CLASSIFICATION OF FOUNDATIONS

Foundation/Geotechnics
Definition; a foundation is part of the structure that is in direct cintact with the
soil. W can distinguish two types of foundations;
We have the natural foundation which is the soil on which the foundation is
being constructed and the Artificial foundation which are made of wood, concrete
etc. and can be made of different forms.
Note; 1 bar = 1 daN/m2
1 Mpa = 10 bars
Generally, foundations can be classified as follows;
1. D/B < 4 Superficial foundation
If l/B ≤ 5 ⇒ Isolated footings
If l/B > 5 ⇒ Strip footing
If the surface occupied by the isolated footing is ≥ 50 % ⇒ raft foundation
2. 4 ≤ D/B < 10 ⇒ Semi-deep foundation, well foundation or short bore pile
foundation
3. D/B ≥ 10 ⇒ deep foundation (pile)
We use a deep foundation when the good soil to resist load is situated far away
from the surface of the ground. A pile foundation functions occurring in two
modes;
- Through its screen friction
- Through the point effect

CHOICE OF A FOUNDATION
The choice of the foundation type depends on
- The nature of the soil
- Thee depth of the good soil
- The type of structure to be constructed
 - The presence of neighbouring structures
- The presence of water in the ground
- The environment and
- The cost.
Steps to Construct a foundation
- Site clearance (clearing of the top soil)
- Implantation of the structure (setting out of structure)
- Excavation of the footings (earth works)
- Putting of the lean concrete
- Placing of formwork
- Placing reinforcement
- Casting of the concrete (RC)
- Demolishing of formwork.

SUPERFICIAL FOUNDATIONS
With superficial foundations the height of a footing h ≥ d + 5 cm and do/2 < d <
2do, where do is the projection of the footing.
Fig;
 Settlement Test
h ≥ max (L1, L2, L3, …, Ln)/8 → L/18 or total length (l/30)
British Standard (1.4G + 1.6Q)
BAEL (1.35G + 1.5Q)
Task: give the difference between calculating reinforcement using BS, BAEL
beam (give with examples)
Assignment
A storey building is to be constructed on the campus, 2 levels (G+2). A total Pser =
1000 kN and Pu = 1500 kN and σ’ad = 1.5 bar. Calculate the size of the footing.
Suppose that the footing is anchored at 1.2 m, verify the sixing of the footing.
After dimensioning this footing, the engineer decided to use pozzolan to
reinforce the soil, and found out that the angle of friction of pozzolan soil is φ =
35o and the C = 10 kN/m2.
1) Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of the new reinforce can and
calculate the admissible bearing capacity. Pillar (20x40), go to Terzaghi
formula.
Penetrometer Curve
In order to dimension this foundation, it is important to know the strength of the
soil in terms of strength depth.
In order to interpret this curve, it is important to take the smallest value of the
resistance below the foundation to prevent compression of the layers below the
foundation. In order to dimension any foundation by the use of the penetrometer
test to study the soil, it is important to calculate the admissible stress, σadm =
PR/20, where PR = point resistance and 20 is the factor of safety for a
𝑞𝑢
penetrometer test. = σad
𝐹
𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟
To size a footing, σad ≥ = ; Pser = load at the serviceable limit state (G
𝑆 𝐴𝑥𝐵
+Q)
𝑎 𝑏 𝐴 𝑎
Since we have two unknowns, A and B, we use the coefficient = ⇒ = …
𝐴 𝐵 𝐵 𝑏
(1)
a.B 𝑃 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 . 𝑏 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 . 𝑏 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 . 𝑏
Hence, A = ⇒ σad = 𝑎.𝐵𝑠𝑒𝑟 = ⇒ B2 = ⇒B=√
b 𝑥𝐵 𝑎𝐵2 𝑎 . 𝜎𝑎𝑑 𝑎 . 𝜎𝑎𝑑
𝑏

𝑎 𝑎 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 . 𝑏
A= .𝐵 ⇒ A = x√ A x B ≥ Pser/ σad … (2)
𝑏 𝑏 𝑎 . 𝜎𝑎𝑑

After sizing the footing which is rectangular at serviceable limit state as the rule
say, it will then be necessary to size the reinforcement at the ULS. The next item to
be sized is the height of the above footing. h ≥ d + 5cm … (3)
𝐴−𝑎 𝐵−𝑏 𝐴−𝑎 𝐵−𝑏
d ≥ max [ , ] ⇒ h ≥ max [ , ] +5 cm …(4)
4 4 4 4
 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟
For a square footing, A = B or σad = ,A≥√
𝐴2 𝜎𝑎𝑑𝑚

After sizing the footing, it is important to verify the total pressures exerted on the
soil.
𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 +𝑊𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 +𝑊𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙
σadm ≥ , Wfooting = Vfooting x concrete, Pser = c
𝐴𝑥𝐵

Wbackfill = soil x Vsoil

The volume of the backfill soil is given by Vsoil = (AB – ab)(D – h)

𝐹𝑠𝑒𝑟 +𝛾𝑐 𝐴𝐵ℎ+𝛾𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝐴𝐵−𝑎𝑏)(𝐷−ℎ)

Hence, σadm ≥ density of soil ranges between 18 – 22
𝐴𝐵

This type of footing is recommended for economic purpose though it is difficult to

realize because of formwork and lack of expertise. We have two types of stresses
below a foundation and thee stresses depend on the eccentricity of the footing.
Case 1: when the eccentricity passes through the centre of the footing

CASE 2; this is when the load, Pser does not pass through the centre gravity of
the footing.

