DEEP BASEMENTS
BASEMENTS
• A basement is a storey which is below the ground storey and is therefore
constructed below ground level
• Most basements can be classified into one of three groups:-
[Link] wall and Raft basement
• General format for basement construction and
• consists of a slab raft foundation which forms the basement floor and
helps to distribute structural loads transmitted down the retaining walls
BASEMENTS
BASEMENTS
[Link] and cellular raft basement
• Similar method to the above except that internal walls
are used to transmit and spread loads over raft as well
as diving basement into cells
BASEMENTS
[Link] basements
• The main superstructure loads are carried to the
basement floor level by columns where they are finally
transmitted to the ground via pile caps and bearing
piles
DEEP BASEMENTS
Construction methods
Four basic methods can be used in the construction of deep
basements without the need for timbering or excessive subsoil support
• A series of lattice beams are installed so that they span between the
tops of opposite diaphragm walls, enabling the walls to act initially
as propped cantilevers, receiving their final lateral restraint when the
internal floors have been constructed.
DEEP BASEMENTS
• The diaphragm walls are exposed by carrying out the excavation in stages, and
ground anchors are used to stabilize the walls as the work proceeds. This is a very
popular method where no lateral restraint in the form of floors is to be provided
• After the perimeter diaphragm walls have been constructed, the ground floor
slab and beams are cast, providing top edge lateral restraint to the walls. An
opening is left in this initial floor slab through which operatives, materials and plant
can pass to excavate the next stage and cast the floor slab and beams. This
method can be repeated until the required depth has been reached.
DEEP BASEMENTS
• The centre area between the diaphragm walls can be excavated,
leaving an earth mound or berm around the perimeter to support
the walls while the lowest basement floor is constructed. Slots to
accommodate raking struts acting between the wall face and the
floor slab are cut into the berm; final excavation and construction of
the remainder of the basement can take place working around the
raking struts
DEEP BASEMENTS
Construction
• Basements can be constructed within cofferdam or other temporary supported
excavation up to the point when these methods become uneconomic and
unacceptable
• Deep basements can be constructed by installing diaphragm walls within a trench
and providing permanent support with ground anchors or by using the permanent
lateral support given by the internal floor during the excavation period
• Temporary lateral support during the excavation period can be provided by lattice
beams spanning between the diaphragm walls
DEEP BASEMENTS
DEEP BASEMENT EXCAVATION
• Deep basements are supported using different methods including;
1. Perimeter trench
2. Raking struts
3. Cofferdams
4. Diaphragm walls
DEEP BASEMENTS
• Perimeter trench
• Used where weak subsoils are encountered
• This is done by excavating a perimeter trench around the proposed basement
excavation.
• There is need for sufficient width and depth to accommodate timbering and
basement retaining wall and provide enough working space.
• To protect the base of the excavations from shrinkage and drying and form a definite
level from which to set out, it must be graded and covered by a layer of 50mm to
70mm weak concrete or coarse sand
DEEP BASEMENTS
• The base of the wall should be cast first, with a kicker formed for the stem and starter
bars left project for the stem and the base slab
• The stem or wall should be cast in suitable lifts and then transferred to a new wall as it
cures
• Once perimeter wall construction is complete the mound of soil in the centre can be
excavated and base slab cast
• Despite being intended for weak subsoils, the method can also be used in firm subsois,
where perimeter trench can be excavated completely before placing timbering in
position.
DEEP BASEMENTS
DEEP BASEMENTS
Raking struts
• Used where there is possibility to excavate ack to the perimeter line without the need for
timbering; areas with firm subsoils
• perimeter is trimmed and timbering is put in position and strutted using raking struts
• Alternatively, excavation is done back to the perimeter line of the natural repose angle
• The base slab is casted to protect the excavation base from undue drying out and shrinkage
• Perimeter trimming is done, timbered and strutted using the base slab as abutment.
