Construction industry is rapidly growing and as a civil engineer you should understand its importance in the field of site execution. Foundation in construction is the essential part of the building which tranfer the load of superstructure to the substructure and then the earth.

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Foundations in Construction: An Introduction to Their Purpose and Importance.

Equipment I use for safety purpose and measurements,

Why Foundations Are Important :

As we know foundation support the superstructure and transfer the loads coming from it to the subsurface of the ground, which is available at suitable depth. First, we need to reach a solid layer of soil for the construction of foundation of any project. For that, it needs to excavate the construction site and ensure the soil’s solidity through experimental tests like boring or soil testing. After that proper depth is measured and than excavation can be started under the supervision of a professional civil engineer.

To understand excavation check out and read the blog :

Excavation in Construction: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Process & Types.

When designing a foundation, it is crucial to consider its potential impact on the surrounding area. For instance, excavation and piling for a deep foundation can disrupt the soil, potentially affecting the stability of nearby structures. Such disturbances may lead to unwanted shifts in the soil or compromise the foundations of adjacent buildings, posing safety risks. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly analyze these effects before beginning the foundation construction process.

Some important aspects of the foundation in construction are :

Stability and load distribution
Protection against settlement and natural forces (earthquakes, floods).
A good foundation can distribute the load evenly.
It helps to prevent uneven movements of the building.
It resists in front of soil movement and holds the building still.

Major types of foundation in construction :

In structural engineering, foundation design for buildings is typically divided into two distinct groups:

Shallow Foundation
Deep Foundation

Shallow Foundations :

These are used when the load-bearing capacity of the soil near the surface is sufficient to support the structure.
A foundation is considered to be shallow, if its depth is equal to or less than its width.
Examples include spread footings, strip footings, and mat foundations.

Deep Foundations :

These are required when surface soils cannot bear the load, and the structure’s weight needs to be transferred to deeper, more stable soil or rock layers.
A deep foundation is the one whose depth is greater than width of the footing.
Common examples are pile foundations and drilled shafts.

The depth of the foundation in Construction :

There are different kinds of building foundations. Except for slab foundations which are placed on the ground, most of the foundations are installed in different depths under the ground mostly depends on the type of loads acting on the building.

The needed depth for each foundation is depended on various things like:

The bearing capacity determines how much load should a certain soil tolerate.
Different kinds of soil have different features that can play a role in their suitability for supporting a foundation.
An underground water table could limit the depth of the foundation in addition to the materials that can be used in it. The height of underground water is usually considered in a soil study.
Designing is also differ based on the types of foundation.
Resistance to external forces like wind, seismic activity, or lateral loads.