In Construction, What is a Foundation?Whenever construction workers begin work on a new building, they must first assess where and how they will build the foundation.. The foundation is
Trang 1In Construction, What is a Foundation?
Whenever construction workers begin work on a new building, they must first assess where and how they will build the foundation The foundation is a structure, commonly made of concrete for homes, that transfers the weight of the building onto the earth below There are different types of foundation designs and each
serves a different specific purpose, but
generally, every foundation works to
transfer the weight load of a structure
to the soil beneath
Most small and medium homes
are built upon a shallow foundation
These are usually comprised of concrete strips that are laid about a meter beneath the soil, or of a single large concrete slab that is also set about a meter beneath the soil When applicable, the foundation will extend beneath the frost line When engineers design the foundation of a building, they must keep in mind how much the soil will settle beneath the foundation, as well as how much weight will go on top of the foundation If calculated incorrectly, the foundation may fail and place the entire structure in peril
Larger buildings use a deep foundation rather than a shallow foundation A deep foundation uses long pylons of steel or concrete to penetrate deep beyond the weaker surface soils into the deeper and more stable soils or bedrock beneath The load from walls above are transferred deep into the earth, thereby providing support for the intense weight above Much like the considerations for a shallow foundation, engineers must consider weight and settlement, as well as scour or, water eroding soil beneath the structure
For structures being built in colder climates, engineers must consider frost heaves as well Frost heaves occur when moisture in the soil freezes,
Trang 2thereby changing the density of the foundation's support A frost heave can cause damage to the foundation, thereby compromising the structural integrity of the entire building Drier, warmer climates are not entirely exempt from such worries, however: certain soils will expand and contract when moisture is added or taken away, and engineers must factor in such movement when considering where and how to lay a foundation