Cost-Economic Foundation by Combination of Strap Beam and Piles

Abstract

Indian Black cotton soil manifests high shrinkage and swelling property with reduction and increment in water content. Due to its low shear strength and property of swelling and shrinkage makes it challenging and complex from engineering point of view. As per Indian Standard guidelines Pile foundation is the most preferable type of foundation to be constructed in case of black cotton soil due to its poor load caring capacity. This study deals with two types of foundations that are Pile Foundation and Strap beam with pile foundation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the behavior of two different types of foundation under equivalent loading conditions for the same super structural element resting on black cotton soil and to highlight economical alternative foundation among both the foundations. It includes simulation based analytical study between the two foundations i.e. Pile Foundation and Strap Beam with Pile Foundation. The simulation was conducted on ETABS software and foundation was further designed with respect to the guidelines of Indian Standard codes respectively. For analysis purpose, a fully developed model was made and the implementation of simulation was conducted for both Pile foundation and Strap Beam with Pile foundation. The results were analyzed and compared to get variation in behavior of both foundations in terms of settlement, depth of pile and number of piles required for both type of foundations. The study deals with cost modeling of structure and study results are useful for cost engineers and design engineers during the initial stage of project cost planning and design development.