Foundation Analysis

INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Foundation is that part of a structure which
provides support to the structure and the loads
coming from it. Thus, foundation means the soil or rock
that ultimately supports the load and any part of the
structure which serves to transmit the load into the soil.
The design of foundation for a structure, therefore
involves the following:

 Evaluation of the capacity of the soil to support the

loads and
 Designing proper structural elements to transmit the
super structure load into the soil
INTRODUCTION
Often the term foundation describes only the
structural elements but this definition is incomplete,
because the ability of the structural element to
transmit the load is limited by the capability of the soil
to support the load. Therefore, the problem should be
considered as a whole and not in isolation. A
foundation failure may destroy the superstructure as
well while a failure in the superstructure might result
only in localized damage and does not essentially
mean failure of the foundation.
TYPES OF FOUNDATION
Foundations can be classified as shallow and
deep foundations depending upon the depth of soil
which is affected by the foundation loading and,
consequently, affect the foundation behaviour.
CHOICE OF FOUNDATION TYPE
The main criteria governing the choice of
foundation for a structure comprise;

a) Function of the building – residential, commercial,

bridge, dam, and so on.
b) Loads that the foundation will be required to
support.
c) Subsoil condition.
d) Cost of the foundation in relation to the cost of the
superstructure.
DESIGN CRITERIA
The design of foundation for any structure
involves primarily the determination of the net
permissible bearing pressure on the foundation for the
subsoil prevailing at the building site. This should be
determined from considerations of bearing capacity,
the magnitude and the rate of settlement, and the
ability of the structure to withstand settlement.
Foundation for a building should, therefore satisfy the
following design criteria:

a) There must be adequate factor of safety against

bearing capacity failure, and
b) The settlement of the foundation must be within
permissible limits.
 BEARING CAPACITY TERMS
Gross Loading Intensity
Total pressure at the level of
foundation including the weight of
superstructure, foundation, and the
soil above foundation.

Net Loading Intensity

Pressure at the level of foundation causing
actual settlement due to stress increase. This
includes the weight of superstructure and
foundation only.
Ultimate Bearing Capacity
Maximum gross intensity of loading
that the soil can support against
shear failure is called ultimate
bearing capacity.
Net Ultimate Bearing Capacity
Maximum net intensity of loading that the soil
can support at the level of foundation.
 BEARING CAPACITY TERMS
Net Safe Bearing Capacity
Maximum net intensity of loading that the
soil can safely support without the risk of
shear failure.

Gross Safe Bearing Capacity

Maximum gross intensity of loading that the
soil can safely support without the risk of
shear failure.
Safe Bearing Pressure
Maximum net intensity of loading that can
be allowed on the soil without settlement
exceeding the permissible limit.

Allowable Bearing Pressure

Maximum net intensity of loading that can
be allowed on the soil with no possibility of
shear failure or settlement exceeding the
permissible limit.
COMMON TYPES OF FOOTING
 Strip/Continuous footing
 Isolated footing (i.e., square, rectangular, circular)
COMMON TYPES OF FOOTING
 Combined footing
 Strap footing
 Raft/Mat footing
COMBINED FOOTING
 Combined footing is preferred when
 The columns are spaced too closely that if isolated
footing is provided the soil beneath may have a
part of common influence zone.
 The bearing capacity of soil is such that isolated
footing design will require extent of the column
foundation to go beyond the property line.

 Types of combined footing

 Rectangular combined footing
 Trapezoidal combined footing
 Strap beam combined footing
 Rectangular Combined Footing
 If two or more columns are carrying
almost equal loads, rectangular
combined footing is provided
 Proportioning of foundation will involve
the following steps:
Q1 + Q2
 Area of foundation, A =
qa−net
Q2 S
 Location of resultant force, x =
Q1 + Q2
 For uniform distribution of pressure under the foundation, the
resultant load should pass through the center of foundation
base.
Length of foundation, L = 2 ( L1 +S)
Offset on the other side, L2 = L − S − L1 >0
 The width of foundation, B =A/ L
 Trapezoidal Combined Footing
 If one of the columns is carrying much
larger load than the other one,
trapezoidal combined footing is provided
 Proportioning of foundation will involve
the following steps if L, and L1 are known
Q1 + Q2
 Area of foundation, A = q
a−net

 Location of resultant force, x =

Q2 S
Q1 + Q2
 For uniform distribution of pressure under the foundation, the
resultant load should pass through the center of foundation
base. This gives,

 Area of the footing, B1 + B2 Solution of these two

L =A equations gives B1 & B2
2
 Strap Combined Footing
 Strap footing is used to connect
an eccentrically loaded column
footing to an interior column so
that the moment can be
transferred through the beam
and have uniform stress
distribution beneath both the
foundations.
 This type of footing is preferred
over rectangular or trapezoidal
footing if distance between the
columns is relatively large.
 Some design considerations:
 Strap must be rigid: Istrap /Ifooting > 2.
 Footings should be proportioned to have approximately equal
soil pressure in order to avoid differential settlement.
 Strap beam should not have contact with soil to avoid soil
reaction to it.
RAFT/MAT FOUNDATIONS
 Where is it needed?
 Structures like chimneys, silos, cooling towers,
buildings with basements where continuous water
proofing is needed
 For foundations where differential settlement can
be a major concern
 For soft soils strata or site with pockets of weak soil
 In situations where individual footings may touch or
overlap each other
TYPES OF RAFT/MAT FOUNDATIONS
 Plane Slab Rafts: For fairly small and uniform spacing of
columns and when the supporting soil is not too
compressible.
 Beam and Slab: For large column spacing and unequal
column loads.
 Slab with Column Pedestals: For columns with heavy
loads which may require large shear strength or flexural
strength of slab.
 Cellular Rafts: For compensated foundations to avoid
differential settlements in weak soils.
 Piled Rafts: For heavy structures on soft soils in order to
share the loads with piles.
 Strip Rafts or Grid Rafts: For economical design where a
complete slab may be avoided.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
 The depth of foundation shall not be less than 1.0 m.
 Punching shear failure for raft foundation on
cohesionless soils is not an option so it shall not be
considered for analysis. The design is mostly governed
by settlement criteria.
 For raft foundations on cohesive soils, stability against
deep seated failure shall be analyzed. The effect of
long term settlement due to consolidation shall also be
considered.
 The uplift due to sub-soil water shall be considered in
design. The construction below water table shall be
checked for floatation.
 Foundations subjected to heavy vibratory loading
should preferably be isolated.
RIGIDITY OF SOIL-STRUCTURE SYSTEM
 Performance of raft depends on the relative rigidity of
its three components:
 Super structure
 Raft
 Soil
 Distribution of contact pressures depends on the
relative rigidity of the foundation with respect to soil.
 It is important that the rigidity of superstructure also
matches with the rigidity of foundation.
 Rigid Superstructure with Rigid Foundation: Does not allow differential
settlement so it is good.
 Rigid Superstructure with Flexible Foundation: Large deformations in the
foundation which is not suitable for superstructure.
 Flexible Superstructure with Rigid Foundation: It may acceptable but not
necessary.
 Flexible Superstructure with Flexible Foundation: This is also good.