FOUNDATION SYSTEM

(SHALLOW AND DEEP FOUNDATIONS)

Foundation is one of the essential parts of the structure. It is defined as that part of the structure that transfers
the load from the structure constructed on it as well as its weight over a large area of soil in such a way that the
amount does not exceed the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil and the settlement of the whole structure remains
within a tolerable limit. Foundation is the part of a structure on which the building stands. The solid ground on which
it rests is known as the foundation bed.

Foundation should fulfill the following objectives:

 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.

.Types of Foundation
In general, all foundations are divided into two categories, - shallow and deep foundations. The terms Shallow
and Deep Foundation refer to the depth of the soil at which it is placed. Generally, if the width of the foundation is
greater than the depth, it is labeled as the “Shallow Foundation”. If the width is smaller than the depth of the
foundation it is called a “Deep Foundation.” However, deep foundation and shallow foundation can be classified as
shown in the following chart.
 TYPES OF SHALLOW FOUNDATION
1. Mat (Raft) Foundation
Consisting of a single large continuous rectangular or
circular slab under a building, the mat (or raft) foundation
carries and distributes an entire load of a structure. Raft
foundations can support a number of columns and walls at
once and spread the load out under the entire footprint of
the building.
When the soil layer beneath a building has low stability or
bearing capacity, mat foundations can reduce differential
settlement. Mat foundations are common in commercial
building projects and in areas where basements are
popular.

2. Spread Footing
Footings are the bottom part of a foundation that actually touches
the ground. They help transfer the weight of the building directly to
the soil, as well as prevent moisture from seeping into the structure,
which can cause mold and mildew problems. Different types of
foundations use different types of footings: concrete footings are
common, but stone, brick, and wood footings also exist.
A type of shallow foundation known as spread footing (or pad
footing) has a wider base than the top. This design helps spread the
weight of the structure to a larger area, creating greater stability.
Spread footing comes in various sizes and shapes, including square, round, and rectangular.
The advantages of spread footing include cost savings, easier construction of basements, and decreased risk of
foundation cracking or collapse. On the downside, spread footings are limited to certain types of soil and settlement
can be a significant issue.
Depending on the type of construction project at hand, you may see the following types of spread footings:
 Isolated footings: With isolated footing (or “isolated column footing”), each column has a separate footing in
order to distribute its load uniformly over the soil.
 Combined footings: In this type of footing, a single base supports two or more columns together.
 Continuous footings: With this type of footing, more than two columns in a row share a base. You may use
continuous footing when you have soil with low load-bearing capacity and/or columns spaced too close
together for individual footings.
 Grillage footing: Grillage foundations provide stability when excessive column weight—such as in high-rise
buildings—and weak soil prevent the construction of a deep foundation.
 Raft footing: Raft footing provides common footing to multiple columns, ensuring uniform weight
distribution when the column load is excessive or the load-bearing capacity of the soil is low.
 Strip footing: Strip footing runs beneath load-bearing walls to help maintain the stability of a structure.
 3. Basement Foundation
Basement foundations serve the same purpose as regular foundations:
to distribute a building’s weight evenly and protect it from moisture
and water. Unlike typical foundations, however, basement foundation
walls are fully submerged in the soil to create working or storage
space below the ground level.
Because basements are typically completely below ground level, they
can take longer to build than standard foundations. They often require
heavy-duty equipment like excavators, cranes, and graders to dig and
move soil. Despite the difference in depth, basement foundations are constructed in the same way as regular
foundations, using poured concrete, concrete blocks, or precast concrete slabs.
Depending on the area you’re working in and your client’s requests, you may encounter these two types of
basement foundations:
 Full basement: Full basements are submerged on a level plane that covers the entire building perimeter. You
can opt to leave a basement unfinished or install insulation, drywall, and flooring to create living space below
ground.
 Daylight: If a house rests on a slope, a daylight basement foundation makes more sense. As the name
suggests, one side of the basement sits above ground (letting in daylight) while the other side is completely
submerged. Daylight basements are ideal for homeowners who want walkout basements that allow them to
access yards or patios.


4. Crawl Space Foundation

Typically elevated a few feet off the ground, crawl space
foundations are deeper than standard foundations but more
shallow than basement foundations. These foundations leave a
small protected space of about three to four feet high under the
house, providing access to drainage pipes, plumbing, and other
elements running beneath the house, but not enough room for
most people to stand.
In addition to make it easier to reach plumbing and piping,
crawl spaces keep houses cooler in warmer climates by
allowing air to move freely underneath the structure. Although crawl space foundations tend to cost less to build than
other basement foundations, you will also need to consider insulation and moisture control. Moisture control may
mean installing a vapor barrier, a sump pump, or both.

