Chapter 52: Foundation types and conceptual design principles

The main types of foundation include: shallow foundations (pad, strip, raft); deep foundations (piles, caissons, barrettes) and hybrid foundations (deep ground improvement, piled rafts). Foundation engineering requires a broad range of skills, from an appreciation of geology and hydrogeology to structural engineering. The performance of foundations is dependent not only on how they are designed, but also on how they are constructed. The overall design process needs to be well managed, to ensure that there are good communications between different design teams and between design and construction. To provide a framework for selecting the most appropriate type of foundation, a useful mnemonic is the five Ss:

Soil, Structure, Site, Safety, Sustainability

The magnitude of allowable foundation movement is a key factor in determining the type, size and cost of foundations, and this chapter provides guidance on routine limits. Parameter selection is a common pitfall, and the critical information requirements are described.