Design Procedures for a Building Foundation

Good style must not solely be safe however should aim to avoid wasting construction prices, time and materials.

The following procedures should help to achieve this and an client will recognize the importance of funding this work with a realistic fee.

1- The location of columns and foundation and type of loads acting on them

On the building arrange, the position of columns and loadbearing walls ought to be marked, and the other induced loadings and bending moments. 

The loads ought to be classified into dead, obligatory and wind loadings, giving the suitable partial safety factors for these masses.

2- estimate allowable bearing pressure of soil using ground investigation report.

From a study of the location ground investigation , the strength of the soil at numerous depths or strata below foundation level ought to be studied, to see the safe bearing capability at numerous levels. 

3- decide depth of foundation

The invert level of the muse is set by either the minimum depth below ground level unaffected by temperature, wet content variation or erosion or by the depth of basement, boiler house, service ducts or similar.

4- calculate foundation area

The foundation area required is determined from the characteristic (working) loads and estimated allowable pressure. 

5- determine variation in vertical stresses

The variation of vertical stress w.r.t depth is determined, to check for possible over-stressing of any underlying weak strata.

6- calculate settlement

Settlement calculations should be carried out to check that the total and differential settlements are acceptable.

7- variation in ground condition

The design office should be prepared to amend the design, if excavation shows variation in ground conditions from those predicted from the site soil survey and investigation.