ABSTRACT
Foundation design is concerned primarily with ensuring that movements of a foundation are within the limits that can be tolerated by the proposed structure without adversely affecting its functional requirements. Structures vary widely in their capacity to accommodate movements of their foundations. Hence, it is usual to consider the design of a structure and the foundation as interrelated. The design of a foundation structure requires an understanding of the local geological and groundwater conditions, as well as an appreciation of the various types of ground movement that can occur. Foundation movements can occur when the ground is excavated, as seen in Chapter 2, when the ground is loaded, or independently of construction operations.
