An Easy Guide on the Types of Foundation

While an abode provides you the comfort of reviving your body and mind after a hectic schedule, an office offers you the opportunity to escalate your skill in a particular field or more than that. On the other side, a bridge signifies the progress of an era. Be it a house, an office, a hospital, a bridge or something else, the foundation is the fundamental part of a construction.

Foundation is the lowest part that transmits the overall load into the soil. The primary function that it serves is to distribute the weight evenly on the soil, and thus, make the building strong.

Classifications:

The classifications of foundation in civil engineering are:

Shallow foundation

Deep foundation

1. Shallow foundation

It is a kind of foundation where you will find the foundation below the lowest part of a particular structure. The depth is less than or equal to its width. There are three types of shallow foundation including:

i) Spread footing

ii) Combined footings

iii) Raft or mat foundation

i) Spread footings :

A wide base of foundation in order to transmit the load to the mud over a wide area.

ii) Combined footings:

Common footings that are provided to two columns that can be either trapezoidal or rectangular.

iii) Raft foundation:

Consists of dense reinforced concrete slab, it covers the total bottom area of the structure.

2. Deep foundation:

In this kind of foundation, the foundation is placed at the profound depth of the ground level. This type of foundation construction is very easy.

It is mainly classified into three categories:

i) Pile construction

ii) Cofferdams

iii) Caisson foundation

i) Pile construction:

In it a slender member of concrete or wood or steel is inserted into the ground to transfer the load of a structure.

Based on the function, it is classified into:

i) Friction piles

ii) Bearing piles

iii) Anchor piles

iv) Sheet piles

v) Batter piles

vi) Fender piles

vii) Compaction piles

On the other side, based on material, it is classified into:

i) Timber piles

ii) Concrete piles

iii) Steel piles

ii) Cofferdams:

It is a temporary structure that excludes the water to enable the construction on the dry surface. The classifications include:

i) Earthen cofferdams

ii) Rock-fill cofferdams

iii) Single-walled cofferdams

iv) Double-walled cofferdams

v) Crib cofferdams

vi) Cellular cofferdams

iii) Caisson foundation:

Made of wood, steel, it is a watertight structure. There are three types of caissons:

i) Open caisson

ii) Box caisson

iii) Pneumatic caisson

As now, you have a clear view about the types of foundations, classifications, and the materials that are used to build it, it would be easy for you to understand why your engineer chooses a particular foundation than other ones and you can discuss its usefulness with the professional. Create a strong base for your property with the expert.