• The retaining wall is cast in stages as with the perimeter trench method, and the strutting is
transferred to the stem as the work proceeds.
DEEP BASEMENTS
DEEP BASEMENTS
Cofferdams (French word meaning “box”)
• A cofferdam consists of a watertight perimeter enclosure, usually of interlocking
steel sheet piles, used in conjunction with waterlogged sites
• Enclosing cofferdams are constructed and adequately braced
• Earth excavations for the basements are done inside the enclosing cofferdams
• Small pumps are used to handle water seepages inside the cofferdams
• The sheet piles are braced and strutted using a system of raking struts and ground
anchors
DEEP BASEMENTS
DEEP BASEMENTS
• Diaphragm walls
• These are dividing membranes, which in construction are used as retaining walls
to for a perimeter wall for a basement structure.
• This acts as a cut-off wall for river and are used to retain large soil masses
• Diaphragm walls are mostly built in in-situ concrete in modern construction.
• These in-situ concrete diaphragm walls are constructed either through
touching/interlocking bored piles or through excavation of trench using the
bentonite slurry method.
DEEP BASEMENTS
BASEMENTS
Waterproofing Basements
Basements can be waterproofed by one of three basic methods namely:
• Use of dense monolithic concrete walls and floor
• Tanking techniques
• Drained cavity system
1. Dense Monolithic Concrete
• the main objective is to form a watertight basement using dense high quality reinforced
or prestressed concrete by a combination of good materials, good workmanship,
attention to design detail and on site construction methods.
• If strict control of all aspects is employed a sound watertight structure can be produced
but it should be noted that such structures are not always water vapourproof.
BASEMENTS
• If the latter is desirable some waterproof coating, lining
or tanking should be used.
BASEMENTS
2. Mastic Asphalt Tanking
• the objective of tanking is to provide a continuous waterproof membrane which is
applied to the base slab and walls with complete continuity between the two
applications.
• the tanking can be applied externally or internally according to the circumstances
prevailing on site.
• alternatives to mastic asphalt are polythene sheeting, bituminous compounds, epoxy
resin compounds and bitumen laminates.
• External Mastic Asphalt Tanking
• this is the preferred method since it not only prevents the ingress of water it also protects
the main structure of the basement from aggressive sulphates which may be present in
the surrounding soil or ground water.
BASEMENTS
• Internal Mastic Asphalt Tanking
• this method should only be adopted if external tanking is not
possible since it will not give protection to the main structure
and
• unless adequately loaded may be forced away from the
walls and/or floor by hydrostatic pressure.
• To be effective the horizontal and vertical coats of mastic
asphalt must be continuous
BASEMENTS
3. Drained Cavity System
• this method of waterproofing basements can be used for both new and refurbishment
work.
• the basic concept is very simple in that it accepts that a small amount of water
seepage is possible through a monolithic concrete wall and
• the best method of dealing with such moisture is to collect it and drain it away.
• this is achieved by building an inner non-load bearing wall to form a cavity which is
joined to a floor composed of special triangular tiles laid to falls which enables the
moisture to drain away to a sump from which it is either discharged direct or pumped
into the surface water drainage system.
• the inner wall should be relatively vapour tight or alternatively the cavity should be
ventilated.
BASEMENTS
Insulation of Basements
• basements benefit considerably from the insulating properties of the
surrounding soil.
• however, that alone is insufficient to satisfy the typical requirements
for wall and floor U-values of 035 and 030 W/m2K, respectively
• refurbishment of existing basements may include insulation within dry
lined walls and under the floor screed or particle board overlay.
• this should incorporate an integral vapour control layer to minimise risk
of condensation.
BASEMENTS
• external insulation of closed cell rigid polystyrene slabs is
generally applied to new construction.
• these slabs combine low thermal conductivity with low
water absorption and high compressive strength.
• the external face of insulation is grooved to encourage
moisture run off.
• it is also filter faced to prevent clogging of the grooves.
Backfill is granular
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