Foundation (engineering)
**Foundation Purpose:**
– Distribute weight over a large area to avoid overloading soil
– Anchor against natural forces like earthquakes and floods
– Provide a level surface for construction
– Anchor deeply into the ground for stability
– Prevent lateral movements of the structure
**Requirements of a Good Foundation:**
– Transmit loads to soil without settlement
– Avoid differential settlements with a rigid base
– Opt for deeper foundations in areas prone to damage
– Choose a location unaffected by future factors
– Ensure the foundation can sustain imposed loads
**Historic Foundation Types:**
– Padstones spread weight and raise structures off the ground
– Earthfast construction uses wood in contact with the ground
– Post in ground construction may have no foundation
– Stone foundations use dry stone or stones laid in mortar
– Rubble-trench foundations are shallow trenches filled with rubble
**Gallery of Shallow Foundation Types:**
– Poteaux-en-Terre post in ground construction
– Stilt houses on wood pilings
– Granary on staddle stones
– Dry-laid stone foundations
– Residential poured concrete foundations
**Modern Foundation Types:**
– Shallow foundations like spread footings and slab-on-grade
– Screw pile foundations are environmentally friendly
– Deep foundations transfer load to stronger subsoil
– Monopile foundations support large above-surface structures
– Floating foundations are used for bridges and floating buildings
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In engineering, a foundation is the element of a structure which connects it to the ground or more rarely, water (as with floating structures), transferring loads from the structure to the ground. Foundations are generally considered either shallow or deep. Foundation engineering is the application of soil mechanics and rock mechanics (geotechnical engineering) in the design of foundation elements of structures.
