CHAPTER 1

SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS IN
SOIL
BAA4513 Foundation Engineering
ASSOC PROF DR HARYATI AWANG
CHAPTER 1- Types of Shallow Foundations
and Construction Techniques
a) Types of Shallow Foundations
b) Construction on Shallow Foundations
c) Basic Construction Specifications and Items for Inspection
d) Dewatering
Definition of FOUNDATION
Foundation is one of the most important parts of the structure.
Foundation is defined as that part of the structure that transfers the load from the
structure as well as its own weight over a large area of soil in such a way that the load
does not exceed the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil and the settlement of the total
structure remains within a tolerable limit.
Foundation is the part of a structure on which the building stands. The solid ground on
which the foundation rests is called the foundation bed.
Foundation Engineering
• Foundation engineering is the application and practice of the
fundamental principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics (i.e.,
geotechnical engineering) in the design of foundations of various
structures.
• These foundations include those of columns and walls of buildings,
bridge abutments, embankments, and others.
• It also involves the analysis and design of earth-retaining structures
such as retaining walls, sheet-pile walls, and braced cuts.
• Foundation analysis, in general, can be divided into two categories: shallow
foundations and deep foundations.
• Spread footings and mat (or raft) foundations are referred to as shallow
foundations. A spread footing is simply an enlargement of a load-bearing wall
or column that makes it possible to spread the load of the structure over a
larger area of the soil.
• In soil with low load-bearing capacity, the size of the spread footings is
impracticably large.
• In that case, it is more economical to construct the entire structure over a
concrete pad. This is called a mat foundation.
• Piles and drilled shafts are deep foundations. They are structural members
used for heavier structures when the depth requirement for supporting the
load is large.
• They transmit the load of the superstructure to the lower layers of the soil.
• Lateral Earth Pressure and Earth-Retaining Structures
• This part includes discussion of the general principles of lateral earth
pressure on vertical or near-vertical walls based on wall movement
and analyses of retaining walls, sheet pile walls, and braced cuts.
Objective of foundation
• Distribute the weight of the structure over a large area of
soil.
• Avoid unequal settlement.
• Prevent the lateral movement of the structure.
• Increase structural stability.
Criteria in choosing foundation
• As we know that there are different types of soil and bearing
capacity of the soil is different for each individual type of soil. So
engineers chose different types of foundation depending on :
• the soil profile,
• size of the structure
• load of the structure,.
• In general, all foundations are divided into two
categories, such as SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS and DEEP
FOUNDATIONS.
• The terms Shallow Foundation and Deep Foundation
refer to the depth of the soil at which the foundation is
placed.
• Generally, if the width of the foundation is greater
than the depth of the foundation it is labeled as
“Shallow Foundation” and if the width of the
foundation is smaller than the depth of the foundation
it is called as “Deep Foundation.”
Shallow Foundation
Shallow foundations must have two main characteristics:
1. They have to be safe against overall shear failure in the soil that
supports them.
2. They cannot undergo excessive displacement, or settlement.
(The term excessive is relative, because the degree of settlement
allowed for a structure depends on several considerations.)
• The load per unit area of the foundation at which shear failure in soil
occurs is called the ultimate bearing capacity,
TYPE OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
Shallow Foundations
Shallow Foundations
Shallow Foundations
Shallow Foundations
Shallow Foundations
Shallow Foundations
Shallow Foundations
DISADVANTAGES OF USING
SHALLOW FOUNDATION

1- Settlement
2- Limit Capacity * Soil * Structure
3- Irregular ground surface (slope, retaining
wall)
4- Foundation subjected to pullout, torsion,
moment.
Shallow vs. Deep Foundations
Shallow Foundations

• Usually the more economical option

• As a general rule, consider deep foundations
only when shallow foundations do not give
satisfactory design
• Types of Shallow foundations
• Spread footings (square, circular, rectangular)
• Combined Footings
• Continuous Footings
• Mat or Raft Foundations
Combined/Strap Footing
 Construction Methods

• Excavation; Backhoe followed by handwork

o Neat footing-no formwork used
o Formed footing
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Construction of Shallow Foundations
Basic Construction Specifications and
Items for Inspection

3 construction requirements must be address

in the construction specification for footings
in soil:-
 Minimum depth to base of footing
 Certain minimum distances with the respect to
buried utilities, cavities, or other foundation elements
 Sequence of construction of individual footings
Basic Construction Specifications and
Items for Inspection
Basic Construction Specifications and
Items for Inspection
 Example 8-1


A square footing near the
property line of an adjacent structure is going to be designed.
The local municipality owns an easement along the property
line for a sewer pipe with diameter equal to 0.5 m and an invert
depth of 4 m below grade. At what distance from the property
line and at what depth would u consider placing your footing?
Example 8-1
Solution
Basic Construction Specifications and
Items for Inspection
Construction Inspection

 Base elevation
 Nature and type of soil at the base of the excavation
 Base cleaning before concrete placement
 Dimensions and cross section of footings, grade
beams and other foundation elements
 Concrete placement
 Time for concrete placement
 Footing integrity after concrete placement
Dewatering

 Sump pumping
 Wellpoints
Sump Pumping

 Under CERTAIN conditions, be effective

 Pump placed inside a sump, usually partly
backfilled with gravel to prevent the
development of quick condition
 GW accumulates within the sump as it
surfaces, from which it is pumped out
Wellpoints

 Installed in series along the borders of the

zone to be dewatered
 Effective for relatively clean sand
 Higher fines content may lead to wellpoint
clogging
Wellpoints