Maddison Davis

What Is Spread Footing?

Spread footing also called continuous footing is a kind of foundation used extensively for construction. It is a concrete slab reinforced that runs across the entire length of a structure, spreading the load of the structure equally across the soil.

Spread footings are commonly used for low-rise buildings, where the loads are lightweight and the soil can be able to support the structure's weight. They are also often employed in residential construction like for houses garages, sheds and homes.

The size and the depth of a spread footing are dependent on several elements, such as the structural weight and the soil type and climate and environment conditions of the region.

Engineers employ soil tests and other data to determine needed size and the thickness of the foundation.

One of the benefits of spreading foundations is they spread the load that the building is placed on over a wider area, which reduces the stress on the soil, and preventing sinking or settling.

They are also fairly simple to build and are able to be modified to various different soil types and construction configurations.

In general, spread footings provide an efficient and affordable foundation choice for a broad array types of building projects.

In ensuring that the dimension as well as the depth of footings are suitable for the particular conditions of the area Engineers can ensure that the structure that is constructed is sturdy, long-lasting and safe.

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Spread Foundation

The Spread foundation is enlarged to the bottom to give individual support to the bridge abutment or column in the case of bridges.

The spread foundation is classified under shallow foundation and has many types of subtypes.

Types of Spread Foundation

Below are the different kinds of foundations classified in the category of Spread Foundation,

1. Wall Spread Footing

Wall footing is also called strip footing. The wall footing strips made of continuous concrete can be able to spread the burden of the structure over an extensive space of the soil.

This is a shallow form of footing that is built as a plain cement cement or concrete reinforced footing.

Wall footings can be constructed as an spread or pad and strip footings. They are used to support non-structural and structural walls by transmitting and dispersing the load onto the soil in a manner that the capacity to bear load of the soil isn't exceeded.

The construction of Wall footings is extremely flexible and can be constructed using brick, stone plain concrete, reinforced concrete in a cost-effective method.

Conditions that are suitable for the installation of wall footings are it is constructed in an area where the load transferred is not too heavy and the soil layer is made of thick gravel and sand.

These conditions are best designed for small-scale buildings and, as such, we can find small structures with wall footing.

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2. Isolated Footing or Column Footing

Isolated Footing is also known as Column Footing Pad Footing and isolated spread Footing is used to transport the load imposed by columns, and to transfer it equally to the soil below. In the case of the wall, this may also be made up of reinforced or not-reinforced material.

Isolated footings are cost-effective they are easy to construct and require less excavation and are very simple to build.

It has been carefully designed to take into account the soil's bearing capacity and is protected from impact of sliding or overturning. It also effectively resists settlement beneath the earth.

Within the field of construction An isolated footing is one of the foundations most commonly that can be used for supporting single columns where there is a large gap between two columns.

It is used when geotechnical characteristics of the soil are not significantly altered within the foundation area. It is also an economical type of foundation.

Spread Footing and Pier Usage

Spread footings are utilized to support foundations or a set of piers beneath the structure. For more support the spread footings are built using concrete and then strengthened by steel.

Also Read: Sand Physical Properties


Public Last Update: 2023-03-18 15:48:30