floating foundation
Quick Summary
A floating foundation is a construction method used when soil is too soft to support a building's weight. It functions similarly to a boat, where the structure is buoyed up by the volume of earth displaced during its construction. These foundations are typically rigid, box-like structures made of reinforced concrete slabs or tubs with raised edges. The key principle is that the weight of the removed soil equals the weight of the construction it supports. This method ensures that the pressure on the soil is kept within acceptable limits, preventing damage to the structure.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- soil mechanics
A floating foundation consists of boxlike rigid structures set at such a depth below ground that the weight of the soil removed to place it equals the weight of the building; thus, once the building is completed, the soil under it will bear the same weight…
Read MoreA floating foundation consists of boxlike rigid structures set at such a depth below ground that the weight of the soil removed to place it equals the weight of the building; thus, once the building is completed, the soil under it will bear the same weight…
Read More
constructionFoundations…is the use of a floating foundation, making the building like a boat that obeys Archimedes’ principle—it is buoyed up by the weight of the earth displaced in creating the foundation. Floating foundations consist of flat reinforced concrete slabs or mats or of reinforced concrete tubs with walls turned up…
Read More…is the use of a floating foundation, making the building like a boat that obeys Archimedes’ principle—it is buoyed up by the weight of the earth displaced in creating the foundation. Floating foundations consist of flat reinforced concrete slabs or mats or of reinforced concrete tubs with walls turned up…
Read More