Foundation
Depth of footing:
Thumb rule based on projection of footing
Depth of footing D =650 x a where
a = projection of footing from face of column in metres
and D is in mm.
Thumb rule based on side of the footing for Fe 415 / Fe 500 steel.
Net upward soil D / A value
pressure in t / m2
5 1/7
10 1/5.5
15 1/5.0
20 1 /4.5
25 1 /4.0
30 1 /3.50
Note : [Link] 20% for sloped and stepped footing.
2. p = Net upward pressure in t / m2
D = Overall depth of footing in cm.
A = Average side of footing in cm.
3. Minimum depth at the edges =200 mm
(150 mm according to IS 456-2000)
Size of footing : 1000 mm to 3000 mm in multiples of 250 mm.
Maximum depth near column face: 500 to 1000 mm in multiples of 50 mm.
Size of Footing
Area of footing required = Total load on foundation/SBC of soil
Based on column size as square column or rectangular arrive size of footing
Minimum depth of foundation as per Rankine’s theory
d = p / γ {1- sin Ø / 1+ sin Ø }2
Where p = gross bearing capacity (SBC )
γ = density of soil.
Ø= angle of repose of soil.
Foundation depth is kept at 0.90m or even more
Minimum depth 1.50 m from GL or at least 1.50 times the width of footing
In cold climates depth is kept at a minimum of 1.50 m below surface because of
possible frost action.
For six storey or more, kept at 1.5m to 2.0m.
For tall isolated Structures, like water towers, depth may be at 3.0m also.
Under reamed piles in expansive clays are taken to minimum depth of 3.50m
Relation of N Values & Presumptive SBC
Granular Soils Presumptive SBC Cohesive Presumptive SBC
(Clayey) Soils
2
SPT Value N-10 150 KN/m SPT Value N - 5 80 KN/m2
SPT Value N-20 250 KN/m2 SPT Value N – 8 150 KN/m2
SPT Value N-30 350 KN/m2 SPT Value N – 10 200 KN/m2
SPT Value N-40 400 KN/m2 SPT Value N – 15 300 KN/m2
If N>50 450 KN/m2 SPT Value N > 30 400 KN/m2
Note: As a thumb rule safe bearing capacity of soil can be taken as 10N
in KN/[Link] exact calculations will give slightly higher SBC values as shown
above.
For Mixture of Soils, with the percentage of grain Size distribution
Compute the proportionate average Presumptive SBC from grain size
distribution as given below
Eg.:
i. Medium Sand (62%) + Clay (38%)
= 200 x 0.62 + 120 x 0.38 = 169.60 KN/m2
ii. Medium Clay (76%) + Silt (14%) + Fine Sand (10%)
= 150 x 0.76 + 50 x 0.14 + 80 x 0.10 = 129.00 KN/m2
Many Soil Testing Agencies wrongly interpret SBC of Soil due to non-expertise
Many Soil Test Reports are cooked up by Incompetent Agencies
Soil Test Reports must furnish the characteristics / Properties of Soils only
No suggestion / recommendation on the type of Foundation
- it is outside their purview
Sole authority : The Structural Engineer & Building Engineer to decide
based on appropriate Soil Parameters & Total loads
transmitted
to the Foundation System
There is no role for the Architect also to suggest /
recommend the type of Foundation to be adopted.
Choice & Selection of Foundation (Options):
i. For G+4 Floors
For Soils SDR & HGS, Coarse Sand Isolated Footing / Strip Footing
Coarse Sand, Medium Sand Strip Footing
Clayey Soils upto 10m Depth Under reamed Pile with Pile Cap 300mm
and 1600 KN Load Dia & 450mm Dia
2 Piles, 3 Piles & 4 Piles Group & Pile Cap
Medium Clay & Soft Clay Raft Foundation or
(after Strengthening of Soils) Strip Footing
ii. For MSB more than 5 Storeys (even upto 12 and 20 Floors)
With Basement Floor Raft Foundation / Bored insitu Piles
Without Basement Floor Bored In situ piles & pile cap
Note: In case of basement floor, the raft slab cum beam will be top slab beloe beam
and in case of non basement , inverted slab with beam may be provided.
Artificial Strengthening of Soils
No sand (river sand & M Sand) to be laid sub base.
- no pit sand, Coarse, Rubbish to be adopted - Demerits
Quarry Dust : Gravel Mix 1 : 3 from 300mm to 600mm in 2 to 4 x 150mm
layers (Semidry & Well compacted)
Cement : QD Mix 1 : 10 to 1 : 15 when Gravel is not available near Worksite
Sandwiched with Geogrid improves the SBC by 200% and above
Casuarina Pile driving if the soil is of poor bearing, especially clayey soil.
RC Micro concrete pile driving – costlier – Machinery required
(Note : Lime Injection / lime pile driving, stone column etc obsolete and not
much improvement in the SBC of soils to be avoided)
Soil nailing for retaining walls – if stability of soil is not good – especially in
clayey soils
Reinforced Earth for Retaining walls, Tank bunds & over bridges is preferred
Choice and Selection of Appropriate Foundation (as
per Soil Type & Quantum Load Transmitted)
Engineering Experts guidance
[Link] Type of Soils Quantum of Load Preferred Type of
Foundation
1. SDR, HSG, Mixture of 500 KN to 2000 KN Isolated Footing
Coarse Sand and Strip Footing
Gravel Mixture 3000 KN to 5000 KN Raft Foundation & Annular Raft
(SPT - N Value > per column (Grid)
30)
2. Coarse Sand, 500 KN to 2000 KN Isolated & Strip Footing
Medium Sand & a 3000 KN to 5000 KN After artificial strengthening of Soil
little silt /clay For MSB more than Raft Foundation & Annular Raft
(mixture of soils) 10 storeys (with (Grid)
(SPT N Value >20) 200 KN/m2 to - Bored Insitu piles with Pile cap
400 KN/m2 of covered
area
3. Clayey Soils with - Upto 1500 KN Under reamed piles with piles
little (with 5 Storeys) cap
mixture of fine sand more than 2000 KN to After Strengthening of soils with
and silt upto 10m 5000 KN Casuarina piles and Cement : QD
depth (for more than 5 Mix 1 : 10 – 300mm to 600mm
(SPT N Value > storeys) depth sandwiched with geogrid
10) Raft / Annular Raft
Bored Insitu piles upto hard
stratum
Piled Raft Foundation
Medium Clay with upto 800 KN or Under reamed piles with piles cap
4. Soft clay under upto
6m to 10m depth upto 100 KN/m run
After strengthening of Soils
(SPT N Value > (upto 3 storeys of
Inverted Tee Strip Foundation for
10) Residential buildings)
cost effectiveness
(For Structural design data refer
Design of Foundation &
Detailing – Edited by
[Link] &
[Link]
AOE & AEA, TNPWD – 1991 (year)
Important Note : Kindly don’t adopt Bored Insitu piles for Buildings upto with 5 storeys
when hard strata occurs at a depth of 10m and above blindly as suggested in the Soil Test
Reports.