Foundations

1. FOUNDATION ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION
Foundation engineering is the branch of civil engineering that specializes in designing, building, and
maintaining foundations for structures like buildings, bridges, and dams. It involves analyzing soil and
geological conditions to ensure stability and durability, considering factors like load-bearing capacity and
environmental impacts.

2.  Shallow Foundations
 • Depth is low so economical,
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 • Most popular for lightweight structures.
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 Types of shallow foundations.
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 1. Isolated Spread Footing
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 • Most widely used because economical
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 • Generally used for ordinary buildings (Typically up to five stories).

3. IMPORTANCE OF FOUNDATION
 Foundations are Essential: They’re the starting point of any construction project.
 Crucial for Durability: They play a vital role in ensuring the durability and longevity
of a building.
 Impact on Strength: A poorly constructed foundation can weaken the overall
strength and resilience of the building.
 Reliability Matters: Without a stable foundation, a building cannot be relied upon
to withstand various stresses and conditions.
 Longevity Depends on It: A stable foundation is essential for ensuring the
building’s long-term reliability and longevity.

4. What is the foundation
 The process of transmitting the entire structural load to the soil via the
combination of footing and soil is commonly known as foundation.

5. Foundations Is designed based on two criteria
1 Shear failure Criteria
2 Settlement criteria

6. PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION
Foundations provide the structure’s stability from the ground
• To distribute the weight of the structure over a large area in order to avoid
overloading the underlying soil (possibly causing unequal settlement).
• To anchor the structure against natural forces including earthquakes, floods, and
wind.
• Decide what kind of foundation is needed for the building, how deep it should go,
and its size.
Look into ways to strengthen the soil to support the foundation better.

7. Types of foundation
 Types of Foundation-Two categories
1 Shallow foundations-width>depth
2 Deep foundations-width<depth