TYPES OF SHALLOW
FOUNDATIONS
ARKO BHATTACHARYA 101117004
101117014
KERDA SHISHA RYMBAI 101117028
101117041
REETHIRAFELA S
TADUKATEJA
A shallow foundation is a type of building foundation that transfers building loads to the earth very near to the surface, rather
than to a subsurface layer or a range of depths as does a deep foundation.
ADVANTAGES
1.Shallow foundation is convenient for foundations having depth is equal or less than the foundation width.
2.It is used if bearing capacity of soil is high at shallow depth.
3.For compressive soils, it helps to reduce settlement.
4.No piling is required. So it reduces a great cost.
DISADVANTAGES
Shallow foundations cannot be used in the following contexts.
1.If weight of the structure is high and the load of the structure is distributed unequally.
2.If the bearing capacity of the top surface soil is less.
3.If sub-soil water level is high and it is uneconomical to pump out the water from the hole or canal.
4.If there is a chance of scouring if the structure is near sea or river.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
The different types of shallow foundation are:
1.Strip or wall footing
2.Spread or isolated footing
3.Combined footing
4.Strap or cantilever footing
5.Mat or raft foundation
6.Continuous footing
7.Inverted arch footing
8.Grillage footing
1. STRIP FOOTING
Strip foundations (or strip footings) are a type of shallow
foundation that are used to provide a continuous, level (or
sometimes stepped) strip of support to a linear structure such as a
wall or closely-spaced rows of columns built centrally above them.
Strip footing is provided for a load-bearing walls. They are also provided for a row of columns which are so closely spaced that
their spread footings overlap or nearly touch each other. In such a case, it is more economical to provide a strip footing than to
provide a number of spread footings in one line. A strip footing is also known as continuous footing.
Strip foundations can be used for
most subsoils, but are most suitable
for soil which is of relatively good bearing
capacity. They are particularly suited
to light structural loadings such as those found
in many low-to-medium rise domestic
buildings where mass concrete strip
foundations can be used.
2. SPREAD OR ISOLATED FOOTING OR INDIVIDUAL FOOTING
A spread footing also called as isolated footing, pad footing and
individual footing is provided to support an individual column. A
spread footing is circular, square or rectangular slab of uniform
thickness. Sometimes, it is stepped or haunched to spread the load
over a large area.
• A spread footing foundation has a wider bottom portion compared
to a load-bearing foundation; the wider bottom "spreads" the
weight of the structure over a larger area for greater stability.
• While traditional spot footings only have a single point of contact
with the foundation, spread footings extend support continuously
across the entire building layout.
REINFORCEMENT DETAILS OF ISOLATED FOOTING
To add additional support, spread footings are constructed with
concrete and reinforced with steel. Since spread footing transfers the
weight of the building over a large area, spread footings have little
risk of failure compared to spot footers.
3. COMBINED FOOTING
A combined footing supports two
columns. It is used when the two
columns are so close to each other that
their individual footings would overlap.
A combined footing is also provided
when the property line is so close to one
column that a spread footing would be
eccentrically loaded when kept entirely This type of footing is provided under following
within the property line. By combining it situations:
with that of an interior column, the load
is evenly distributed. 1.When the columns are located extremely close
to each other and their individual footings are
A combined footing may be rectangular overlapping.
or trapezoidal in plan. 2. In case of soil having low bearing capacity and a
large area is required under the individual footing.
3. When the column end is situated near the
property line and it is not possible to extend the
footing area on the side of the property line.
Reinforcement Detail
The main purpose of using combined footing is to distribute uniform pressure under the footing. To accomplish this
target, the center of gravity of the footing area should be equal to the center of gravity of the two columns.
If the outside columns close to the property line, conveys heavier load, it is necessary to provide trapezoidal footing to
maintain the center of gravity of the footing in line with the center of gravity of the two column loads. Otherwise only
a rectangular footing may be provided.
