FOUNDATION DESIGN

ENGR. NESTOR C. COMPETENTE

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
FOUNDATION

• Is a structure that transmits loads

to the underlying soils. Loads
from a structure are transferred
to the soil through the
foundation. A foundation itself is
a structure often constructed
from concrete, steel or wood.
FOOTING

• Is a foundation consisting of small slab

transmitting the structural load to the underlying
soil. Footings can be individual slabs supporting
single columns or combined to support two or
more columns or be along strip of concrete slab
supporting a load bearing wall or a mat
SHALLOW FOUNDATION

• is one that the ratio of embedment depth to the

minimum plan dimension, which usually the width
is Df/B = 2.5
EMBEDMENT DEPTH (Df)

• is the depth below the ground surface where the

base of the foundation rests.
ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY

• is the maximum pressure that the soil can

support.
Ultimate NET Bearing Capacity (qult)

• is the maximum pressure that the soil can support

above its current overburden pressure.
Allowable Bearing Capacity

• is the working pressure that would ensure a

margin of safety against collapse of the structure
from shear failure. The allowable bearing capacity
is usually a fraction of the ultimate net bearing
capacity.
Factor of Safety or Safety Factor

• is the ratio of the ultimate net bearing capacity

to the allowable bearing capacity or to the applied
maximum vertical stress. In geotechnical
engineering, a factor safety between 1.5 and 5 is
used to calculate the allowable bearing capacity.
Ultimate Limit State

• defines a limiting shear stress that should not be

exceeded by any conceivable or anticipated
loading during the design life of a foundation or
any geotechnical system.
Serviceability limit state

• defines a limiting deformation or settlement of

the foundation, which, if exceeded, will impair
the function of the structure that it supports.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
OF FOUNDATION
 SHALLOW FOUNDATION

 ISOLATED/SINGLE-COLUMN FOOTING – is a square, rectangular or circular slab of concrete that supports

an individual column. These are widely used for columns with light load and are not closely spaced.
1. Stepped Footing
2. Sloped Footing

 COMBINED FOOTING –in longer slab strips that support two or more individual columns. This
type might be economical where two heavily loaded columns are so spaced than when designed
for isolated footing would run each other. Isolated footings are usually square or rectangular
and when used for columns located right at the property line would beyond those lines.
1. Rectangular
2. Trapezoidal
SPREAD FOOTING FOUNDATION

It is an enlargement at the
bottom of a column or a
bearing wall that spreads
the structural load a certain
area of soil. They are nearly
always made of reinforced
concrete
GRILLAGE FOUNDATION

A type of foundation often

used at the base of a column.
It consists of one, two or more
tiers of steel beams
superimposed on a layer of
concrete, adjacent tiers being
placed at right angles to each
other, while all tiers are
encased in concrete
WALL FOOTING

is also known as continuous footing built

specifically to support walls. These
building concrete footings are placed
below bearing walls that are located at
both interior and exterior of a structure.
Wall Footing
 SHALLOW FOUNDATION
 CONTINOUS FOOTING – support a row of three or more columns. They have limited
widths and continuous under all columns.
 STRAP FOOTING – consist of two single footing with a beam or strap and support two single
columns, they are used when one footing supports an eccentric column and the nearest
adjacent footing lies at quite a distance from it.
 SHALLOW FOUNDATION
 CONTINOUS FOOTING – support a row of three or more columns. They have limited
widths and continuous under all columns.
 STRAP FOOTING – consist of two single footing with a beam or strap and support two single
columns, they are used when one footing supports an eccentric column and the nearest
adjacent footing lies at quite a distance from it.
 MAT FOUNDATION (RAFT FOUNDATION)

Used to spread the load of the

structure over a large base to
reduce the load per unit area
being imposed to the ground.
Particularly useful where low
bearing capacity soils are
encountered and where
individual column loads are
heavy.
INTERMEDIATE FOUNDATION
• Intermediate foundations generally are
intermediate in cost, depth, and bearing capacity
between deep and shallow foundations. The
target is soils that are too weak to develop
adequate support from shallow foundations, but
not so weak as to require deep foundations. Like
rigid piles and piers, intermediate foundations
can markedly reduce settlement, but the
mechanisms by which this is accomplished can be
quite different,
 “Ground “Soil reinforcement”
improvement” any strengthens soil by
process that improves introducing structural
the ground, from elements.
drainage to soil
nailing
INTERMEDIATE FOUNDATION
STONE COLUMNS

• Stone columns are best adapted for moderately weak soils, but
they should not be so weak that they do not hold an open hole
• Stone columns are best adapted for stabilizing large areas, for
example under embankments or mat foundations. They also are
used for support of individual columns and walls, but are limited
to about 20 to 50 tons (180 to 450 kN) per column
RAMMED AGGREGATE PIERS

Rammed piers are similar to stone columns in being composed of

crushed stone, but differ because instead of being horizontally
vibrated into place, the stone is densely compacted by vertical
ramming in 1foot (0.3 m) layers. A particularly important feature
of the installation is the beveled shape of the rammer, which
drives the stone sideways and builds up lateral pressure in the soil.
The rammer is driven by a high energy. Hydraulic hammer so there
is uniform compaction and lateral stress along the length of the pier.
JET GROUTING

