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CHAPTER I
MACHINE FOUNDATION
1. FOUNDATION FOR PUMPS AND MOTORS

The correct foundation of the equipment, whatever it

may be, is a fundamental aspect for its efficient
operation.

The foundation or base, as it is generally called, of

a piece of equipment, is nothing more than a solid
concrete structure, heavy enough to provide permanent
rigid support to the entire base or seat area of the
equipment, in addition to absorbing any effort,
unexpected or normal vibrations.

2. FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE

FOUNDATION.

The foundation that is generally used, especially in

cases where silence is not necessary, almost without
exception, is a concrete block in due proportion with
respect to the size of the engine, correctly leveled

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and anchored to withstand the continuous operation of

said engine.

The proportions of these foundations depend largely on

the type of motor, its speed, the properties of the
surface or soil on which the foundation is to be built
and the method used to transmit the force.

In relation to the bases for pumps, in the case of

horizontal centrifugal pumps, they come mounted or are
mounted on a chassis with the motor, so when
calculating the base for the motor, the weight of the
pump must also be included, that is That is, in this
case the base of the motor and the pump are the same.

However, if it is a vertical pump, its base will be

individual and must take into account, in addition to
the properties of the terrain, the weight of the
column when it is filled with the liquid to be pumped.

3. FOUNDATION ON ROCKS.

If the soil where the foundation is going to be built

is monolithic or solid rock, the following issues must
be taken into account:

a) The top of the foundation should be as low as

possible in order to facilitate work on the
engine, so the excavation should be made deep
enough.
b) It is important that the floor does not have
sections of earth, because if it did, over time
it would be uneven and the foundation would rest.
This is because humidity, vibration and other
causes,

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They cause the earth to change its position. To

function correctly, all engines require a
perfectly level support, both longitudinally and
transversely. This level must be maintained for
the life of the engine.

Rock foundation

4. EARTH FOUNDATION.

The following figure

illustrates an
installation on firm
ground. It is very similar
to the one shown in the
previous figure, but it
differs from that in that
its foundation is much
larger. There is a wide
variety of foundations of
this type, but the main
objective of this image is
to show the largest volume
of the concrete. Ground foundation
5. FOUNDATION ON SOFT SOIL
The foundation on soft soil is nothing more than the

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construction of the foundation with a base foot large

enough in order to cover the largest surface that
allows reducing the pressure per unit area.

floating foundations

6. REPLANNING.

Before carrying out the work, the stakes are placed

that will serve as a guide to carry out the
excavations and subsequently the leveling and
alignment of the boxes and templates for both the
motor and the pump. The stakes will be placed far
enough away so that they will not be knocked down or
covered by excavation work. To locate the stakes, the
axes of the well will be taken as a base, using a
rope. All the stakes must be perfectly level, the
final location of the axes can be done using nails to
which the properly tensioned ropes will be tied.

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the stakes

7. EXCAVATION

Excavations generally have to be made much wider on

each side than is actually needed. This is done with
the aim of being able to place the formwork with the
required reinforcement and remove it more easily once
the concrete has set.

8. Base

The first operation that we must carry out when

planning the construction of an engine base is to
carry out previous calculations to know its volume,
dimensions, etc.

9. BASE CALCULATIONS

Weight calculation.

To calculate the weight of the base, we must take into

consideration the weight, rpm, the number of cylinders
and their position in the engine.

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This calculation is carried out in a simple way

applying the following formula:

P= Kx √ RPM x P'
Where:
P = Weight of the base (kg)
K = Constant
P' = Weight of the equipment (kg).

10. CALCULATION OF THE VOLUME OF THE FOUNDATION.

Already knowing the weight (p) of the base, the

volume of the foundation can be calculated. This not
only tells us the amount of materials necessary to
use, but also helps us find the dimensions of our
base. The formula used is:

V = Volume of concrete

(m3)

Where:
P = Base weight (kg)

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Pe = Specific weight of concrete (2 400kg/m3)

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CHAPTER II

FOUNDATION OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

1. FOUNDATION OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

Foundations for static equipment are used throughout

the world in industrial process and industrial
environments.

The term "static equipment" refers to industrial

equipment that does not contain parts that move long
distances or whose operational characteristics are
essentially static in nature.

2. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Equipment lower configuration such as legs,

saddles, solid base, grill, or multiple support
locations.

2. Anticipated loads such as the weight of static

equipment, and the loads developed during lifting,
operation, and maintenance.

3. Operational and process requirements such as

accessibility, temperature effects, and drainage.

4. Lifting and maintenance requirements

5. Site conditions such as land characteristics,

topography, seismicity, climate, and other
environmental effects.

