Definition
Engineered works that transfer the load of a civil engineering structure or building to the underlying ground.
The design depends on the subsoil conditions and expected amount of loading: if loads are small then shallow footings may be appropriate, depending on the nature of the ground, but if loads are considerable then substantial foundations and/or deep piling may be necessary. Appropriate foundation design depends on good site investigation, a sound understanding of the ground conditions, a working knowledge of soil mechanics and experience in designing and undertaking works.
Assessment of the Soil Profile for Design
The design of foundations relies on analytical, numerical, or empirical models using parameters that represent soil response to the stress variations induced by the applied loads. These parameters are part of the geotechnical model, which differs from the geological model. The latter is aimed at identifying the geological units, their origin, and any...
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References
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Flora, A., Lancellotta, R., Viggiani, C. (2018). Foundations. In: Bobrowsky, P.T., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_130
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_130
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