FOUNDATIONS

PART1: SHOLLOW
FOUNDATIONS

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS 2

Foundation

Where would you choose to

put down your foundations?

Auckland volcanic map

Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Foundation
Foundations are bearing
directly on the soil, thus the
system must:

Distribute vertical loads

so the settling of a
building is negligible or
uniform under all parts of
the building.

The foundation system for

a building is the critical
link in the transmission of
building loads down to
the ground

Lifting Forces:
Anchor the buildings
super-structure to prevent
uplifting due to wind and
earthquake forces.

LOADS

Building loads
(Forces)

Gravity Loads

Dead Loads

Live loads

Lateral Loads

Wind

Building mass

Floor Live loads

Fixed content

Roof Live loads

Earthquake

Soil & ground

water pressure

Foundation Settlement
a building bears down
Patterns
on the supporting soil,
some settlement is to
be expected.
The cause of settlement
is typically due to a
reduction in the volume
of air voids in the soil.
A properly designed
and constructed
foundation system
should minimize
settlement

Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Foundation Settlement
.
Patterns
Uneven or
"differential"
settlement can
cause a building to
shift out of plumb
causing cracks in
the foundation,
structure, or finish.
Extreme differential
settlement can lead
to failure of a
building's structural
integrity.

Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

To get the district plan

maps;

ISource: Stroud Foster p.35

Foundations Types: The

Range

Foundatio
ns
Shallow

Deep

Foundations Types
Column or
wall

Column or
wall

SHALLOW

DEEP

Shallow foundations
transfer the load to
soil at the base of
the substructure

Deep foundations
transfer loads far
below the
substructure

These foundations penetrate incompetent soil

until a satisfactory bearing stratum is reached.

> 3m

Shallow & deep foundation

Foundations Types:
The Range
Shallow

Strip

Pads

Raft

Wide
strip

Isolated

Solid
Slab

Narrow
strip

Continuo
us

Beam &
Slab

Cantileve
r

Cellular

Strip Footing

Pads, Isolated Pads

Rafts
Rafts

Stress Distribution in Soil

Strip footings are
placed under
continuous walls, thus
carrying a uniformly
distributed load.
The required width is
related to: - the
imposed load and
- the bearing capacity
of the soil.
The strip footing may
be stepped on a
sloping site to minimise
trenches and the

Shallow Foundation:
Foundation pad size dependent on:
- The soil strength or bearing capacity
- The pad thickness is dependent on the column
loading.
- The upper surface can be flat, stepped or sloping.
- The major reinforcing is placed at bottom layer, to
compensate for the low tensile strength of the
concrete

To get the district plan

maps;

Forming a pad footing for isolated column

step 1: Pocket excavated to firm bearing, Blinding
layer (optional) and DPM placed
Step 2: Formwork erected and steel cage dropped in
place
Note cage in background

Portal Frame Pad:

Portal Frame Pad:

Strip Footing

Deep Strip
Footing

Rafts
Rafts

Portal frame Footing:

Shallow Foundations:
Strip Foundations & Pads:
Combined Foundations:
Spread type foundations and
are designed to overcome
particular restrictions, thus
are less common .
For example:
may be used to distribute
loads
between unequally loaded
columns
using a tapered pad shape
Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Combined Foundations:
For improved load
distribution:
Pad Footings may be
combined by linking
pads together with
ground beams , in order
to provide support to
slab edges and/or
loadbearing walls

Shallow Foundations:
Strip Foundations & Pads Cantilevered Foundations:
When some obstruction at the left column position
prevents an adequate foundation being placed
directly below the column,

Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Formwork for a pad footing for an isolated column with linking tie beams to adjacent columns
Rebar: 4/D500E32 longitudinal

Dual system: Pads & Slab on grade

Pad footings and ground beams (in foreground) may be combined with reinforced slab on grade.
Differential movement checks by Engineer: isolation joints?

Precast Wall panel footing:

Raft Foundations:

Raft Foundations
Solid Slab Raft:
solid slab of reinforced
concrete
load bearing are
thickened
Beam & Slab
thickness > 300mm
Weak soils, beams down
Cellular Raft
depth > 900mm
a hollow cellular raft.
Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Cellular Raft

Basement walls
forms Ribs
Twin slabs: below
and above

/http://www.firth.co.nz/media/33148/Ribraft%20Technical%20Manual.pdf

Raft Foundations:
Theraft foundation avoids
many of these issues by
sitting on top of the
ground and having a
lattice of steel reinforced
concrete ribs and beams
to provide support and
stiffness.
Because they do not
require excavation and are
specifically designed for
each building they can be
more robust, quicker to
build and often less

Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Raft Foundations:
The RibRaft flooring
system is an innovative
method of concrete floor
construction that's ideal
for masonry construction
and light commercial
flooring.

Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Cellular Raft

/http://www.thecubedubai.com/index.php?constructionworksupdate

Raft Foundations:
It provides an insulated
floor of high strength and
durability
Offers potential savings
in construction time (and
cost?)

Image: http://www.qv.co.nz/onlinereports/propertydocuments

Cellular Raft

Seismic Forces

During an Earthquake the ground moves rapidly

while buildings try
to resist displacement via their inherent inertia
Major damage tend to be caused by the horizontal
components
of these imposed loads

/http://www.firth.co.nz/media/33148/Ribraft%20Technical%20Manual.pdf

Seismic Forces
Primary Factors Affecting Foundation Choice:
Sub-surface soil (Geotechnical Profile)
Ground water table conditions
Building structural requirements
Secondary Factors Affecting Foundation Choice:
Construction access, methods and site conditions
Environmental factors (i.e. seismic zone)
Building Codes and Regulations (i.e. setbacks)
Impact on surrounding structures (subsidence)
Construction schedule (lead times for piles)
Construction risks (see piling video clips)

/http://www.firth.co.nz/media/33148/Ribraft%20Technical%20Manual.pdf