Types of Foundation and Their Uses in Building Construction
Types of Foundation and Their Uses in Building Construction
Types of Foundation and Their Uses in Building Construction
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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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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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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