Geotechnical Engineering Design –II

(CEng 5152)

Instructor: Tenaw Workie

Lecturer of Civil Engineering, Professional
Geotechnical Engineer (PE VII)
Addis Ababa Institute of Technology Addis
Ababa University
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: E-120
 Chapter 1: Introduction to Deep
Foundations
 A deep foundation is a type of foundation that transfers loads from
superstructures to the earth a greater depths from the surface than a
shallow foundation does to a subsurface layer or a range of depths.
 Compared to shallow foundations, deep foundations have the merits of
being suitable for more adverse soil conditions and less site constraints.
 Different terms are used to describe different types of deep foundations,
including the pile (which is analogous to a pole), the pier (which is
analogous to a column), drilled shafts, caissons as well as footings or mats
set into a deep excavation.
 Cont’d
 The use of these terms is not entirely consistent, and more than one will
sometimes be used to refer to the same thing.
 A deep foundation derives its support from competent strata at significant
depths below the surface or, alternatively, has a depth-to-diameter ratio
greater than 4.
 1.1. Need for Deep Foundation
 When the soil at or near the ground surface is not capable of supporting a
structure, deep foundations are required to transfer the loads to deeper
strata.
 Deep foundations are therefore, used: “When surface soil is unsuitable for
shallow foundation, and a firm stratum is so deep that it cannot be reached
economically by shallow foundations.”
 A deep foundation is used in lieu of a shallow foundation when adequate
bearing capacity or tolerable settlements cannot be obtained with a shallow
foundation.
 The most commonly used type of deep foundation is the pile foundation,
which comprises relatively long, slender, column-like members penetrating
into soils and in some cases with its bottom (tip) in contact with hard rock.
 Cont’d

 The pile foundation has been used for thousands of years.

 The advantage of pile foundations is obvious when they are used in
soft soil sites to support heavy structures, such as high-rise
buildings, fixed offshore platforms, nuclear power plants, dams and
bridges. Because a pile’s capacity is strongly dependent on the
contact area between the pile wall and the surrounding soils, and
the near-surface soil is relatively soft and weak and also more
erodible than the soil at a greater depth, pile foundations are often
deeply embedded in soils to increase the foundation capacity and
reliability.
 1.2. Types of Deep Foundation
 The most common types of deep foundations are piles, piers, caissons,
as well as floating foundations.
 Pile: is a long (slender) vertical load transferring member made of
timber, steel or concrete
 Pier: A pier is a vertical column of relatively large cross-section than a
pile.
 Caisson (Drilled shafts) : A caisson is a type of foundation of the
shape of hollow prismatic box, which is built above the ground and then
sunk to the required depth as a single unit. These are of many types,
namely: Box Caissons. Floating Caissons, Pneumatic Caissons, Open
Caissons, Sheeted Caissons and Excavated Caissons.
 Cont’d

 Floating foundations: A foundation set into a deep excavation is said

to be compensated or floating if the building load is significantly offset
by the load of soil removed during excavation. The foundation is fully
compensated if the structural load equals the load removed by
excavation, partially compensated if the structural load is greater, and
overcompensated if the structural load is less than the weight of the
excavated soil. A compensated foundation requires a study of expected
subsoil rebound and settlement, excavation support systems, means to
maintain foundation subsoil or rock integrity during excavation, and
allowable bearing pressures for the soil or rock.
 Cont’d

Figure: Pile, Pier and Caissons

 Situations which demand pile foundations
 Sub-soil water table is so high that it can easily affect the other foundations.
 Load coming from the structure is heavy and non-uniform
 Where grillage or raft foundations are either very costly or their adoption is
impossible due to local difficulties.
 When it is not possible to maintain foundation trenches in dry conditions by
pumping, due to very heavy inflow of seepage or capillary water.
 When it is not possible to timber the excavation trenches in the case of deep strip
foundation, (strip foundation-spread footing under wall).
 When overlay soil is compressible, and water-logged and firm hard bearing strata is
located at quite a large depth.
 When structures are located on river-bed or sea-shore and foundations are likely to
be scoured due to action of water.
 Cont’d
 Large fluctuation in sub-soil.
 Canal or deep drainage lines exist near the foundations.
 In the construction of docks, piers and other marine structures, they are
used as fender piles.
 The estimated settlement of the soil exceeds tolerable limits, (i.e.,
settlement greater than the serviceability limit state).
 The structural loads consist of lateral loads, moments, and uplift forces
singly or in combination.
 Excavations to construct a shallow foundation on a firm soil are difficult
or expensive.
 1.3. Relevant Ground Investigation
Techniques
 Foundation design and construction involves assessment of factors
related to engineering and economics.
 The selection of the most feasible foundation system requires
consideration of both shallow and deep foundation types in relation to
the characteristics and constraints of the project and site conditions.
 Situations commonly exist where shallow foundations are inappropriate
for support of structural elements. These situations may be related either
to the presence of unsuitable soil layers in the subsurface profile,
adverse hydraulic conditions, or intolerable movements of the structure.
 Deep foundations are designed to transfer load through unsuitable
subsurface layers to suitable bearing strata.
 Cont’d
 The importance of a thorough ground investigation as an
essential preliminary to piling operations cannot be over-
emphasized. Accurate and detailed descriptions of soil and rock
strata and an adequate program of field and laboratory tests are
necessary for the engineer to design the piling system in the
most favorable conditions.
 Detailed descriptions of the ground conditions are also essential
to select the most appropriate equipment for pile installation,
while giving prior warning of possible difficulties when driving or
drilling through obstructions in the ground.
 Cont’d
 The engineer must have assurance that the piles have been
correctly designed and installed in a sound manner without
defects which might impair their bearing capacity.
 Information on groundwater conditions is vital to the
successful installation of driven and cast-in-place and bored
and cast-in-place piles.
 The relevant ground investigation techniques include: SPT,
CPT, Plate Load Test, Pile Load Test, Geophysical methods.
 The most useful all-round test for piling investigations is the
standard penetration test.
 Cont’d
 For all deep foundations, the capacity of the foundation is a function
of the geotechnical and the structural aspects. The geotechnical
aspect is a function of the resistance from the ground while the
structural aspect is a function of the structural section and the
structural properties of the pile.
 Specific terminologies associated with design of various deep
foundations include “static pile capacity,” “ultimate pile capacity,”
“allowable pile capacity,” “driving capacity,” “restrike capacity,” “shaft
resistance in piles,” “side resistance in drilled shafts,” “toe
resistance for piles,” “base or tip resistance for drilled shafts,” etc
Ground investigation techniques: SPT
SPT, cont’d
CPT
CPT, cont’d
CPT, cont’d
Plate Load Test
Plate Load Test, cont’d
Seismic refraction
Electrical resistivity
“Engineers like to solve problems. If there
are no problems handily available, they will
create their own problems.” — Scott Adams