6. The economic factors.

7. Regulatory or construction codes.

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8. Construction considerations.

9. Environmental requirements.

3. TYPICAL FOUNDATIONS
3.1 VERTICAL VESSELS AND PILE FOUNDATIONS.

Individual pedestals can be round, square,

hexagonal or octagonal. The
Round pedestals can create construction
difficulties. Square pedestals make formwork
easier, but can hold much more material than is
required. Octagonal pedestals are a compromise
between square and round; This type of pedestal is
widely used.

3.2 HORIZONTAL VESSELS AND HEAT EXCHANGE FOUNDATIONS.

HE support equipment horizontal as the

heat exchangers and reactors of various types.

• FOUNDATIONS OF THE SPHERICAL GLASS

• FOUNDATIONS OF MECHANICAL TOOLS
3.3 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND FOUNDATIONS OF SUPPORTING
STRUCTURES

Electrical equipment typically consists of

transformers, power circuit breakers, switch
facings, motor control centers. The support
structures consist of

“buses”, line traps, switches, and cut-outs

good heavens.

Foundations for electrical equipment, such as

transformers, power circuit breakers, and other
massive power equipment, are typically designed for

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(1) dead loads, (2) seismic loads, (3) live loads,

and (4) ) operating loads. These Foundations are
typically in isolated stands, or stands with piles.
Anchorage is provided by anchor screws or by
welding the base equipment fillers.

4. DESIGN PRINCIPLES
4.1 DEAD LOADS
Dead loads invariably consist of the weight of the
equipment, platforms, conduit, fireproofing,
cladding, ductwork, and other permanent
attachments.
4.2 LIVE LOADS.
Live loads consist of the gravity load produced by
the personnel, Mobile
Equipment,
tools, and other items that can be placed on the
main piece of equipment, but are not permanently
attached to it.

Live loads will normally not operate during

equipment operation. Typically, such charges will
only be present during maintenance and shutdown
periods.

• OPERATING LOADS

• LOADS OF THE WIND

• LOADS SEISMIC

• LOADS TEST

> MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR LOADS > MISCELLANEOUS LOADS

• LOADS THERMAL

• LOADSOF IMPACT

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• LOADSOF THE EXPLOSION

• LOADSOF ICE OR SNOW

• LOADS ELECTRICAL

4.3 ANCHORAGE

Anchoring a piece or piece of equipment to its

foundation is often the most critical aspect of a
foundation design.

The anchors can be cast in situ or precast

(retrofit).

4.4 ANCHOR BOLTS AND CUTTING DEVICES.

Forces from wind, earthquake, thermal and other

sources must be transferred through static
equipment in the supporting foundation.

Typical anchors consist of anchor bolts to transfer

tension forces or a combination of tension and
shear forces. When required, cutting grips can be
used to transfer cutting forces.

4.5 STRAIN

Anchor bolts are provided primarily to transfer

tension forces.

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The various types of bolts are generally made of

low carbon steel or low alloy materials and may be
provided with sleeves.

Types "L" and "J", which are cast-in-place bolts,

rely on adhesion to develop the bolts'
capabilities. Types "P", "N", "H", "PN", "PH", and
"S", which are also cast-in-place bolts, rely on
the bond strength of the concrete. Types "SD" and
"DI" are, respectively, self-drilling and lossable
bolts that rely on expansive forces to transfer
stress to the concrete or mechanical anchor.

'PN' 'BS' 'SD' 'DI' 'H'

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 5. MACHINE FOUNDATION

The initial cost of constructing a machinery

foundation is generally a small fraction of the cost
of the machine itself, accessories and installation.
However, the failure of a foundation, due to incorrect
design or defective construction, can interrupt the
operation of the equipment and cause significant
economic losses.

The study of foundations for machinery must solve

three main problems:

a) That the movements of the machinery and the

foundation are not excessive, since they would
cause failures and damage in the operation of the
equipment.

b) That the settlements due to dynamic effects are

within permissible limits.

c) That vibrations transmitted through the ground,

which could affect people, buildings or other
machinery, are reduced or, where appropriate,
eliminated.

d) To control vibrations in the past it was done by

building a large concrete block, but currently
other more economical and efficient means are being
sought to ensure control of vibrations.

e) One such means may be the placement of vibration

isolators, keeping in mind that if machinery is
rigidly bolted to its foundation, the vibratory
motion itself may be reduced, but the vibration
transmitted to

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the foundation can be larger. This would produce
detrimental effects even at a considerable distance
from the source of the vibration.

f) Otherwise, if a flexible support is placed under the

machinery or in the foundation, the
vibration transmitted be considerably
reduced, but this can cause a movement
significant in the machinery during its normal
operation or during startup and shutdown of the
equipment; Therefore, it is necessary to achieve a
balance between these two requirements.

g) This is how the use of vibration isolating systems

has spread, with the fundamental idea of reducing
the amplitudes and having lower masses of concrete
in the foundation.

