Foundations for low cost buildings

- Two different foundation systems are used in the analysis namely; rectangular strip footings, and folded strip footings respectively.
- The finite element analysis software ADINA is used in modeling and analysis of structural and geotechnical behavior of both types of footings with emphasis on the effect of changing the footing shape and soil type (Ks) on the stresses and soil settlement.
- Results showed that the maximum value of contact pressure decreased by about 38% for folded strip footing when compared with the traditional strip footing in stiff clay soil, and by about 25% in dense sand soil when increasing vertical static load to its peak value.
- The reduction in the reinforcement ratio between the two types of footings is about 26% in favor of the folded strip footings. While the total cost of the concrete for the folded strip footings is less than the rectangular one by about 18%. So, the folded shape is more economical than the ordinary rectangular strip footing.