Foundation types and their Needs in Civil engineering

Foundation is a structural part of a building on which a building stands. Foundation transmits and distributes its own load and imposed loads to the soil in such a way that the load bearing capacity of the “foundation bed” is not exceeded. The solid ground on which the foundation rest is called foundation bed. We use various types of footing as a foundation.

Foundations are mainly two categories.

1. Shallow foundation, and
2. Deep foundation.

See below for details:

 

1- Shallow Foundation

Shallow foundation is a type of foundation that transfers load to the very near the surface. Shallow foundations typically have a depth to width ratio of less than 1.


Various types of Shallow Foundations:
Following are the types shallow foundations -

• Pad footing or column footing

• Cantilever or strap footings

• Mat/Raft footings

• Wall Footings

   Pad footing or column footing

This type of footing can be two types - Isolated and Combined.

Isolated footing

These are most economical. They are usually in square or rectangle size with the column sitting in the middle of the square. It's a kind of pad footing.

Combined footing

A footing, either rectangular or trapezoidal, that supports two columns. It's also a pad  footing.

  

  Cantilever or strap footings

Consist of two single footings connected with a beam or a strap and support two single columns.

Mat/Raft footings

Consist of one footing usually placed under the entire building area. They are used when soil bearing capacity is low, column loads are heavy, single footing can’t be used, piles are not used and differential settlement must be reduced.


Wall Footings
Wall footings are used to distribute the loads of structural load-bearing walls to the soil. 
 

2- Deep Foundations

Deep foundations are those founding too deeply below the finished ground surface for their base bearing capacity to be affected by surface conditions, this is usually at depths of 3 meter below finished ground level. Deep foundations can be used to transfer the load to a deeper, more competent strata at depth if unsuitable soils are present near the surface.

 

Common Type of Deep Foundation :

Pile foundations are common type of deep foundation. These are relatively long, slender members that transmit foundation loads through soil strata of low bearing capacity to deeper soil or rock strata having a high bearing capacity. They are used when for economic, constructional or soil condition considerations it is desirable to transmit loads to strata beyond the practical reach of shallow foundations.

In addition to supporting structures, piles are also used to anchor structures against uplift forces and to assist structures in resisting lateral and overturning forces.

Thick slabs are used to tie a group of piles together to support and transmit column loads to the piles.