Foundations

and
Underwater Structures
Construction
Group 2

Shallow Foundations

Introduction

Shallow
foundations,
sometimes called
footings,
are
usually
embedded about
a metre or so into
soil.

Types of Shallow
Foundations
Wall or Strip Footings
Spread or Isolated Footings
Combined Footings
Strap or Cantilever Footings
Mat or Raft Foundations

Wall/Strip Footings
Provided for a load-bearing wall
Also provided for a row of columns which
are so closely spaced that their spread
footings overlap or nearly touch each other
In such case, it is more economical to
provide a strip footing than to provide a
number of spread footings in one line.

Spread or Isolated Fooings

Provided to support an individual column
Such footings can be circular, square or
rectangular slab of uniform thickness
Sometimes, It is stepped or haunched to
spread the load over a large area.

Combined Footings
Supports two columns and used when the
two columns are so close to each other that
their individual footings would overlap
Also provided when the property line is so
close to one column that a spread footing
would be eccentrically loaded when kept
entirely within the property line. By
combining that column to an interior
column, load is evenly distributed.
It may be rectangular or trapezoidal in plan.

Strap or Cantilever
Footings
Consist of two isolated footings connected
with a structural strap or lever.
The strap connects the two footings such
that they behave as one unit.
A strap footing is more economical that a
combined footing when the allowable soil
pressure is relatively high and the distance
between columns is large.

Mat or Raft Foundations

A large slab supporting a number of
columns and walls under the entire
structure or a large part of the structure
A mat is required when the allowable soil
pressure is low or where the columns and
walls are so close that the individual
footings would overlap or nearly touch each
other.

Method of Construction
1.

2.

3.

The whole area is dug put to the specified

depth and 30 cm more wide than the areas
to be covered.
The bed is compacted and sprinkled over
with water.
Then a layer of lime concrete or lean
concrete (1: 8 : 16) is laid to a suitable
thickness to act as a bottom cover.

4.

5.

6.

7.

After this, the reinforcement is laid. The

reinforcement consists of closely spaced
bars placed at right angles to one another.
Then the cement concrete (1: 2: 4) is laid
and compacted to the required thickness.
The concrete slab so laid is then properly
cured.
When loads are excessive, thick concrete
beams running under the columns can also
be constructed.

Deep Foundations

Introduction

Adeep
foundationis used
to transfer the load
of a structure down
through the upper
weak layer of
topsoil to the
stronger layer of
subsoil below.

Types of Deep Foundations

According to materials used
According to the length and load transfer
mechanism
According to the method of installation

According to the materials used

Concrete Piles

Timber Piles

Steel Piles

According to the length and

load transfer mechanism

According to the method of

installation
Bored Piles
Driven Piles

Bored Piles
Bored (Cast-in-situ) piles are concrete piles.
These piles are distinguished from drilled
piers as small diameter piles. They are
constructed by making holes in the ground
to the required depth and then filling the
hole with concrete.
Reinforcement may be used as per the
requirements.

Advantages of Bored Piles

1.

2.

3.

4.

Piles of any size and length may be

constructed at the site.
Damage due to driving and handling
common in driven piles can be eliminated.
These piles are ideally suitable places
where vibrations of any type are required
to be avoided to preserve the safety of the
adjoining structure.
They are suitable in soils of poor drainage
qualities since bored piles do not
significantly disturb the surrounding soil.

Disadvantages of Bored
Piles
1.

2.

3.

4.

Installation requires careful supervision and quality

control of all the materials used in the construction.
The method is quite cumbersome. It needs
sufficient storage space for all the materials used
in the construction.
The advantage of increased bearing capacity due
to compaction in granular soil that could be
obtained by a driven pile is not produced by a
bored pile.
Construction of piles in holes where there is heavy
current of ground water flow or artesian pressure is
very difficult.

Method of Construction

Driven Piles
Driven piles are long, slender column made
of preformed materials and having a
predetermined shape and size that can be
installed by impact hammering, vibrating or
pushing it into the ground to a design depth
or resistance.
Driven Piles may be timber, steel or
concrete.

Advantages of Driven Piles

1.

2.

3.

4.

Piles can be precast to the required

specifications.
Piles of any size, length and shape can be
made in advance and used at the site. As a
result, the program of the work will be rapid.
A pile driven into granular soil compacts the
adjacent soil mass and as a result the bearing
capacity of the pile is increased.
Driven piles may conveniently be used in places
where it is advisable not to drill holes for fear of
meeting ground water under pressure.

Disadvantages of Driven
Piles
1.

2.

3.

4.

Precast concrete piles must be properly reinforced

to withstand handling stress during transportation
and driving.
Since the exact length required at the site cannot
be determined in advance, the method involving
cutting extra length or adding more lengths. This
increases the cost of the project.
Driven piles are not suitable in soils of poor
drainage qualities.
Driven piles should not be used when foundations
of adjacent structures are likely to be affected due
to vibrations.

Method of Construction