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2/2/2017 TypesofFoundationandtheirUsesinBuildingConstruction

Therearedifferenttypesoffoundationforbuildingconstructionandtheirusesdependson
soilconditionandloadsfromthestructure.Itisadvisabletoknowsuitabilityofeachtypes
offoundationbeforemakinganydecisionfortheirselectioninanyconstructionproject.

TypesofFoundationandtheirUses:

1.Spreadfootingsandwallfootings:

Spreadfootingsarethosewhosebaseismorewiderthanatypicalloadbearingwall
foundations.Thisisusedincaseofbuildings.Thewiderbaseofthisfootingtypespreads
theweightfromthebuildingstructureovermoreareaandprovidesbetterstability.

Fig:SpreadFooting

Spreadfootingsandwallfootingsaregenerallyusedforindividualcolumns.wallsand
bridgepiers.Thesefootingsareusedwherethebearingsoillayeriswithin3m(10feet)
fromthegroundsurface.Thesoilbearingcapacitymustbesufficienttosupporttheweight
ofthestructureoverthebaseareaofthestructure.

Thesefoundationsshouldnotbeusedonsoilswherethereisanypossibilityofgroundflow
ofwaterabovebearinglayerofsoilwhichmayresultinscourorliquefaction.

2.MatFoundations:

Matfoundationsarethetypesoffoundationwhicharespreadacrosstheentireareaofthe
buildingtosupportheavystructuralloadsfromcolumnsandwalls.

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2/2/2017 TypesofFoundationandtheirUsesinBuildingConstruction

Fig:MatFoundation

Theuseofmatfoundationisforcolumnsandwallsfoundationswheretheloadsfromthe
structureoncolumnsandwallsareveryhigh.Thistypeoffoundationisusedtoprevent
differentialsettlementofindividualfootings,thusdesignedasasinglemat(orcombined
footing)ofalltheloadbearingelementsofthestructure.

Thistypeoffoundationissuitableforexpansivesoilswhosebearingcapacityislessfor
suitabilityofspreadfootingsandwallfootings.Thistypeoffootingiseconomicalgenerally
whenonehalfareaofthestructureiscoveredwithindividualfootingsandwallfootingsis
provided.

Thesefoundationsshouldnotbeusedwherethegroundwatertableisabovethebearing
surfaceofthesoil.Useoffoundationinsuchconditionsmayleadtoscourandliquefaction.

3.PileFoundations:

Pilefoundationisatypeofdeepfoundationwhichisusedtotransferheavyloadsfromthe
structuretoahardrockstratamuchdeepbelowthegroundlevel.

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2/2/2017 TypesofFoundationandtheirUsesinBuildingConstruction

Fig:PileFoundation

Pilefoundationsareusedtotransferheavyloadsofstructuresthroughcolumnstohardsoil
stratawhichismuchbelowgroundlevelandwhereshallowfoundationssuchasspread
footingsandmatfootingscannotbeused.Thistypeoffoundationisalsousedtoprevent
upliftofstructureduetolateralloadssuchasearthquakeandwindforces.

Pilefoundationsaregenerallyusedforsoilswheresoilconditionsnearthegroundsurface
isnotsuitableforheavyloads.Thedepthofhardrockstratamaybe5mto50m(15feet
to150feet)deepfromthegroundsurface.

Thepilefoundationsresiststheloadsfromstructurebyskinfrictionandbyendbearing.
Useofpilefoundationsalsopreventsdifferentialsettlementoffoundations.

4.DrilledShafts:

Drilledshaftsisalsoatypeofdeepfoundationandhasactionsimilartopilefoundations
discussedabove,butarehighcapacitycastinsitufoundations.Itisalsocalledas
caissons.Itresistsloadsfromstructurethroughshaftresistance,toeresistanceand/or
combinationofbothofthese.Theconstructionofdrilledshaftsorcaissonsaredoneusing
anauger.

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Fig:DrilledShaftsorCaissonFoundation(Source:HaywardBaker)

Thisfoundationcantransfercolumnloadslargerthanpilefoundations.Itisusedwhere
depthofhardstratabelowgroundlevelislocationwithin10mto100m(25feetto300
feet).

Drilledshaftsorcaissonfoundationisnotsuitablewhendeepdepositsofsoftclaysand
loose,waterbearinggranularsoilsexists.Itisalsonotsuitableforsoilswherecaving
formationsaredifficulttostabilize,soilsmadeupofboulders,artesianaquiferexists.

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