The floating foundation is the best choice for geotechnical engineers to minimize the foundation settlement problems. Most suitable for heavily used highways.Requires very less digging because deep footer trenches are needed.Floating foundations can be used in on high moisture soils.Heaving can be minimized by phasing out excavation in narrow trenches and placing the foundation soon after excavation. Bottom heave:- Excavations for foundation reduces the pressure in the soil which results in the heaving of the bottom of the excavation.Dewatering:- Care has to be taken to see that the adjoining structures are not affected by dewatering process.

The side of excavation should be supported by sheet piling.

Exacavation:- The excavation for the foundation has to be done with care.

In this type, the floating foundation helps to reduce the shear stress.ĭifficulties in the construction of a floating foundation:ĭuring the construction of the floating foundation, some problem may arise, which can be prevented by taking proper care.

Soils having low shear strength and there is no hard layer available at reasonable depth.

In such cases, floating foundations reduce the values to a greater extent.

Soils having the problem of large settlement and differential settlements under heavy loads.

Selection criteria for floating foundation:įloating foundations are suitable for the following conditions, For this reason, it is also termed as balancing raft foundation. The main aim or purpose of the floating foundation is to balance the weight of removed soil by a structure of same weight which causes zero settlement to the structure. Floating foundation causes zero settlement to the structure and provides the stable platform for the superstructure.Ī floating foundation is a type of foundation constructed by excavating the soil in such a way that the weight of structure built on the soil is nearly equal to the total weight of the soil excavated from the ground including the weight of water in the soil before the construction of the structure.

Low bearing capacity of soil, poorly compacted soil, soil consolidation are the reasons for foundation settlement. The total vertical displacement that occurs at the foundation level is known as “Settlement”. Construction Technology (Career Building Course) Looking to build projects on Civil Engineering?:Ĭivil Engineering Kit will be shipped to you and you can learn and build using tutorials.

Floating foundation system