Foundation Design

Nasir Shafiq
Foundations Type and Selection
Foundation is a part of structure which interfaces the
superstructure to the adjacent zone of soil or rock below it. The
purpose of having a foundation is to transfer the superstructure
loads to the underlying soil or rock without overstressing the soil
or rock. The three basic requirements of a satisfactory foundation
as stated by Sowers, 1962 are:
The foundation must be properly located with respect to any
future influences which could affect its performances.
The foundation, including the soil below it, must be stable and
safe from failure.
The foundation must not settle sufficiently to damage the
structure.
The first part of this chapter describes the different types of
shallow and deep foundations and the second part discusses
about the selection of the different foundations in a certain
condition.
Foundations Type and Selection
The types of foundation used can be classified into 2 categories that are
shallow and deep foundations. Shallow foundations are used when the
soil formation has adequate strength for a safe bearing support.
However, if the soil has lower shear strength or is highly compressible,
shallow foundations may not be a suitable option. Under such
circumstances, deep foundation may be used. The loads will be
transmitted to a greater depth or to a stiffer stratum or to rock by deep
foundation.
Shallow Foundation
Shallow foundations are used to transmit the loads of the superstructure
to the adjacent soil below it. The types of shallow foundation available
are pad foundation, strip foundation and raft foundation.
Types of Shallow Foundation
Pad Foundation
Pad foundation is used to support the point
load of the column. There are a number of
different types of pad foundations available
which include the mass concrete for steel
column, plain reinforced concrete, stepped
reinforced concrete and the balanced pad
foundations. The types of pad foundations are
shown in Figure 3.1. The detail and
arrangement of pad foundation is shown in
Figure 3.2.
Types of Shallow Foundation
Types of Shallow Foundation
Types of Shallow Foundation

Strip Footing
Strip footings are used under relatively uniform point loads. The strip
will distribute the concentration of the load sideways into an
increased width of sub-strata to reduce the bearing stress and
settlement to an allowable limit. (Curtin, 1994) The structure will also
distribute the loads in the longitudinal direction when the loading is
not uniform and when the sub-strata resistance is variable. The width
of the strip is according to the bearing stress limit and also the
excavator bucket size. (Curtin, 1994) The cross section of a strip
footing is shown in Figure 3.3.
Types of Shallow Foundation
Types of Shallow Foundation

Strip footings are also used when the rows of columns are
spaced so closely that pad foundation nearly touched each
other.
There are different types of strip footings, which include
the masonry strip,
concrete (plain or reinforced) strips,
trench fill (concrete or stone) and
reinforced beam strip (rectangular or inverted T)
Types of Shallow Foundation
Raft Foundation
Raft foundation is also known as mat foundation. It is a large spread
footing that supports most of the structure loads. A raft foundation
spreads the structural load over a large area to reduce the bearing
pressure. It is more rigid and thus reduces the potential for excessive
differential settlements. Raft has greater weight and is able to resist
greater uplift loads. It distributes lateral loads into the soil more evenly
and efficiently.
Since most of the structures require a ground floor slab, it is economic
to incorporate it with the foundation into one element. The combination
of floor ground slab and the foundation can be done by making the
upper surface of the raft foundation coincides with the top surface of the
floor slab.
Types of Shallow Foundation
Types of Shallow Foundation
Types of Shallow Foundation
Deep Foundation