5. Concrete Slab Foundation

The most common type of foundation, slab foundations consist of a
6- to 8-inch concrete pad underneath a structure. The load your
foundation needs to bear determines the thickness of the slab.
Although less suited to extremely cold climates that get a lot of
freezing temperatures and snow and earthquake-prone areas, slab
foundations tend to be relatively cheap, easy to build, low
maintenance, and energy efficient.
Constructing a simple slab foundation involves pouring concrete directly onto soil prepared with sand or
gravel to assist with drainage. Other slab foundations have additional components like supporting concrete feet or
insulating foam.
 TYPES OF DEEP FOUNDATIONS

1. Pile Foundation
Pile foundations consist of long, slender cylinders made of
strong material. When pushed into the stable ground deep
below the surface, pile foundations transfer the load to the
desired depth and support the structure above.
A number of specific ground conditions call for pile
foundations, including a layer of weak soil at the surface, high
groundwater levels, deep drainage systems, or soil that is
impossible to excavate to the desired depth. Pile foundations
are also used on structures with heavy, concentrated loads,
such as water tanks, bridges, or high-rise buildings.
Common materials used to create pile foundations include concrete, steel, and timber—and each type has
disadvantages and advantages. Steel can take heavier loads and reach greater depths, but may cost more and corrode
over time. Wood foundations are economical and easy to install but can’t always penetrate hard soil.
 What it looks like: long and slender cylinder columns
 Often used for: Buildings near seashores or river beds
There are five types of pile foundations, which are classified based on their uses and functions:
 Sheet piles: Offering lateral rather than vertical structural support, sheet piles resist pressure from external
sources like water and loose dirt. Builders may use them to construct retaining walls, protect from riverbank
erosion, isolate the foundation from adjacent soil, and confine the soil to increase its load-bearing capacity.
 Load-bearing piles: This kind of pile transfers the load from a vertical structure into a stronger layer of soil
deeper below the surface.
 End-bearing piles: With this type of pile, the bottom end rests on a particularly strong layer of soil or rock.
Loads pass through the pile, bypassing weaker layers of soil and safely transferring the forces to stronger
layers underground.
 Friction piles: This type of pile also transfers the load of the building above to the soil below, but it works on
a different principle. The frictional force between the surface of the pile and the soil surrounding the pile
transfers the forces to the soil.
 Soil-compactor piles: Unlike other types of pile foundations, soil-compactor piles do not bear any direct
loads themselves. Instead, they are inserted into the ground at close intervals to increase the stability and
bearing capacity of the soil.

2. Caisson Foundation

Caisson foundations consist of prefabricated

hollow boxes or cylinders that serve as watertight
retaining structures. Also known as pier
foundations, caissons provide underwater support
for bridge piers, concrete dams, or ship repairs.
Caisson foundations can be built at or near the
surface of the ground and then sunk to the desired
depth. To create this kind of deep foundation,
Engineers auger a hole in the ground, excavate or dredge material from within the caisson, and then fill
it with concrete. Caissons can be drilled into bedrock or other suitably stable soil layers below the water
surface.
3. Buoyant Foundation
Designed to support heavy loads on soft soil
surfaces, buoyant foundations act as floating
substructures. Whether you know them as floating
raft foundations, hollow box foundations, or
compensated foundations, the purpose remains the
same: to reduce the load intensity over the soil.
Buoyant foundations balance the weight of
excavated soil with a structure of the same weight, reducing settlement in soft or weak soil. Also useful for home
building in flood-prone areas, buoyant foundations elevate structures above highwater levels.

 Advantages of Shallow Foundations:

o Cost-Effective: Shallow foundations are more economical than deep foundations. They require less
excavation and fewer materials.
o Speed of Construction: Construction of shallow foundations is faster due to their simplicity.

o Minimal Soil Disturbance: Shallow foundations disturb the site soil less compared to deep
foundations, which involve extensive excavation and pile installation .
 Disadvantages of Shallow Foundations:
o Limited Load-Bearing Capacity: Shallow foundations can’t support heavy loads as effectively as deep
foundations. They are suitable for small structures and houses.
o Susceptibility to Settlement: Uneven soil conditions may cause differential settlement, leading to
foundation issues.
o Weather Sensitivity: Shallow foundations are more vulnerable to severe weather conditions

 Advantages of Deep Foundations:

o include high load-bearing capacity, settlement control, and versatility in challenging soil
conditions.
 Disadvantages of Deep Foundations:
o include higher costs, complex design and installation processes, environmental considerations,
site constraints, and maintenance and accessibility issues