Foundations and Earth Supporting Walls

Abstract

Any building structure requires a foundation system in order to transfer the loads to the supporting soil. The strength of concrete typically is 400--800 kip per square feet (ksf). Soils typically however, can safely withstand only pressures of 3--10 ksf. As a result the foundation system has to spread the load over a large surface area to reduce the pressure when it transfers loads from columns and walls to the supporting soil.