This type of footing is dimensioned as follows;

Case where e ≤ B/6
1+3𝑒 1+3𝑒
σad ≥ x Pser ⇒AB ≥ x Pser.
𝐴𝐵 σad

Case where e ≥ B/6

2𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝐴 𝑎
σad ≥ 𝐵 and =
3𝐴( −𝑒) 𝐵 𝑏
2

In order to size the reinforcement, it is important to know the norms you are using,
but for a case now, we will use BAEL norms.
 CALCULATION OF REINFOREMENT
𝑃𝑢 (𝐴−𝑎) 𝑓𝑒
Asa = ; σsteel = and γs = 1.15
8𝑑𝜎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝛾𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙

d = 0.9 h
𝑃𝑢 (𝐵−𝑏)
Asb =
8𝑑𝜎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙

Assignment

a = 20, b = 40, σad = 2 bars and Pser = 400 kN

Design when the footing is eccentric and when it is not eccentric.

STRIP FOOTINGS
Consider the footing below

𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟
To size the footing σadm ≥ , S = B x 1⇒ σadm ≥ ; 1 represents 1 ml, which
𝑆 𝐵𝑥1
means we are considering just 1m length of the wall.
𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑟
Hence B ≥
𝜎𝑎𝑑𝑚

(𝐵 – 𝑏)
h ≥ d + 5 and d ≥ , since we are considering only 1m length
4
 (𝐵 – 𝑏)
hence, h ≥ + 5 cm; B = width of the foundation
4
𝑃𝑢 (𝐵−𝑏)
Asb =
8𝑑𝜎𝑠

Assignment
Design a footing of any of a two-storey building and evaluate the loads and design
the footing.
σad = 2 bars = 2 dN/m2
fc28 = 20 MPa (regular value of fc28 for Bamenda and Bafoussam) and fc28 = 30
MPa for bridges.
This depends on the composition of the concrete.

RAFT FOUNDATIONS
A raft foundation is adopted when the surface area occupied by the footing is more
than 50% of the construction surface area and also when the construction site
presents unworkable soil (swampy).
NB; This does not mean that if a soil is bad a raft foundation must be used, short
bore piles can be adopted (used) if the resistive soil is not too far from the surface.
For raft foundations, it is important to verify the surface area by the use of
the formula;
𝑷𝑻𝒐𝒕
σadm ≥ where S = surface area of the building, Ptotal is the total weight of the
𝑺
structure.
NB; People commonly use 1ton/m2 for residential buildings and 1.2ton/m2 for
commercial (storey) buildings.

Pressure Bulb at D the soil will not feel the effects of loads
Suppose that after pre-dimensioning or verification of stresses the surface
area obtained is greater than the surface area of the soil (land to use)
1) The engineer can reduce the number of levels
 2) The engineer may use lightweight materials
3) The engineer may re-constitute the soil.
Pre-dimensioning of Raft Foundations
There are two types of raft foundations;
• Solid sab raft and
• Beam slab raft.

𝑙𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑙𝑚𝑎𝑥
h1 ≥ ; h2 ≥ ; ld ≥ max (30 cm, h2/2),
10 20

L (lmax) = length of the longest beam or largest span or length of the longest rib.
Soil Reconstitution for Foundation (mixing proportions)
Mix of; cement – soil, soil – soil, soil – pozzolan.
Verification of Shear Strength (Vu), shear force at the ultimate
In order to verify the shear strength, we need to determine Vu and compute in the
equation.
𝑽𝒖
τu = ≤ 0.05fc28
𝒃𝒅
𝑵𝒖 𝒙 𝒃 𝒍𝒎𝒂𝒙
Vu = x ; where lmax = maximum span, b = 1m, Sraft = surface area of raft,
𝑺𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕 𝟐

Nu = total load (1ton/m2)

Verification of Pressure Beneath the Raft
In order to verify this pressure, we would use the expression W ≥ α.γw. h .
Sraft
Where w = weight of the raft + super structure
= (GT + Graft)
α = safety coefficient
=1.5 (due to upward push)
γw = volumic weight of water; γw = w x g = 1000 x 10 = 10 kN/m2
h = height of embedment of the raft from the SA of the ground
Sraft = surface area of raft.
Verification of Punching
𝟎.𝟎𝟕.𝝁𝒄.𝒉.𝒇𝒄𝟐𝟖
Nu ≤ (fc28 for B’da = 20 MPa, D’la = 25 MPa and 20 MPa for
𝜸𝟏
others)
To verify Punching; it is important to consider the most loaded pillar which is
liable to create punching on raft and evaluate the load at the UL, Nu.
After the evaluation of the loads at the ULS, we calculate the critical
perimeter of the column μc whereby μc = perimeter of the column + 8 x 1.5??
h = height of the raft
fc28 = fcu = concrete resistance after 28 days (cubic strength of concrete)
Assignment

σadm = 0.7 bars

Other information at our disposal.
Work required
- Dimension the most loaded beam
- Determine the most loaded pillar
- Dimension the foundation.
𝑙
Hint: Section of Pillar ≥ , l = height of pillar.
20
ℎ
For the other side of pillar .
3