11 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

3. FOUNDATIONS
The function of any foundation is to safely sustain and transmit to the ground on which it rests the
combined dead, imposed and wind loads in such a manner as not to cause any settlement or other
movement which would impair the stability or cause damage to any part of the building.

Generally, foundation is therefore, that part of the structure which is in direct contact with the
ground to which the loads are transmitted.

3.1. Foundations serve the following purposes

1. Reduction of load intensity

- by increasing the area of contact, so that the total load divided by the total area
(intensity of load) doesn’t exceed the bearing capacity of the soil.
2. Even distribution of loads
- Foundations distribute the non-uniform load of the superstructure evenly to the sub soil.
3. Provision of level surface
4. Lateral stability
- It anchors the super structure to the ground, thus imparting lateral stability to the super

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12 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

structure.
5. Safety against undermining
- provides structural safety against undermining (scouring) due to burrowing animals and
flood water.
6. Protection against soil movements
- minimizes cracks in the super structure due to expansion or contraction of sub soil
because of moisture movement in some problematic soils.
essential Requirements of a good foundation

- sustain the dead and imposed loads

- it should be rigid
- good location.

Foundations Materials

Foundation Materials ~ from page 190 one of the functions of a foundation can be seen to be the
ability to spread its load evenly over the ground on which it rests. It must of course be constructed
of a durable material of adequate strength. Experience has shown that the most suitable material is
concrete.

Concrete is a mixture of cement + aggregates + water in controlled proportions.

Foundations - Defect Observation

Subsoil Movements: - these are due primarily to changes in volume when the subsoil becomes
wet or dry and occurs near the upper surface of the soil. Compact granular soils such as gravel
suffer very little movement whereas cohesive soils such as clay do suffer volume changes near the
upper surface. Similar volume changes can occur due to water held in the subsoil freezing and
expanding this is called Frost Heave.

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13 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

Cracking in Walls ~ cracks are caused by applied forces which exceed those that the building can
withstand. Most cracking is superficial, occurring as materials dry out and subsequently shrink to
reveal minor surface fractures of < 2 mm. These insignificant cracks can be made good with
proprietary fillers.
Severe cracking in walls may result from foundation failure, due to inadequate design or physical
damage. Further problems could include:

✓ Structural instability
✓ Air infiltration
✓ Sound insulation reduction
✓ Rain penetration
✓ Heat loss
✓ Visual depreciation
A survey should be undertaken to determine:

1. The cause of cracking, i.e.

✓ Loads applied externally (tree roots, subsoil movement).

✓ Climate/temperature changes (thermal movement).
✓ Moisture content change (faulty dpc, building leakage).
✓ Vibration (adjacent work, traffic).
✓ Changes in physical composition (salt or ice formation).
✓ Chemical change (corrosion, sulphate attack).
✓ Biological change (timber decay).

2. The effect on a building's performance (structural and environmental).

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14 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

3. The nature of movement completed, ongoing or intermittent (seasonal).

Observations over a period of several months, preferably over a full year, will determine whether
the cracking is new or established and whether it is progressing.

Foundation should be sufficiently strong to prevent excessive settlement as well as differential

settlement. Differential settlement may be caused by

II. weak sub soils, such as made up of ground

III. Shrinkable and expansive soils (clay)
IV. frost action
V. movement of ground water and uplift pressure
VI. Excessive vibration, slipping of strata on slopping etc.

