Expert: Jeanette A - 1/26/2009

Question
Hi Jeanette, please could you possibly help. I need to design the most economical foundations to support a twelve floor office block with two basement floors for parking facilities. The development is in a city- Sheffield, the site is 30x30 meters  and is flanked on either side by high rise buildings. I was thinking of a raft with additional supports for the coloumns would this be economical?

Answer
Hello Julie,

I can't really indicate what is economical and what is not as I do not know all of the specifications and more importantly the type of foundation conditions and budget which exists. You can do some research on different types of foundations and compare their cost and then consider possibly which type would be the most feasible given your constraints. There are various types to go through, from piles (driven/cast-in-situ) to shallow foundations (mat-slab foundations etc) so you really need to do some background homework on the various types given your ground conditions. I have found some sites which may be of some use to you, so have a look at them:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2967176/FULL-highrise-structure-2007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shallow_foundation

http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Shallow_foundation

http://www.blank-lehrer.co.il/?CategoryID=182

http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/rp/rppdf/t96-002.pdf

I hope this gives you some direction to your project and apologies for a late response have had no internet.


Warm Regards,
Jeanette