Requirements of Good Foundation

Thus the foundation should satisfy the following requirements.

1. Depth of Foundation

1. Foundations should be carried well below the top soil, miscellaneous fill, abandoned foundation, debris or muck.
2. Foundation should be carried below the depth of weathering.
3. Foundation on sloping ground should have sufficient edge distance as protection against erosion.
4. Difference in elevation of foundation should not be so great as to introduce undesirable overlapping of stresses on soil.

2. Shear Failure of Foundation

Foundation should be safe against breaking into the ground (i.e., against shear failure). In order to satisfy this requirement an adequate factor of safety on the bearing capacity of the soil is provided.

3. Settlement of Foundation

Foundation should not undergo exercise total and differential settlements. The limiting total and differential settlement should satisfy the requirement specified by building codes for different structures and different soils.