Lecture 12 - Engineering Applications

Foundation

• The bottom part of a structure that serves to transfer the load of the structure onto the earth

• The goal of a foundation is to transfer the load safely to the ground (ground does not give or collapse) and without too much deformation (too much deformation means that the purpose of the structure is no longer serves efficiently)

• The soil/rock directly beneath the foundation is called the bed or foundation bed

• In designing foundation, one has to consider 2 limits:

  • Strength Limit - when one part breaks due to too much load. This may mean that the ground cannot support the foundation and gives way, or the foundation itself breaks from too much load from the structure

  • Serviceability Limit - relates to the function or usability of the foundation. In our foundation example,