UNIT 5 DESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS 1. What is foundation and its role?

? The lowest artificially prepared parts of the structures which are in direct contact with the ground is known as foundation or substructure. Its role is to transmit the loads of the structures to the ground. The soil ground on which the foundations rest is called the foundation bed or foundation soil and it ultimately bears the load and interacts with the foundations of buildings. The lowermost portion of the foundation which is in direct contact with the sub-soil is called the footing. 2. Define bearing capacity of soil? Bearing capacity is the capacity of soil to support the loads applied to the ground. The bearing capacity of soil is the maximum average contact pressure between the foundation and the soil which should not produce shear failure in the soil. Ultimate bearing capacity is the theoretical maximum pressure which can be supported without failure; Allowable bearing capacity is the ultimate bearing capacity divided by a factor of safety. Sometimes, on soft soil sites, large settlements may occur under loaded foundations without actual shear failure occurring; in such cases, the allowable bearing capacity is based on the maximum allowable settlement. There are three modes of failure that limit bearing capacity: they include

general shear failure, local shear failure, punching shear failure. 3. Under what situation pile foundation is preferred? They are preferred in case soft/silty/clayey type of soils. As in such case of soils going for normal foundations may not be possible either from economical point of view or may not be possible at all in case we want to construct near seashore etc., these are the foundations which transfer load to greater depths, where there is strong strata / load reaching that point is minimal.

4. What is pile and pile cap? PILE:

Pile is a type of foundation, used in case soft/silty/clayey type of soils. which transfer load to greater depths, where there is strong strata / load reaching that point is minimal. These are pipe shaped, different types of pile foundations exist.

PILE CAP: A pile cap is a thick concrete mat that rests on concrete or timber piles that have been driven into soft or unstable ground to provide a suitable stable foundation. It usually forms part of the foundation of a building, typically a multi-storey building, structure or support base for heavy equipment. (OR) pile cap is a reinforced or mass concrete connecting beam cast around the head of a group of piles enabling it to act as a single unit to support the imposed load 5. Functions of pile cap. To distribute a single load equally over the pile group and thus over a greater area of bearing potential, To laterally stabilise individual piles thus increasing overall stability of the group. And To provide the necessary combined resistance to stresses set up by the superstructure and/or ground movement.

Pile caps are thick slabs used to tie a group of piles together to support and transmit column loads to the piles.

6. Different types of foundation. The following are types of reinforced concrete foundations, the particular type being chosen depending on the magnitude and disposition of the structural loads, and the bearing capacity of the ground.

a) Individual Footings: Individual footing are generally square and support a central column. Rectangular footings can be used when the space is restricted in one direction.

Individual footings of circular and other

shapes can also be used. b) Combined Footings: Combined footings become necessary where the external columns of the structure are close to the boundry of an existing structure and also where the footings of individual columns overlap one another. Such foundations (supporting more than one column/pedestal or a continuous wall) shall be proportioned to resist the design loads and individual reactions, in accordance with appropriate design requirements.

c) Raft foundation: This is where you have concrete spread around your building from the base of foundation all through to the german floor/oversite

concrete/ground floor slab. It is mainly used in areas where the soil are sandy and loose, you spend more on this than the other previous two most of the time. It is also recommended in waterlogged areas but with buildings of less storeys It has a ground beam which shuts out from the foundation base and is also attached to the ground floor slab to form a network of concrete embedded round the building space. The ground beam are usually from 600mm to 1200mm for low buildings.

d) Strip foundation: This is the most common type, it is mainly used where you have strong soil base and non-waterlogged areas. Most small buildings of just a floor are constructed with this type of foundation . The depth of the foundation could be from 600mm to 1200mm mostly for small scale buildings . When the soil is excavated, a level at which the concrete will settle evenly is established, then concrete is poured this may be from 150mm(6) thick to 450mm(18) thick depending also on building after that block is set round the trenches at the center of foundation ,the foundation usually follows the block lines. The blocks are then layed to d.p.c level before another concrete is poured on top, this is the german or oversite concrete. This type seems to be the cheapest.

e) Pile foundation: The most expensive and the strongest type of foundation, this requires specialist engineering to do. The soil are bored deep down the earth and filled with concrete to be able to support loads of multistory building on top. Most skyscrapers are constructed with this foundation type, a waterlogged area of high building may also require this. It is the costliest hence it is used for high rise building mostly.

7 . What is pile cut-off level? The "cut-off level" is the measurement at which the piles are cut to make them all of even height.