Jet grouting is a relatively new process that creates mixed

in place columns of stabilized soil. A cement slurry is
injected immediately above an auger tip using fluid
pressures of the order of 5000 lb/in. (3500 kPa), which
destroy the soil structure and aid mixing.
MIXED IN PLACE PIERS

• Modern Deep Soil Mixing (DSM) is accomplished with a special

cutter or a hollow stemmed auger. As the cutter is slowly
advanced into the soil, cement slurry is injected under
pressure through holes near the tip. Additional mixing paddles
may be attached along the shaft of an auger. Soil and slurry
are mixed as the cutter advances and more slurry is added as
the mixer is removed. In very wet soils dry cement or
quicklime can be injected using compressed air. A modification
used in Japan has up to eight simultaneous and overlapping
mixing units to increase productivity and help ensure
continuity of a wall
 DEEP FOUNDATION
 THE RATIO OF EMBEDMENT AND THE WIDTH IS MORE THAN 2.5 OR THE DEPTH
OF THE EMBEDMENT IS MORE THAN 4 TIMES THE MINIMUM PLAN DIMENSION.

1. Piles
2. Pier / Board
3. Caisson
4. Drilled Shafts
PILE FOUNDATION

are prefabricated
poles made of steel,
wood, or concrete,
that are driven into
the ground
 PIER FOUNDATION

It is a collection of large
diameter cylindrical
columns to support the
superstructure andd
transfer large super-
imposed loads to the firm
strata below.
CAISSON FOUNDATION

It is a water tight retaining structure

used as bridge pier, in the construction
of concrete dam or for the repair of
ships. It is fabricated hollow box or
cylinder sink into the ground to some
desired depth and then filled with
concrete thus forming a foundation.
Types of Caisson Foundations

• Box Caissons
• Excavated Caissons
• Floating Caissons
• Open Caissons
• Pneumatic Caissons
• Sheeted Caissons
Types of Caisson Foundations

• Box caissons are watertight boxes that

are constructed of heavy timbers and
open at the top. They are generally
floated to the appropriate location and
then sunk into place with a masonry pier
within it.
Types of Caisson Foundations

Excavated caissons are just as the name

suggests, caissons that are placed within
an excavated site. These are usually
cylindrical in shape and then back filled
with concrete.
Types of Caisson Foundations

Floating caissons are also known

as floating docks and are
prefabricated boxes that have
cylindrical cavities.
Types of Caisson Foundations

Open caissons are small

cofferdams that are placed and
then pumped dry and filled with
concrete. These are generally
used in the formation of a pier.
Types of Caisson Foundations

•Pneumatic caissons are large

watertight boxes or cylinders
that are mainly used for under
water construction.
Advantages of Caissons:

• Economics
• Minimizes pile cap needs
• Slightly less noise and reduced vibrations
• Easily adaptable to varying site conditions
• High axial and lateral loading capacity
Disadvantages of Caissons:

• Extremely sensitive to construction

procedures
• Not good for contaminated sites
• Lack of construction expertise
• Lack of Qualified Inspectors
DRILLED SHAFTS

Are constructed by
drilling cylindrical holes
in the ground, inserting
reinforcing steel, and
filling
them with concrete.
Factors in Selecting the Type of Foundation

 FUNCTION OF THE STRUCTURE AND LOADS IT MUST CARRY

 THE SUBSURFACE CONDITION

 COST OF FOUNDATION COMPARED TO COST OF STRUCTURE

Steps in Choosing Foundation
 Obtain at least approximate information concerning the nature of the
superstructure

 Determine the subsurface each of the customary types of foundation

 Make more detailed studies and even tentative designs.

 Prepare and estimate the cost.

Characteristics in Designing
 Strength Parameters

 Compressibility Indexes

 Permeability

 Gravimetric - Volumetric
Purpose of Characteristics
 To determine the soil bearing capacity

 Settlements

 Pressure (Lateral/Vertical Pressure)

 Pore Pressure
Types of Test to be Conducted in Soil for
Foundation

 STANDARD PENETRATION TEST – bridges, dams, tower, ports

 CONE PENETRATION TEST – dams, ports

 EXCAVATION OR TEST PITS – buildings, dams

 AUGER TEST – bridges, dams, swimming pools

 PLATE LOAD TEST - dams

SETTLEMENT OF SOILS
 CONSOLIDATION

Is the time-independent settlement of soils resulting from the

expulsion of water from the soil pores.
IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT

Settlement due to elastic

deformation of soil without
any change in water content
of soil
 PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION

Is the change in volume of fine grained

caused by the expulsion of water from the
voids and the transfer of load from the
excess pore water pressure to the soil
particles.
 SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION

It is the caused by plastic readjustment of

soil fabric after complete dissipation of
excess water pressure
 PRECONSOLIDATION STRESS

Is the maximum vertical effective stress that a soil was

subjected to in the past.
 NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED SOIL

Is one that has never experienced vertical effective stresses

greater than its existing vertical effective stress.
 OVERCONSOLIDATED SOIL

Is one that has experienced vertical effective stresses grater

than its existing vertical effective stress.
 OVERSONSOLIDATION RATIO, OCR

Is the ratio by which the current vertical effective stress in the

soil was exceeded in the past.
 COMPRESSION INDEX

Is the slope of the normal consolidation line in a plot of the

logarithm of vertical effective stress versus void ratio
 SWELLING INDEX

Is the average slope of the unloading portion of e-log p curve