Deep foundations are used to transfer

the structural loads to a deeper soil
strata and when the soils are subjected
to scour. The different types of deep
foundations available are piles, piers and
caissons.
Deep Foundation Type
Pile Foundation
Piles are relatively slender column used to transmit the structural load to
a lower, firmer soil or rock. (Cernica, 1995) Piles are used when the soil
at normal foundation level cannot support the usual pad, strip or raft
foundations. They are made of timber, concrete and steel. According to
Cernica, 1995 the selection of type of pile depend on:
a) The corrosive properties of the soil
b) The fluctuation in water table
c) The ease of installation
d) The length requirement
e) The availability of material
f) The installation equipments
g) The restriction on driving noise
h) Costs
Shallow Foundation Design
The design criteria as stated by Curtin, et al, 1994 are as follows:
Foundations should be kept as shallow as possible because excavation
can be expensive and timely.
Avoid expensive and complex details of foundation.
Pay attention to the buildability of foundation.
The effect of new foundation loading on the existing adjoining structures.
The reliability of soil investigation.
Cost and speed of construction.
Effect of construction on existing ground.
The effect of varying length, shape and rigidity of foundation.
After-effect on completed foundation such as sulphate attack, ground
movement.
Change in local environment such as new construction, re-routing of
road.
Shallow Foundation Design
Pad Footing Design
The footing for a single column may be:
Square shaped, if subjected to axial force only or
axial force plus bi-axial moment
If subjected to uni-axial moment, rectangular
shaped pad footing would be more economical.
Case-1
In the following figure there is no moment and the axial
load, N is applying at the centeroid which yields the
uniform pressure distribution, p, where B is the width
of the footing and D is the length of the footing.
Shallow Foundation Design
N

e0
N
p
D
BD
p
Shallow Foundation Design

Case-2
It is the case of combined moment, M
and axial load, N applied at the centeroid
of the pad footing as shown in the figure
below, therefore the pressure is
calculated according to the equation
given at the bottom of the figure and the
pressure distribution is trapezoidal in
shape.
Shallow Foundation Design
Where, p1 is the minimum pressure and defined as:
N 6M
p1
BD BD 2
and, p2 is the maximum pressure as:
N 6M
p2
BD BD 2
If, p1 is equal to zero, then
N 6M

BD BD 2
Where
M
e
N
Then
D
e
6
Shallow Foundation Design

Case 3
When the eccentricity, e is greater than
D/6 there is no longer a positive pressure
along the length, D and the pressure
diagram is triangular as shown in figure
below:
Shallow Foundation Design
Shallow Foundation Design
By balancing the downward load and upward pressure:
1
pBY N
2
Therefore
2N
max imum pressure, p
BY
Where, Y is the length of positive contact. The centeroid of the pressure diagram
must coincide with the eccentricity of loading in order for load and reaction to be
equal and opposite. Thus:
Y D
e
3 2
or
D
Y 3 e
2
2N
max imum pressure , p
D
3B e
2
Pad Foundation Design Steps
Principal steps
1. Calculate the plan size (footing area and
shape) using permissible bearing
capacity, qa (service load, un-factored
load)
2. Calculate the bearing pressure, qu using
ultimate load
3. Assume suitable thickness, h, and apply
shear stress checks like beam shear
check
4. Apply punching shear using vc
5. Calculate area of steel, As
Pad Foundation Design

Area required = Areq

Areq = P/qa
P = 1.1*(Gk + Qk)
Pad Foundation Design
CRITICAL SECTION FOR
PUNCHING SHEAR

Perimeter of critical punching section

(Green dashed box), Pcr
Pcr = 2[(a + 3d) + (b + 3d)]
Pcr = 2(a + b + 6d)
Acr = Area within Green dashed square
= (a + 3d)*(b + 3d)
Pad Foundation Design
Bending Moment in Longitudinal
Direction
Pad Foundation Design
Bending Moment in Transverse Direction
 Foundation Design
Combined Footing

Nasir Shafiq
Introduction
Introduction

A combined footing is usually used to support

two columns of unequal loads. In such a case, the
resultant of the applied loads would not coincide
with the centeroid of the footing, and the
consequent the soil pressure would not be uniform.
Another case where a combined is an efficient
solution, is when there are two interior columns
which are so close to each other that the two
isolated footings areas would overlap.
The area of the combined footing may be
proportioned for a uniform settlement by making its
centeroid coincide with the resultant of the column
loads supported by the footing.
 Introduction
A combined footing will deform as shown in the sketch
below. The eccentric loading condition upon the left end, due
to the restrictions of a property line, will generate tensile
stresses on the top of the footing. These stresses mean that
a combined footing will require flexural reinforcement both at
the top and the bottom of the footing.
Rectangular Combined Footing Set Out
Rectangular Combined Footing Set Out
Trapezoidal Combined Footing Set Out
Trapezoidal Combined Footing Set Out