Foundation engineering

Course 1

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February 2009

from The Code of Hammurabi, Babylon, 1700B.C.

228 - If a builder build a house for some one and complete

it, he shall give him a fee of two shekels in money for each
sar of surface.

229 If a builder build a house for some one, and does

not construct it properly, and the house which he built fall
in and kill its owner, then that builder shall be put to
death.

232 If it ruin goods, he shall make compensation for all

that has been ruined, and inasmuch as he did not construct
properly this house which he built and it fell, he shall reerect the house from his own means.

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definition

Foundation represents the structural part

that:

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connects the construction to the ground,

take over the loads from the structure and
deliver them safely to the ground.

A structure is no
stronger than its
connections

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Foundation engineer should be multidisciplinary

Structural engineering

Geotechnical engineering

Construction engineering

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adaptation of the term

foundation engineering

Structural engineering is the art of

moulding materials we do not fully understand

into shapes we cannot precisely analyze
to resist forces we cannot accurately predict,

all in such a way that the society at large is given

no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance.

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Design methods in

foundation engineering

A mixture of
Rational

technics

and

Empirical

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technics

Factors of safety

have been introduced to develop reliable

and economical designs in a timely and
efficient manner.

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Factors of influence over design safety factors

Required reliability (acceptable probability of failure);

Consequence of a failure;

Uncertainties in soil properties and applied loads;

Construction tolerances;

Ignorance of the true behaviour of foundations;

Cost-benefit ratio of additional conservatorism in the

design.

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Factors of safety in foundation design are greater than in the

superstructure design

Extra weight can be a benefit;

Construction tolerances in foundations are wider

than those in superstructure;

Uncertainties in soil properties introduce

significantly more risk;

Foundation failures are most costly than failure in

superstructure.

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Classification

of foundations
is based on several criteria

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Depending on the foundation depth:

Shallow foundations;

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Deep foundations.

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NP 112/2004

Structure + basement + foundation + soil= structural system

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Depending on the rigidity

rigid foundation

flexible foundation

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 depending on the technology

Monolith

Pre-cast

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Loads from the structure

Designing infrastructure is entirely conditioned by

the complete structure analysis.

Loads delivered to the infrastructure are

established in both service/fundamental and
ultimate/special groupings.

Any failure mechanism according to the special

groupings of loads is restricted only within the
structure.

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Dimensions of the footing geotechnical design

Are established so that the contact pressures on

the footing have acceptable values, to prevent
developing of any limit states, endangering the
safety or service of the construction.

Limit states within foundation soil can be

regarded as the followings:

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Ultimate Limit State (ULS)

Service Limit State (SLS)

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Pressure Setllement dependency

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Acceptable pressures are considered to be:

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a conventional pressure pconv;

a pressure to comply with the restrictions
regarding the SLD.U and SLD. EN;
a pressure to comply with the restrictions
regarding the SLCP;

All these pressures are established based on both

construction and soil characteristic features

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Selection criteria to assess limit states for the foundation soil

and the corresponding acceptable pressure
STAS 3300/2-85 i N.P. 112-04

Teren de fundare

Caracteristici construcie

Caracteristici
aciuni

Dup restricii la
Pmnt Dup importan Dup sensibilitatea la
deformaii n
tasri difereniale
Stari limita
coeziv
exploatare
Difici
Aciuni H Aciuni H
presiuni
Bun
saturat
l
/ V < 0,1 / V 0,1
acceptabile (TB)
ncrcat
Nesensibil Sensibil la Fr
Cu
(TD)
(AO)
(AS)
rapid Obinuit Special la tasri
tasri
restricii restricii
(CO)
(CS)
(PC)
(CNES)
(CSEN) (CFRE) (CRE)
pconv

S.L.D.U.
S.L.D.U.
S.L.D.U.
S.L.D.U.
S.L.D.E.N.
S.L.C.P.
S.L.C.P.
S.L.C.P.
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Flow chart of assessing

the foundation soil
STAS 3300/2- 85 &
N.P. 112-04

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