What is Foundation? Foundation is the lower portion of the building usually located below ground level, which transmits the loads of the super structure to the supporting soil. A foundation is therefore that part of the structure which is in direct contact with the ground to which loads are transmitted. Functions of Foundation 1. Reduction … Read more
Compaction should not be confused with consolidation. At the end of the consolidation and/or compaction process, a closer packing of soil grains results, which leads to increased shear strength and decreased compressibility and permeability. Difference Between Compaction and Consolidation Soil Compaction It is a dynamic process Compaction is almost instantaneous Densification is due to reduction … Read more
Atterberg Limits of Soil The term Atterberg limits is named as per the Swedish agriculturist Albert Atterberg. When water is added into a soil mass, it changes its state from solid to liquid. He divided the entire range from solid to liquid into four stages: The solid state The semi-solid state The plastic state The … Read more
Footings can be of the following types. Spread or isolated or pad footing Strap footing Combined footing Strip or continuous footing Mat or raft footing What is Spread Footing or Isolated or Pad Footing? It is circular, square or rectangular slab of uniform thickness. Sometimes, it is stepped to spread the load over a larger … Read more
What is Presumptive Bearing Capacity? Building codes of various organizations in different countries gives the allowable bearing capacity that can be used for proportioning footing. These are called presumptive bearing capacity values. These values are based on experience with other structures already built. What are The Values of Presumptive Bearing Capacity? The table given below … Read more
The knowledge about the site forms a vital role in the safe and economical development of a site. A thorough investigation of the site is an essential preliminary to the construction of any civil engineering works. Objectives of Site Investigation Work To access the general suitability of the site. To achieve safe and economical design … Read more
Based on Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation, there are three components in contribution to the bearing capacity: (i) Surcharge pressure Foundations are normally not placed directly on the ground level. Instead, they are installed at a depth below the existing ground level. The soil pressure arising from the depth of soils serves as a surcharge imposing … Read more
Shallow foundation is commonly accepted as foundation with founding level less than 3m from ground surface. In case surface loads or surface conditions could still affect the bearing capacity, the foundation which sits on it is called shallow foundation. Pad Foundation Pad foundation refers to the foundation which is intended for sustaining concentrated loads from … Read more
It appears to be a common construction practice that bored piles are normally cast up to a piling platform much higher than the formation level of pile caps. Then, the excessive pile length has to be cropped and removed to the correct level for the subsequent construction of pile cap. The reasons of such practice … Read more
Quicksand Quicksand is a condition and not a soil type. This condition is created in saturated thick layers of loose fine sandy soils when disturbed either due to vibration, such as, from pile driving in the neighborhood, or due to pressure of flowing water (at the time of heavy pumping in excavation). The particles, in … Read more