Shallow Foundations: Discussions and Problem Solving

All buildings or structures need to have adequate foundations, designed to have an appropriate load capacity and to exhibit limited settlement. Shallow foundations are constructed relatively close to ground level and are used where the soil at that level can support the intended structure.
Shallow Foundations: Introduction and Problem Solving is written for civil engineers and all civil engineering students taking courses in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering. It covers the analysis, design and application of shallow foundations, with a primary focus on the interface between the structural elements and underlying soil. Topics such as site investigation, foundation contact pressure and settlement, vertical stresses in soils due to foundation loads, settlements, and bearing capacity are all fully covered, and it includes chapters devoted to the structural design of different types of shallow foundations to ACI and Eurocode standards. Each chapter includes a concise discussion of critical and practical aspects, followed by a number of problems, 180 in total, all with full solutions, to consolidate understanding of the fundamental principles and illustrate application in simple practical situations.