foundation

Question 1

what is a foundation

Answer 1

“the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.”

• underground structures that support a building
• Supplying a level surface from which a building starts
• Safe guarding the structure from movements that may occur in the soil

Question 2

What is the primary function of a foundation

Answer 2

to carry all (live and dead) loads of a (super)structure to the ground, without over-stressing the soil

Question 3

the foundation forms part of the buildings__________ and it is in _______ contact with the earth.

Answer 3

Substructure

Direct

Question 4

strip foundation

Answer 4

are a type of shallow foundation that are used to provide a continuous strip of concrete designed to distribute the load (of a wall) to a sufficient area of subsoil

Question 5

When and why are stepping of strip foundations used

Answer 5

On sloping sites they are used to maintain a required or constant depth level below grade at all points around a building

Question 6

raft foundation

Answer 6

A raft foundation, also called a mat foundation, is a shallow foundation that is essentially a continuous slab resting on the soil that extends over the entire footprint of the building or structure.

Question 7

why are raft foundations used

Answer 7

A raft foundation is often used when the soil is weak or soils with poor bearing capacity; where variations in the ground conditions requires a spread of the load

Question 8

wall position on a foundation

Answer 8

centrally placed

Question 9

name 3 types of reinforced concrete raft foundations

Answer 9

1. solid raft
2. beam and slab raft
3. cellular raft

Question 10

min height of foundation

min width for load- bearing and non load-bearing foundations

Answer 10

200 mm

load 600 mm
non load 400 mm

Question 11

what is a trench

Answer 11

a long, narrow ditch