This article is about strengthening building foundations. We will discuss the method of improving the base. Reinforcement of the foundation must be carried out after a detailed study of the soil conditions, loads on the foundation, behavior of the superstructure, etc.
Why we need to strengthen the foundations
The following can be cited as the main reasons for strengthening foundations:
- Excessive liquidation of the foundation
Due to the weak nature of the soil, the foundation may settle. The low load-bearing capacity of the foundation, which was taken into account in the foundation design, can lead to Founder liquidation .
Furthermore, an incorrect assessment of the soil's bearing capacity can also lead to foundation settlement.
- Foundation failure
The foundation may fail due to insufficient capacity. When we notice that Foundation failure In these cases, improving the foundation is questionable. However, if we determine before loading that the foundation, the thickness is not sufficient, the foundation can be improved.
Durability issues can also lead to foundation failure. Aggressive chemicals such as chloride, sulfate, etc. and construction problems, such as inadequate reinforcement coverage, can lead to reinforcement corrosion.
This causes the foundation to fail during loading. After careful consideration, foundation improvements can be made accordingly. In some cases, it may be necessary to partially replace or repair the foundation.
The article support For more information, we refer to the art of improving foundations.
- Increasing the load on the foundation
In some cases it may be necessary to increase the number of floors. This can happen after the house is built or during construction.
In these cases, an increase in column load could be evaluated. Once the assessment has been carried out, the necessary area of the foundation can be worked on. Then we can strengthen the base.
Most importantly, the load capacity of the bracket should also be checked to ensure it can withstand the increased load.
What methods are there to strengthen the base?
There are two methods to improve the foundation. Namely:
- Increase the foundation area
This allows the pressure under the foundation to be reduced or maintained the same despite the increased load.
When we make improvements to the foundation due to settlement, increasing the area of the foundation will reduce the pressure under the foundation.
- Increase the thickness of the foundation
If the static load capacity is not sufficient, the thickness of the foundation can be increased.
What steps should be followed when strengthening the base?
The following steps can be performed as part of foundation reinforcement.
- Based on the reason for foundation improvement, calculate the required foundation area and required foundation thickness.
- Calculate reinforcement requirements and create a construction drawing based on existing drawings.
- Carrying out the excavation
- Check the size of the foundation based on actual conditions. If necessary, the foundation structure can be adjusted.
- Sufficiently clean the concrete surface.
- Chip the concrete surface
- Place screed around the base to increase the foundation area.
- Insert dowels according to the construction drawing
- The dowels must be chemically anchored into the existing concrete. The anchoring length can be in the range of 150-300 mm.
- Tie rebar as needed.
- Applying the binder to the concrete surface
- Carry out concreting work.
