ABSTRACT
There are basically two types of below ground structures; foundations and basements. The purpose of the foundations is to ensure that the stress on the local surface is within the safe bearing stress of the soil. The concept of foundations is the same as using snowshoes. Whilst the idea of raft foundations is a simple concept, and building them is not especially difficult, there is a problem with their engineering design. This is due to the prediction of the pressure distribution under the foundation. Every building meets the ground, so they all need some form of foundation, but there are other forms of below-ground structures where spaces are required below ground level – basements. Most effects of ground movements occur due to the ground settling, that is going down, but the ground can also come up, which for some structures will induce moments and shear forces.
