INTRODUCTION

 A structure essentially consists of two parts, namely

the super structure which is above the plinth level and
the substructure which is below the plinth level.
 Substructure is otherwise known as the foundation
and this forms the base for any structure.
 Generally about 30% of the total construction cost is
spent on the foundation. The soil on which the
foundation rests is called the “foundation soil”.
OBJECTIVES
 A foundation is provided for the following purposes:
▪ To distribute the total load coming on the structure on a
larger area.
▪ To support the structures.
▪ To give enough stability to the structures against various
disturbing forces, such as wind and rain.
▪ To prepare a level surface for concreting and masonry
work.
TYPES OF FOUNDATION
 The two main types of foundation are :
▪ Shallow foundation (spread foundation)
o Spread Foundation
o Mat / Raft Foundation
▪ Deep foundation
o Pile foundation
o Pier foundation
SPREAD FOUNDATION
 The foundation consists of concrete slabs located
under each structural column and a continuous slab
under load-bearing walls.
 For the spread foundation system the structural load is
literally spread out over a broad area under the
building.
 Most common type of foundation used due to their
low cost & ease of construction.
 Most often used in small to medium size structure
with moderate to good soil condition.
 Spread footings may be built in different shapes &
sizes to accommodate individual needs
RAFT FOUNDATION
 A foundation system in which essentially the entire
building is placed on a large continuous footing.
 It is a flat concrete slab, heavily reinforced with steel,
which carries the downward loads of the individual
columns or walls.
 Raft foundations are used to spread the load from a
structure over a large area, normally the entire area of
the structure.
MAT FOUNDATION
 The structural loads are so high or the soil condition so
poor that spread footings would be exceptionally large.
 As a general rule of thumb, if spread footings would
cover more than 50% of the building footprint area, a
mat or some type of deep foundation will usually be
more economical.
DEEP FOUNDATION
 Deep foundation consists of pile and pier foundations.
This consists in carrying down through the soil a huge
masonry cylinder which may be supported by the sides
of soil or may be supported on solid rock (hard
stratum).
PILE FOUNDATION
 Pile is an element of construction used as foundation.
It may be driven in the ground vertically or with some
inclination to transfer the load safely.
 Loads are supported in two ways. If the load is
supported by the effect of friction between the soil and
the pile skin, it is called friction pile.
PILE FOUNDATION IS USED WHEN
 The soil near the surface doesn’t have sufficient
bearing capacity (weak) to support the structural
loads.
 The estimated settlement of the soil exceeds tolerable
limits.
 Differential settlement due to soil variability or non-
uniform structural loads is excessive.
 Excavations to construct a shallow foundation on a
firm soil are difficult or expensive.
PIERS FOUNDATION
 It’s a vertical bridge support.
 It’s a foundation for carrying a heavy structural load
which is constructed in site in a deep excavation.
 Among the things to be taken in consideration during
construction of pier are as follows: Drilling through
wet or caving soils may need use of temporary steel
casing.
 May also require the use of a termite & a pump to
dewater the hole & place concrete.
 This is more expensive and require a large diameter
hole.
The foundation will be failure if it does not
transfer the load to the ground uniformly
TYPE OF FOUNDATION FAILURE
TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
CAUSES OF FAILURES
1. Design failure
 Errors in data
 Errors in transfer the loading to foundation
 Errors in taking the stresses of materials
2. Construction failure
 Poor workmanship
 Using low quality material
 Specification failure
3. Poor soil condition
 poor soil, high organic components, debris and etc
 Cause the consolidation which contributes to foundation
failures.
4. Poor compaction
 Improper compaction in cases of cut and fill area
5. Erosion
6. Failure due to poor maintenances
 Poor drainage and plumbing leaks can cause soil instability
by creating localized areas of saturated soils, which softens
the soils and allows the foundation to settle
 Plant and tree roots under the foundation
7. Vibration
 Too close with moving part of machinery or vehicle traffic
 Earthquake
8. Hydrostatic pressure
 The water table is close to the foundation, change in water
table results in variation in bearing capacity
9. Shrinking or swelling of clays caused by changes in
moisture content
 Evaporation by hot and dry condition will cause soil to pull
away from foundation
Causes of failures
 EFFECTS OF FOUNDATION
FAILURES
1. BUILDING COLLAPSE
2. CRACKING
➢ To walls

➢ To floors
❖ May cause uneven floors

➢ To frames
3. MISALIGNMENT OF DOORS AND WINDOWS

4. CHIMNEYS PULLING AWAY

5. THE COLUMNS / BEAMS ARE WEAKENED

6. THE ROOF IS DAMAGED

7. LIVES ARE ENDANGERED
➢ People are killed/injured

8. PROPERTIES ARE DAMAGED

9. INCREASED USE OF COST
➢ Cost of repairing

10. EMBANKMENT FILL FAILURES (roadways)

➢ Due to softening of foundation materials
➢ Poorly compacted earth fill
11. SETTLEMENT – vertical movement of soil which sinks the structure
• Building

