Chapter 6: Foundation A structural foundation performs properly when
supporting soils behave properly.
BRIEF HISTORY
Building support is provided by a soil foundation
Rock Foundation bed- most stable medium to system, which isi an inseparable combination.
lay the footing of a structure. Soil foundation system provides support for the
Early builders of Babylonian Empire constructed lifetime of a building. All forces that may act
Raft or Mat Foundation from out of the sun- over that period of time must be considered.
dried and burned bricks on top of flat molded Foundation must be design to address all
earth that was filled up and raised from 1.50 to possible worst conditions that may develop.
4.50 meters high.
Foundation designs always include:
Mat foundation- 100-150 mm thick
Greeks extensively used marble blocks as The effect of nature’s dead load + live load
foundation tied together with metal band. Load effects caused by wind, heat, water and
Chinese builders also used large stones carefully earthwuakes
cut and accurately fitted w/o mortar (Great Wall Explosive blasts
of China)
Roman Builders- introduced various foundation Foundations are grouped into two broad categories:
types to suit the soil condition 1. Shallow Foundation
A. Spread Footing
A. Wood Piles- used on a very soft ground B. Mat or raft Foundations
B. Wood mats- laid underground where 2. Deep Foundation
masonry structures stood upon them. A. Piles
C. Usage of flat stone bounded w/ cement B. Piers
NOTE: Due to search for light weight materials for C. Caissons
foundation, early use of concrete was forgotten during General types of Foundations:
middle ages.
1. Spread Footing- plain/reinforced concrete;
Grillage footing (1880)- resolved the problem of constructed as close to the ground surface as
foundation weight. the building design permits.It is also used to
A. Its improved version was made of steel rail “spread out” building column and wall over a
embedded in concrete was introduced by sufficient large soil area.
John Root (1891) A. Square
Reinforced Concrete (early 1890) superseded B. Rectangular
all kinds of footing due to its advantages it offer. C. Trapezoidal
D. Long strips
SOIL AS FOUNDATION
2. Mat or raft foundation- large footing extending
Earth- ultimate support against all elements of or entire ground floor area of the building itself;
nature adopted to reduce differential settlement
Soil- primary material of construction between adjacent areas.
A. Weaker materials than others (steel, 3. Pile or pier foundation- itended to transmit
concrete and wood) structural loads through the upper zone of poor
B. For it to carry load satisfactorily, its greater soil to a depth where the earth is capable of
area or volume of soil is necessarily providing the desired support; utilized when it is
required. necessary to provide resistance to uplift or
Loads that are being carried by the steel, where there is possible loss of the ground or
concrete and wood had to be transmitted to the erosion due to flowing water.
ground A. Piles- slender foundation units driven into
A. But it needs a transfer device called place
Foundation B. Pier units- formed in place by excavating an
The purpose of foundation is to transmit the opening to the desired depth wehere
collective building load to the soil in such a way concrete is poured; large enough to
that the supporting soil will not be overloaded, exposed earth layer
and will not undergo deformation. C. TERMS USED: driven, bored, or drilled and
pre-cast or cast in place.
4. Caissons- structural box or chamber that Is sunk
in place by excavating systematically below the
bottom of the unit that descends to the final
depth.
A. Open Caisson- top and botto are open
during distillation; maybe sealed with
concrete to keep out of water.
B. Pneumatic Caisson- has the top and side
sealed and used compressed air to prevent
water and soil from entering the lower
chamber.
5. Floating Foundation- combination of mat-
caisson foundation; representing special
application of soil mechanic principles.
Piles- structural member of small cross-sectional area
with reasonable length driven down into the ground by
means of hammer or vibratory generators.
Kind of materials could be:
A. Timber
B. Concrete
C. Metal
Use of Piles
1. As friction pile, the load or bottom portion is
transmitted from the soft strata to the stiffer
lower strata
2. As friction pile, utilizing the surface of its full
length
3. As soil compactor
4. As end bearing column
5. As stabilizer of banks
6. As batter pile
7. As a dolphin
8. As sheeting
Quality and Durability of Piles
It should be in good condition with the following
resistive quality:
1. To resist under vertical loading
2. To resist crushing during the process of driving
3. To resist handling streses
4. To resist tension from uplift forces, heaving of
soil or rebound in the process of driving.
5. To resist horizontal and eccentric forces that
may cause bending when applied to it
6. To resist curvature bending and column action
for the portions not receiving lateral support
from the ground when freely standing in air,
water or a very liquid mud