There are many types of machines and each may

require a certain type of foundation. The different
types of machinery and their special
characteristics, as well as the commonly used
foundations, are described below.
Different types of machinery are normally excited
by unbalanced loads; In general, they can be
classified within the following categories: a)
Machines reciprocating
b) Machines rotary
c) Machines impact
d) Special teams.

6. RECIPROCING MACHINES
Reciprocating machines are probably the oldest
machines in use and a classic example is the crank
mechanism, which is used to convert a translational

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 movement into a rotary movement and vice versa.
Typical examples of reciprocating machines are steam
engines, internal combustion engines, pumps and
compressors.

These machines can consist of a simple cylinder and a

piston, with a single action or double action; They
may be multi-cylinder, with pistons operating in a
regular pattern and mounted on a common crank.

Pumps and compressors belong to the category of

reciprocating machines, which can be of the single
grade type or multiple grades, depending on whether
the total compression is developed in one or more than
one operation. The multi-grade arrangement can be
formed of several cylinders – pistons operated by a
common machine or by different machines.

The direction of movement can be horizontal or

vertical. Many reciprocating machines have operating
speeds no greater than 1200 – 1500 rpm. Sometimes
there are reciprocating machines that operate at high
speeds.

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The foundation for reciprocating machines usually

consists of a rigid concrete block, which has
preparations for mounting the machinery. The machines
can be placed directly on the concrete block or on a
properly designed elastic bearing. On some occasions,
block foundations are used, supported on springs.

7. ROTARY MACHINES

The type of excitation that rotating machines

generally develop is of the sinusoidal type; To
determine this force, it is necessary to know the
rotating mass and the eccentricity between the center
of rotation and the center of gravity of the rotating
table.

For this type of machines it is theoretically possible

to balance the moving parts that produce unbalanced
forces during rotation, however, in practice, it is
difficult to completely eliminate the unbalance, since
it is affected by the design procedures.

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 manufacturing, installation and maintenance.

Some aspects that contribute to unbalance of rotating

machines are: misalignment during installation, damage
or corrosion of moving parts, and also deflections due
to gravity of the machine's axis of rotation.

In practical terms, rotating machines are classified

as follows:

a) Low speed - are those that operate at less than

1500 rpm. Such as, for example, generator motors,
centrifugal and vacuum pumps, fans, winders, etc.

b) High speed - are those that operate at more than

1500 rpm. High-speed rotating machines, such as
gasoline or steam turbines, generators,
compressors and turbofans, have
speeds of
operation generally from 3000 to 3600 rpm and can
have a value of up to 10000 rpm. Some
turbine units, operating at 1500 and 1800 rpm are
they use also.

8. MACHINES OF IMPACT

The operations of hydraulic and pneumatic presses,

forging hammers, pile drivers and punching machines,
for example, produce impact loads that can be
considered as a simple pulsation, since the

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effect of one impact ends before the next occurs.

The design of the foundation for this type of

machinery must be adequate to avoid any harmful
effects on the foundation, due to the operation of the
machinery itself, as well as on adjacent structures or
on machines and people that are nearby.

The foundation for an impact machine is generally

based on a reinforced concrete block. In the case of
small hammers, the anvil can be mounted directly on
the foundation block, to reduce the transmission of
forces due to the impact on the concrete block and an
elastic neoprene, felt bearing is placed in the
machine frame. , cork or wood, between the anvil and
the foundation.

Fig. 2.9 Die Cutting Machines

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9. SPECIAL TEAMS

Some special machines or equipment that can cause

vibrations in their supports are, for example, radar
antennas.

The design of the foundations for this type of equipment

must be adequate to cover all service specifications and
ensure its operation.

10. TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS

Based on the design criteria of their foundations, the

machinery can be classified as:

a) The thatproduce forces of impact, as are

hammers and presses.

b) The that produce forces periodic, as the

compressors.

c) High-speed machinery, such as turbines and rotary

compressors.

d) Special machinery, such as radars.

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In turn, foundations can be classified according to

their structural type, as follows.

1) Block type foundations (a), which consists of a

concrete pedestal that supports the machinery.

2) Box-type foundation (b), which consists of a hollow

concrete block that supports the machinery in its
interior part.

3) Wall type foundation (c), formed by a pair of walls

that support the machinery.

4) Frame type foundation (d), based on vertical

columns that support a horizontal platform at the
top, which serves as a seat for the machinery.