• Road
 Pier settlement (bridge)

 Bridge deck settlement

12. COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE SLABS

13. UNSEATING OF DECK

FACTOR THAT CONSIDER WHEN
EVALUATING FOUNDATION DAMAGE
1. Site factors.
 Observe site factors that effecting the structure. Such
as area history, area geology, soils, original and
surrounding slopes and etc.
2. Construction.
 Identify construction type, materials sequence of
construction
3. Defects of Occurrence
 Things that happened to the structure. Such as
foundation movement, foundation lean or damage.
4. Defects of Omission
 things that have been left-out or removed. Absence
of supporting posts, piers, footings, or other critical
components.
5. The age of the property
6. Whether the stress is ongoing or arrested
7. Type and condition of the existing foundation
STEP OF INSPECTION
 Use pad and pencil while observing the exterior
foundation
 Take notes of cracks and their locations.
 Small hair-line cracks that do not go through the
foundation wall. It is common and nothing to worry
about it. They may have been caused by shrinkage of
the concrete or mortar joints.
CHECKLIST FOR FOUNDATION
INSPECTION
1. Check the exterior foundation and masonry surfaces
for cracks. For examples, separation of brick veneer
from window and door frames.
2. Sight ridge rafter, roof line and eaves for
irregularities
3. Check interior doors for fit and operation.
4. Check the plumb and square of door and window
frames.
5. Note grade of floors. A simple method for checking
the level of a floor (without carpet) is to place a small
ball bearing on the surface and observe its behavior.
6. Inspect wall and ceiling surface for cracks or
evidence of patching.
7. On pier and beam foundations, check for firmness,
inspect the crawl space
8. Check exterior drainage adjacent to foundation
beams.
9. Look for trees that located too close to the foundation.
 REPAIR & MAINTENANCE
There are two common methods for lifting a sunken
concrete foundation:

 Piering - fixes concrete foundations by placing

supports underground that lift and support the
concrete.
 Slabjacking - fills the space under the slab with a
grout mixture that floats the foundation back to its
original position.
TYPES OF PIERING
1) Steel push piers
 the best choice for homes that need to be lifted
when doing foundation repairs.
 These push piers are driven to rock or load bearing
soils and then can lift a home back to its original
state.
 Drywall cracks can be closed, windows and doors
can once again be opened and shut and exterior
brick cracks will go away.
 The function of steel piers is the support and
stabilization of load bearing walls as a permanent
solution.
2) Helical Piers
 Helical anchor piers is a staple product in the
foundation repair industry.
 These screw piers are best used on slab
foundations, porches and other light weight
structures.
 One of the two most common types of structural
piering devices for residential foundation
applications
 Helical piers can be used to lift homes or
stabilize foundations when driven deeply to
stable soils.
3) Porch Pier
 Designed for light structures or
overhangs
 Used for porches & wing walls
 Uses helical pier for support
 Small design can be easily
hidden
PIERING INSTALLATION STEP:
The steps in the piering process are as follows:
 A 3'x4' excavation is made adjacent to foundation
and approximately 10" below the grade beam.
 Soil is scrapped from the footing bottom and the
foundation is chipped smooth to ensure proper fit
of support bracket.
 Brackets and hydraulics are installed and a guide
sleeve is advanced through the support bracket.
 Starter and pier sections are advanced to refusal at
an average penetrating power of 50,000 pounds of
total driving force.
 The last pier section is cut approximately 5" above the
support bracket and a fastening plate is installed on top
of the pier column.
 The hydraulics are reconnected and are operated
sequentially to raise the structure.
 When the structure has been raised to the desired height
the fastening plates and support bracket are permanently
attached to the pier column.
 When the structure is secure, depth, pressure and
elevation readings are recorded for each pier.
 The excavated soil is replaced and compacted.
 Shrubbery and concrete removed for the pier installation
is replaced.
1) Making drill holes – depends on slab size
2) Pumping grout – begin at lowest point
3) Hole patching
STEP OF SLABJACKING
MAKING DRILL HOLE
A pattern of 1-5/8 inch holes are
drilled through the sunken slab.

PUMPING GROUT
A grout mixture is pumped under the
slab with our specialized equipment.
Once any void is filled, the grout
becomes pressurized, hydraulically
raising the slab to the desired height

HOLE PATCHING
The holes are patched using a
concrete mixture.