soft or two weak to support the superstructure, piles are used to
transmit the load directly to the underlying bed rock or hard stratum.
- Soil only gives lateral support to the piles.
- Two or three piles forms a group.
- Column structure rests on pile cap.
- Concrete piles, steel sheet piles and timber piles are available.
FRICTION PILES:
- If the bed is not existing at a reasonable depth below the ground level, load is
transformed through friction along the pile length.
- Skin friction responsible for transferring the load along the pile length.

UNDER – REAMED PILES:

- Cast in situ pile with reinforcement in the main vertical rods and stirrups.
- Provided with bulb shaped enlargement at the bottom.
- If the pile is subjected to heavy loads, more than one bulb can be used.
- With one additional bulb ,bearing capacity is increased by 50%.

4.Classificatin based on ground effects

1.Compact or displacement piles.

2.Non displacement piles;

- Driven piles installed in pre-drilled holes.

WELL FOUNDATION:
- Hollow inside resembles well.
- A well curb of steel or R.C.C is constructed in a yard and it is placed where well is to be placed.
- The soil from inside the curb is digged out
- The well is gradually driven down till the required depth of reaching hard surface.
- After installing well curb, masonry wall is constructed above it.
- The hollow portion above the concrete filled with sand.
- Used for heavily loaded structures with low bearing capacity soil,
- Used in uder water such bridges,docks, etc,.