TYPES OF FOUNDATION

1. Shallow Foundation- Depth is equal to or less than its width

2. Deep Foundation – Depth is greater than its width

W
1. SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

1.1. Spread footing

Spread the super-imposed load of column or wall over a larger area spread footings support
either a column or wall

Types of spread footings

✓ Single footing
✓ Stepped footing
✓ Sloped footing

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15 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

A) single footing c) slopped

b) stepped footing

wall

a) simple Footing
Footing

wall

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16 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

1.2 Combined footing

A spread footing which supports two or more columns is termed as combined footing. The
combined footing may be of the following types.

i) Rectangular combined footing

ii) Trapezoidal combined footing
iii) Combined column – wall footings

Rectangular footing Trapezoidal footing

WALL
COLOMN

column

combined column wall footing

1.3 STRAP FOOTING.
If the independent footings of two columns are connected by a beam, it is called a strap footing. It
is used when the distance between the columns is so great that a combined trapezoidal footing
becomes quite Narrow, with high bending moments. In this case the column is provided with its
independent footings and a beam is used to connect the two footings the strap beam doesn’t remain
in contact with soil, and thus doesn’t transfer any pressure to the soil. The strap, assumed to be
infinitely stiff, serves to transfer the column loads on the soil with equal and uniform soil pressure
under both footings.

Footing of wall

STRAP BEAM
A B

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adjoining wall
17 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

1.4 MAT (RAFT) FOUNDATION

A raft or mat is a combined footing that cover the entire area beneath a structure and support all
the walls and columns Mat foundation will be used when:

o the allowable soil pressure is low

o the building loads are heavy
o use of spread footing covers more than the one half the area.

- Based on design and construction Rafts may be

o solid slab
o Beam slab
o cellular system

Fig. MAT Foundation

2. DEEP FOUNDATION
Deep foundations are those in which the depth of the foundation constructed by ordinary
methods of open pit excavations. Deep foundations are of the following types.

1. Pile foundations- more commonly used.

2. pier foundation
3. caisson or well foundation

2.1 Pile foundations

Pile foundations are preferable under the following situation
- when the load of the super structure is heavy and its distribution is un even.
- the top soil has poor bearing capacity
- the sub soil water level is high so that pumping of water from the open trenches
for the shallow foundations is difficult and uneconomical.
- when there is large fluctuations in sub soil water level
- when the structure is situated on the sea shore or river bed
- canal or deep drainage lines exist near the foundations.

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18 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

loose soil loose soil

Hard strata

Fig End bearing pile

2.2. Pier Foundations (drilled caisson foundation)

Transfer large superimposed loads to the firm strata below. The difference between pile
foundation and pier foundation lies in the method of construction.

- pile foundations transfer the load through friction and or bearing, pier foundations
transfer the load only through bearing.
- pier foundation is shallower in depth than pile foundation
- pier foundation is preferred in a location where the top strata consists of
decomposed rock over lying a strata of sound rock. In such cases it is difficult to
drive the bearing piles through decomposed rock.

Foundations Basic Sizing

Basic Sizing ~ the size of a foundation is basically dependent on two factors

1. Load being transmitted, max 70 kN/m (dwellings up to 3 storeys).

2. Bearing capacity of subsoil under proposed foundation.

Bearing capacities for different types of subsoils may be obtained from tables such as those in
EBCS Code of practice for foundations and Also, directly from soil investigation results.

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19 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

SELECTION OF FOUNDATION
The selection of a particular type of foundation is often based on a number of factors, such as:

1. Adequate Depth. It must have an adequate depth to prevent frost damage. For such
foundations as bridge piers, the depth of the foundation must be sufficient to prevent undermining
by scour.
2. Bearing Capacity Failure. The foundation must be safe against a bearing capacity failure

3. Settlement. The foundation must not settle to such an extent that it damages the structure

4. Quality. The foundation must be of adequate quality so that it is not subjected to deterioration,
such as the sulfate attack of concrete footings.

5. Adequate Strength. The foundation must be designed with sufficient strength that it does not
fracture or break apart under the applied superstructure loads. It must also be properly constructed
in conformance with the design specifications.

6. Adverse Soil Changes. The foundation must be able to resist long-term adverse soil changes.
An example is expansive soil (silts and clays), which could expand or shrink causing movement
of the foundation and damage to the structure.

