Pad Foundation
Types of Pad Foundations
Reinforced Pad Foundations – These are foundations containing reinforcement bars for tension and compression in
the foundation. The bars used in the design are typically grade 500B in accordance to British Standards, but this means
the yield stress of the bar is 500 N/mm2.
Concrete pad foundation – These are foundations that are just mass filled concrete bases, containing no
reinforcement. This is usually for supports undertaking a minimal amount of load. (It is always better to put the minimum
amount of reinforcement to avoid any cracking).
Combined Pad Foundations – These foundations occur when the pads are too close together due to closely spaced
columns. This involves making a larger pad foundation supporting 2 or more columns.
Ground beams and Pad foundations – This involves using ground beams at the foundation level to transfer load into
the pads. This can be practically seen in housing construction where we have ground beams supporting masonry walls.
Foundation Reinforcement
Structural Pad Foundation Design Example - Eurocode 2
Pad Foundation Design Example using prescriptive method
The structural pad foundation is to be designed against a Permanent load of 1200 kN and Imposed load of 550 kN.
There is a moment of 250 kNm (permanent) and 200 kNm (imposed).
The column size is 450 x 450mm.
fck = 40 N/mm2
fyk = 500 N/mm2
Max bearing stress = 200 N/mm2
Pad Foundation Design Example
Determine size of pad at serviceability limit state
Base weight is 3.75m x 3.75m x 0.75 x 25 = 265 kN
Total SLS Load = 1200 + 550 +265 = 2015 kN
Minimum pad area = 2015/200 = 10.1m2
Add an additional 25% for moment = 10.1 x 1.25 = 12.63m2
The area of the pad = 3.75 x 3.75 = 14.06m2
Calculate eccentricity
e = M/P = (250 + 200)/2015 = 0.22m
For no tension:
6 x 0.22 = 1.32m > L , okay
depth of base = 0.75m
Bearing Stresses at SLS
pmax = P/A + My/I
pmax = 2015/14.06 + 450 x (3.75/2)/(3.75 x 3.753/12)
pmax = 143.3 + 51.2 = 194.5 kN/m2
pmax = 143.3 ± 51.2 = 194.5 and 92.1 kN/m2
Pad Foundation Design - Serviceability bearing pressures
Ultimate Limit state - soil bearing pressure
Note – do not include self-weight
Column design axial load:
ULS Vertical Load = 1.35 x (1200) + 1.5 x 550 = 2445 kN
M = 1.35 x 250 + 1.5 x 200 = 640 kNm
p = 2445/14.06 + 640 x (3.75/2)/(3.75 x 3.753/12)
pmax = 174 ± 72.82 = 246.71 and 101.18 kN/m2
Pad Foundation Design - Ultimate bearing pressures
Maximum shear resistance of foundation
The depth of the foundation is 750mm and the effective depth to reinforcement has been assumed to be 680mm.
At the column face, Vrd,max
fck fck
= 0.5ud[0.6(1 − 250
)]
1.5
f40
= 0.5(4 × 450) × 680 × [0.6(1 − 250
)]
40
1.5
= 8225 kN (> 2445 kN)
Punching Shear
Punching shear is a failure mechanism in slabs and foundations, which causes shear stresses to develop at a perimeter
of 2.0d from the edge of the column face. A more detailed explanation can be found on this page – What is punching
shear? (https://civilsguide.com/what-is-punching-shear/)
Basic control perimeter = column perimeter + 4πd
= 4 x 450 + 4π x 680 = 10345 mm
Area within perimeter = (450 + 4d)2 – (4-π)(2.0d)2
= (450 + 1800)2 – (4-π)(1360)2 = 3.47 x 106 mm
therefore,
Punching shear force, VEd = (2445 – (3.47 x (247+102)/2)) = 1840 kN
Punching shear stress vEd
VEd
=
P erimeter×d
3
1840×10 2
vEd = = 0.262N /mm
10345×680
Bending Reinforcement
Maximum bending at the face of the column is defined by the equation below:
2 2
Mu = (183 × 1.65 × 0.5) + (247 − 102) × 1.65 /3
Distance to face of column is 3.75/2 – 0.45/2 = 1.65m
=381 kNm per m width
For the concrete
2 6 2
Mu/bd fck = 381 × 10 /(1000 × 680 × 40) = 0.0206
From the lever-arm curve, la can be determine or z = d[0.5 + √(0.25-K/1.134)]
z = 680[0.5 + √ 0.25–0.0206/1.134] = 667mm , check if this is less than 0.95d (0.95 x 680 = 646 mm)
use z = 646 mm
As =
M
0.87fykz
= (381x 10^6)/(0.87 x 500 x 646) = 1356 mm2/m
Therefore, provide B20 bars @ 200mm c/c, As = 1570 mm2/m.
Check Bar Stresses:
Stress in reinforcement can be checked through the equation below:
fyk ψ2Qk+Gk As,req 1
σs =
γms 1.5Qk+1.35Gk As,prov δ
where ψ2 can be taken from the table NA.A1.1, which contains values for buildings.
δ can be taken as 1.0
fck
γms
= 435 for 500 MPa reinforcement.
Stress in reinforcement can be checked through the equation below:
0.7×550+1200 1356
σs = 435 = 243M P a
1.5×550+1.35×1200 1570
We can check the 243 MPa on the allowable stresses for bars. The maximum bar spacing can be taken as 175mm.
We have chosen a bar spacing of 200mm, which is greater than 175mm.
Increase the spacing of the bars to 175mm c/c. Therefore, new area of steel is 1795mm2/m.
The table for maximum bar stresses can be found in this page: One way slab design to EC2
(https://civilsguide.com/one-way-spanning-slab-design-example-ec2/)
Final Punching Shear
The resistance of the concrete shear needs to be checked with the reinforcement added to the concrete.
We need to determine the percentage of steel in the section.
As 1570
= = 0.0022(= 0.23
bd 1000×680
1/3
vrd,c = [0.12k × (100 × ρ × fck) ]
where K = 1 + √ 200/d
where K = 1 + √ 200/680 = 1.54
1/3 2
vrd,c = [0.12 × 1.54 × (100 × 0.0023 × 40) ] = 0.39N /mm
−3
Vrdc = vrdcu1d = 0.39 × 10345 × 680 × 10 = 2746kN
2746kN (> VEd = 1840kN )
Minimum Shear Force @ 1.0d from column
At the critical section for shear, normal shear at 1.0d from the column face.
VEd at 1.0d is 209 kN/m per m width
Design shear force, VEd = 209 x 103 / (1000 x 680) = 0.31 N/mm2
From the previous calculation, we determined the shear stress resistance, vrd,c to be 0.39 N/mm2 > 0.31 N/mm2
…. OKAY
Pad Foundation - Normal Shear
