Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name : P.Uma mahesh
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Civil Engineering
Institute : Govt Polytechnic, Srikakulam
Year/Semester : IV Semester
Subject : Construction Practice
Subject Code : C406
Topic : Classification of Buildings & Foundations
Duration : 50 min
Sub -Topic : Rules for width, depth and thickness of
foundations
Teaching Aids : PPT, animations
Revised by : GVVL Satyanarayana
9C406.8 1
Objectives

On completion of this period, you will be able to

• Calculate the width and depth of spread foundation.

9C406.8 2
 Recap

In the previous class, we have learnt

• Different types of loads as per IS 875-1987

• Their effect on foundation

9C406.8 3
 Width of Foundation

• The width of the foundation is calculated on

the basis of the total loads and the safe bearing

capacity of soil.

9C406.8 4
Width of Foundation

Width = W/p

Where W = The total superimposed load,

consisting of dead load, live
load, wind load and snow
load per running meter or per
unit length

p = Safe bearing capacity of soil

9C406.8 5
Width of foundation
• In case of hard soils, such as moorum or rock,
the above formula may give sufficient width to
withstand settlement.
• But may be insufficient to meet the requirement
of stability or safety against tilting or over-turning.

9C406.8 6
 Width of foundation
• To over come this difficulty a thumb rule has been
devised to determine the width of foundation to meet
the requirement of Stability.

• The width of the lower most masonry footing should not

be less than twice the thickness of the wall.

9C406.8 7
Width of foundation

Width of foundation = 2T+2J

where

T is the thickness of wall, and

J is the concrete offset

9C406.8 8
Width of foundation

Width of foundation shall be taken as maximum of

W/p and 2T+2J

9C406.8 9
 Depth of foundation

• The depth from the natural ground level to the bottom

of the foundation is called depth of foundation.

9C406.8 10
Factors affecting Depth of Foundation
• The depth at which required bearing capacity of soil
is available

• When the foundation has to be constructed in a pond,

water course, ditch, filled up soil

• It should either be taken to a depth where such

conditions do not produce any adverse effect.
• In case of black cotton soil or clayey soils, it is
dependent upon the depth up to which the effect of
volumetric changes in soil do not produce any
adverse effect

9C406.8 11
 Minimum depth of foundation

• In general, the depth up to which the soil is weakened by

root holes or cavities produced by animals, worms etc.,is
taken as minimum depth.

• Scientifically, the minimum depth of foundation to

prevent the soil moving laterally under pressure is
determined commonly by Rankine’s formula.

9C406.8 12
Rankine’s Formulae:

P(1  sin  ) 2
D
W (1  sin  ) 2

Where D = Depth of foundation below the ground level

P = Load of the Structure per unit area
W = Weight of soil per unit volume
 = angle of repose of the soil.

9C406.8 13
Angle of repose

It is the angle between the horizontal and the

maximum slope that a soil assumes after attaining

stability.

9C406.8 14
 Angle of repose of some soils are
Table 1

S.No Description of soil Angle of repose

1 Very wet earth, wet clay 150
2 Wet sand, gravel 250
3 Dry earth, dry clay, dry sand 300
4 Moist earth, shingle 400

9C406.8 15
 Thickness of Concrete Block

The purposes of concrete block below

the footing are:

• To bridge over small faults in the sub-soil by acting

as a simple beam
• To provide a leveled surface for the masonry
footings

• To cover the inequalities of the excavation

9C406.8 16
The thickness of concrete bed depends upon
the following factors.

• Cement concrete or lime concrete

• The projection of the concrete block beyond

the bottom most course of wall footing

• Upward pressure of the soil underneath the

footing

9C406.8 17
The thickness of the concrete block can be
determined by the following formula

d = (3px2/m)
Where d = depth of concrete in cm
P = Net upward pressure
x = concrete offset
m= modulus of rupture of the
concrete block in kg/cm2

9C406.8 18
P = upward pressure Fig 1

X = projection of concrete block

9C406.8 19
 Modulus of rupture of concrete

• The modulus of rupture is the maximum bending

stress calculated on the assumption that elastic

condition exist until failure.

9C406.8 20
 Table 1

S.No Type of concrete Modulus of rupture

‘m’ in kg/cm2

1 Lime Concrete 1.55

2 Cement Concrete 2.46
1:4:8 3.52
1:3:6 5.27
1:2:4

9C406.8 21
• Since the resistance of concrete to tensile and shear
stresses is low, the value of ‘j’ must be limited.

• The least value of ‘j’ should vary between 10 to 15 cm

9C406.8 22
Depth of concrete block can also calculated
using the thumb rule

d = 5t/6

where t = thickness of wall in super structure

9C406.8 23
• Thus it is important to note that the depth of cement lean

concrete should in no case be less than its projection

beyond the masonry face.

• In case of lime concrete the depth of the bed block

should be at least 1 ½ times its projection beyond the

masonry face.

9C406.8 24
 Summary
In this class, you have learnt

• Calculation of width and depth of spread

foundation

• Factors affecting depth of foundation

• Angle of repose

9C406.8 25
 Quiz

1. The purpose of concrete block below the

footing is

a) To act as simple beam over soil

b) to provide a level surface for masonry

footings

c) to cover inequalities of excavation

d) All of the above

9C406.8 26
2. The formulas for width of foundation is

a) T+J

b) 2T+2J

c) p/w

d) w x p

9C406.8 27
3. The formulas for width of foundation is

a) T+J

b) 2T+2J

c) p/w

d) w x p

9C406.8 28
Frequently asked questions

1.Explain the method of calculating the width of

foundation.

2. State factors affecting depth of foundation.

3. Explain the formula used for calculating the

thickness of concrete bed.

9C406.8 29