7. Seismic Forces. The foundation must be able to support the structure during an earthquake
without excessive settlement or lateral movement.

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20 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

Foundation layout, Foundation structural details, Footing detail

It is desirable foundation should be detailed in both plan and elevation in drawings.

Footing plan views

Types

Two types of drawings are usually required to describe the footing arrangements:

• a complete footing for the whole structure, and

• an individual plan-view, depending on the types of footing used in the
structure
Complete Footing Plan for the Whole Structure

• Define the location of every footing. If architectural drawings use a grid-line system, the
identical system must be adopted. As distinct from many other elements, location
dimensions for footings are as much the responsibility of the engineer as that of the
architect because the footing layout affects the strength of the whole structure. Footing
center lines are often used as locating dimensions.
• Indicate the general shape looking down at each footing. This view will also show the
orientation of each footing. Detailed dimensions of each footing are normally given on its
own drawing or, where the footings are rectangular, in a footing schedule.
• Give a reference number for each footing and for the column or wall which is supported
by it. Normally, the footing reference number will be the same as the reference number
of the supported column; this is mandatory when a column schedule is used,
Individual Footing Plan-Views

Where the shape and dimensions of a footing are not obvious:

• Draw the exact shape of the footing with all necessary dimensions for excavating the hole
in the foundation.

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21 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

• Specify the minimum depth to

which the excavation must be
made and, in at least a General
Note in the drawing, an indication
of the type of ground expected or
allowed for together with its
predicted bearing capacity. If the
engineer requires soil tests, this
can be stated in the drawings
although it is often given in the
Specification in more detail.
• Give the location, orientation, shape and dimensions of the column or wall supported by
the footing. Within this shape will be shown the location of all reinforcement cast with
the footing but extending into the column or wall.
• Reinforcement of the footing is shown in a plan-view in the case of simple pad footings.
Footing elevations

These are usually given as longitudinal-sections; that is, as a view taken along the length of the
footing. They will need to be supplemented by cross-sections.

Footing cross-sections

These differ with the type of footing being detailed.

• Where the footing shape is rectangular show the fitment shape and the main reinforcement
layout.

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22 Architectural Working Drawing II ARCH 3205

• Where pad-footings or complex footings are detailed, the shape of the main steel can be
defined by the shape of the section.
General steps to be followed in drafting footing reinforcement detail.

1. First, lightly draw the concrete profile.

2. Place the reinforcing bars in the form with dark lines.
3. Draw the surface finish, if any.
4. Give dimensions for the concrete profile size and depth with vertical and level dimensioning.
5. Give bar marks to the bars and put, number, size, spacing, length and type of bars.
6. Prepare detail drawing to show the arrangement of bars in the footing column and the
development stirrups.
7. Finally, check - overall dimensions.
- Section line
- Notation, designation or referencing of bars
- etc………

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 A B C

C1 C1 C1
1
F2 F2
F1

C1 C1 C1
2
F2 F2
F1

C1
3
F2

C1 C1 C1
4
F2 F2
F1

C1 C1
5
F1 F1

Footing & Column Layout Plan

Scale 1:50
 FOOTING-F4

.
.
SCALE 1:25
FOOTING-F8
SCALE 1:25

690
500

4
1000 8 8 4 4

1600
220
500
8

690
4
.
500 500
1000

.
690 220 690 691
500 500 1600
8
690 220 690
5015050
50 250

50 300 50
150
150

50 400
8 Ø10/150 L=1200
900

SECTION 8-8

300
300
SCALE 1:25 4 Ø12/180 L=2100
1500

SECTION 4-4
SCALE 1:25
 FOOTING-F1'
SCALE 1:25

.
900

1'
1' 1'
1800
900

1'
.
1800

Ø8/200
4X2Ø12
1350

450 50
450

350
1800

50
350

350

1' Ø12/150 L=2400

1700
4Ø14 L=3500
1700

SECTION 1'-1'
SCALE 1:25