4. STRAP OR CANTILEVER FOOTING
A strap (or cantilever) footing consists of two isolated footings
connected with a structural strap or a lever. The strap connects
the two footings such that they behave as one unit. The strap is
designed as a rigid beam. The individual footings are so
designed that their combined line of action passes through the
resultant of the total load.
A strap footing is more economical than a combined footing
when the allowable soil pressure is relatively high and the
distance between the columns is large.
The strap beam, connecting the spread footings of the
two columns, does not remain in contact with soil, and
thus does not transfer any pressure to the soil. The
strap, assumed to be infinitely rigid, serves to transfer
the column loads on to the soil with equal and uniform
soil pressure under both footings.
The function of the strap beam is to transfer the load
of heavily loaded outer column to the inner one. In
doing so, the strap beam is subjected to bending
moment and shear force and it should be suitably
Reinforcement Details designed to withstand these.
5. Mat or Raft Foundations
A mat or raft foundation is 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 individual footings would overlap or nearly touch each
other.
Mat foundations are useful in reducing the differential settlements on non-
homogeneous soils or where there is a large variation in the loads on individual
columns.
There are following types of mat foundation:
1.Flat plate raft
2.Plate thickened under columns
3.Two-way slab and beam
4.Piled mat
5.Rigid frame raft
6.Cellular mat foundation
There is a lot the important reason for the use
of mat foundations. We use this foundation if :
1.Bearing capacity of the soil is weak and not
capable to transfer the load of building to the
ground.
2.A column is placed near to the property line
and walls are so close that individual footing
would overlap.
3.If the cost of a deep foundation (Pile foundation)
is higher than the raft foundation we use to make
the structure economical.
4.When a spread footing columns can cover up to
50% of the foundation area.
6.CONTINUOUS FOOTING
These footings carry closely spaced columns or a continuous
wall so that the load intensity is low and uniform on the
supporting soil or rock
In such footings, the load per unit length is considered
accordingly.
The load intensity is given in terms of force per unit length of
the footing.
These footings are also referred to as strip footings or wall
footings (for an L/B ratio greater than 5).
7.INVERTED ARCH FOOTING
This is used to be provided for multi-storeyed buildings in olden
times. However, with the advent of reinforced cement concrete
construction practice, inverted arch footing is rarely done
these days. One of the drawbacks in this type of construction is
that the end piles have to be specially strengthened by
buttresses to avoid the arch thrust tending to rapture the pier
junction. However, the advantage of inverted
arch construction is that in soft soils the depth of foundation is
greatly reduced.
Inverted arches are used where sideways forces must be
restrained, and where space is most easily available beneath a
construction. They have often been applied to railway cuttings,
but are perhaps most distinctively used as the base of docks,
particularly dry docks and locks that must be supported even
when they are empty of water that could otherwise resist the
sidethrust of their walls.
8. GRILLAGE FOOTING
Grillage foundations consist of a number of layers of beams usually
laid at right angles to each other and used to disperse heavy point
loads from the superstructure to an acceptable ground bearing
pressure.
It is the most economical foundation in case of transferring heavy
loads from columns to soil of low bearing capacity. The word tier is
used for such an arrangement in which items are placed in layers
one above the other like the seats that are placed in a cinema or
auditorium.
Mostly there are two types based on type of material used;
• Steel grillage foundation
• Timber grillage foundation
Mostly out of these two types the decision is made on the basis of
availability of material and overall cost is the deciding factor.
Steel grillage foundation is more useful for contractors as compared to
wooden grillage.
Installation Speed – Contractors can make significant savings in time
through a grillage foundation.
Suitability – Grillage foundations are mostly used in place of poured
concrete and huge time is saved because of smooth installation
process.
Costs Reduction – Contractor can obtain discount in cost as there is
least possibility for disarrangement of transport infrastructure.
Multipurpose foundation solution – The technology supports various
applications.
