How can you ensure that foundation design projects are compatible with adjacent structures?

1 Soil investigation

Before starting any foundation design project, you need to conduct a thorough soil investigation to understand the characteristics, properties, and behavior of the soil at the site. This will help you determine the appropriate type, depth, and size of the foundation, as well as the potential risks and challenges posed by the soil conditions. Moreover, you need to assess the influence of adjacent structures on the soil, such as their foundation types, depths, and loads, and how they affect the soil stress, strain, and deformation. You can use various methods and tools to perform soil investigation, such as boreholes, geophysical surveys, laboratory tests, and numerical models.

2 Foundation selection

Based on the results of the soil investigation, you need to select the most suitable foundation type for your structure, taking into account the design requirements, the site constraints, and the adjacent structures. There are different types of foundations, such as shallow foundations (e.g., strip, pad, raft), deep foundations (e.g., piles, caissons, piers), and special foundations (e.g., mat, grillage, underpinning). Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you need to weigh them carefully to ensure that your foundation can support the load of your structure, resist the external forces, and minimize the impact on the adjacent structures.

3 Foundation design

After selecting the foundation type, you need to design the foundation according to the relevant codes, standards, and specifications. You need to calculate the load-bearing capacity, the settlement, the stability, and the safety factors of your foundation, as well as the interaction effects with the adjacent structures. You need to consider the possible scenarios and uncertainties that may affect your foundation performance, such as soil variability, climate change, seismic activity, and human activities. You need to use reliable data, methods, and software to perform the foundation design, and check the accuracy and validity of your results.

4 Foundation construction

Once you have completed the foundation design, you need to prepare for the foundation construction. You need to coordinate with the contractors, the suppliers, the site managers, and the adjacent structure owners to ensure that the construction process is smooth, efficient, and safe. You need to follow the construction drawings, specifications, and procedures, and monitor the quality and progress of the work. You also need to communicate with the adjacent structure owners and inform them of any potential impacts or disruptions caused by your foundation construction, such as noise, vibration, or ground movement. You need to address any issues or concerns that may arise during the construction phase.

5 Foundation inspection

After finishing the foundation construction, you need to conduct a final inspection to verify that the foundation meets the design expectations and complies with the regulations and standards. You need to inspect the foundation components, such as the concrete, the reinforcement, the joints, and the connections, and check for any defects, cracks, or deviations. You also need to measure the settlement, the movement, and the load transfer of your foundation, and compare them with the design values. You need to evaluate the performance and the compatibility of your foundation with the adjacent structures, and identify any problems or risks that may affect their stability or integrity.

6 Foundation maintenance

Finally, you need to maintain your foundation throughout its service life to ensure that it remains functional and durable. You need to perform regular inspections, tests, and repairs to detect and prevent any deterioration, damage, or failure of your foundation. You also need to monitor the changes in the soil, the groundwater, and the adjacent structures that may affect your foundation behavior, such as erosion, liquefaction, or subsidence. You need to update your foundation data, records, and models, and adjust your foundation design or construction if necessary. You need to collaborate with the adjacent structure owners and share the information and the responsibility for the foundation maintenance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?