Some practical issue prior to start foundation design

In foundation design, there may occur different types of issues associated with construction and costs.

Given below, the details of main issues :-

1. The foundations should be retained as shallow as possible, suitable for coping up with climatic effect, and strength of the surface soil; particularly in waterlogged ground. Excavation in severely waterlogged ground is extravagant and time consuming.

2. Expensive and complicated shuttering details should be bypassed specifically in stiffened rafts. Proper care should be taken with buildability.

3. Curtailment in the costs of piling, betterment in ground treatment, improvements in soil mechanics, etc. have significantly impacted the economics of design, and various standard solutions becomes obsolete. So, it is very much important to evaluate construction costs and methods on a regular basis.

4. Designers should have clear ideas on the assumptions which are provided in design. These range from the inconsistencies of ground conditions, the infrequent unsuitability of refined soil analyses and the feasibility of construction.

5. The authenticity of the soil analysis, through vital evaluation.

6. Impact of construction on ground properties that range from vibration from piling, degradation of ground uncovered with excavation in unfavorable weather conditions, exclusion of overburden, seasonal disparity in the water-table, compaction of the ground by construction plant.

7. Impact of changeable shape, length and inflexibility of the foundation, and the requirement for movement and settlement joints.

8. Consequences on finished foundations of sulfate attack on concrete, ground movements because of frost heave, shrinkable clays, and the impacts of trees; also modifications in local environment due to new construction, re-orientations of heavy traffic, setting up of plant in adjacent factories inducing impact and vibration.

9. Rapid but invaluable construction is more cost-effective as compared to low-cost but slow construction to clients to bring quick return on capital investment.

10. Impact of new foundation loading on obtainable adjacent structures.

For more information, go through the following construction article civilblog.org