Machinery that produces low-speed periodic impacts and

forces is generally mounted on block-type foundations.
Those that work at high speeds and rotary type machinery
are placed on frame foundations; However, for certain
particular conditions, the above can
be modified; In this case, an alternative type of
foundation can be proposed.

Some machinery, such as lathes, induce very little

dynamic force, and can be bolted directly to the floor,
without the need for a special foundation.

On the other hand, based on their operating frequencies,

machinery can be divided into three categories:

a) Group 1.- Low to medium frequencies, with values

from 0 to 300 rpm.

b) Group 2.- Medium to high frequencies, with values

from 300 to 1000 rpm.

c) Group 3.- Very high frequencies, with values greater

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than 1000 rpm.

Group 1 includes large reciprocating machines, compressors

and fans big. The machines
generally reciprocating operate in a interval
frequency between 50– 250 rpm. For this group, the
type foundations block, with large areas of
contact with the ground of rudeness, are the ones that
generally used.

Group 2 includes medium-sized reciprocating machines,

such as gasoline and diesel machines. Block-type
foundations are generally recommended, planted on
springs or elastic plates such as neoprene, since they
keep the natural frequency of the foundation
considerably lower than the operating frequency.

Group 3 includes high-speed internal combustion

machines, electric motors and turbogenerators. Block-
type foundations are recommended, with little contact
surface, isolated with elastic plates to lower the
natural frequency. The turbo-machinery requires a frame
type foundation to accommodate the necessary auxiliary
equipment between the columns.

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INDEX
CHAPTER I.......................................................................................................................1
MACHINE FOUNDATION..............................................................................................1
1. FOUNDATION FOR PUMPS AND MOTORS.................................................1
2. FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
FOUNDATION..........................................................................................................1
3. FOUNDATION ON ROCKS..............................................................................2
4. EARTH FOUNDATION....................................................................................3
5. FOUNDATION ON SOFT SOIL.......................................................................3
6. REPLANNING...................................................................................................4
7. EXCAVATION...................................................................................................5
8. Base.....................................................................................................................5
9. BASE CALCULATIONS...................................................................................5
10. CALCULATION OF THE VOLUME OF THE FOUNDATION..................6
CHAPTER II......................................................................................................................7
FOUNDATION OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT..........................................................7
1. FOUNDATION OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT............................................7
2. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.......................................................................7
3. TYPICAL FOUNDATIONS...............................................................................8
3.1 VERTICAL VESSELS AND PILE FOUNDATIONS...................................8
3.2 HORIZONTAL VESSELS AND HEAT EXCHANGE FOUNDATIONS....8
3.3 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND FOUNDATIONS OF SUPPORTING
STRUCTURES...........................................................................................................8
4. DESIGN PRINCIPLES.......................................................................................9
4.1 DEAD LOADS................................................................................................9
4.2 LIVE LOADS..................................................................................................9
4.3 ANCHORAGE..............................................................................................10
4.4 ANCHOR BOLTS AND CUTTING DEVICES...........................................10
4.5 STRAIN.........................................................................................................10
5. MACHINE FOUNDATION.............................................................................12
6. RECIPROCING MACHINES..........................................................................13
7. ROTARY MACHINES.....................................................................................15
8. MACHINES OF IMPACT................................................................................16
9. SPECIAL TEAMS............................................................................................18
10. TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS........................................................................18
PRESENTATION........................................................................................................23
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................24

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BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................25
1.

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PRESENTATION

The fundamental objective of this research is aimed at

explaining the Characteristics of the Foundation of
Machines but addressing in a more specific way the
Foundation of a Water Pump, a fundamental issue for
personal training as Mechanical Engineers, thus it has been
carefully compiled from various sources to be able to
develop this work and hoping that it is to your liking and
overlooking some existing errors in the following work.

Student

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INTRODUCTION

The foundation of Machines is one of the fundamental

aspects for the training of a Mechanical Engineer and thus
being able to be efficient when developing this work.

We know well that the foundation or base of a piece of

equipment or machine is nothing more than a solid concrete
structure which has to be heavy enough to provide permanent
rigid support to the entire area of the base or seat
thereof, with the purpose of absorbing stress and
vibrations when the equipment is in operation.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

> http://bases.elregante.com/

> http://www.buenastareas.com/ensayos/Cimentaci%C3%B3n-

From-Industrial-Equipment/4374207.html

> http://www.sintemar.com/sintemar/dm/reparacion-de-

machinery-foundations-with-resins-

epoxy.asp?name=1786&cod=1786&session=1

> http://es.scribd.com/doc/54308631/Foundations

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