Question

What should be the solution if the safe width of the footing is unpractical?

Answer 1

First we have to understand how load is transfer from column to soil through footing. Footing is basically a certain area larger than area of column to transfer load, The load taken by footing from column is distributed to the soil. The soil must have enough strength to resist the load that is upward soil peesure.

So load transfer mechanis depends on bearing capacity of soil which resist load. Hence we have to increase bearing capacity of soil to reduce the width of footing, Because if large area is required for the same load and bearing pressure then it is possible to increase bearing pressure for the same load and size of footing can be reduce.

So solution could be that increase of bearing strenght of soil. Now question arises how to increase bearing capacity of soil, the methods throuh which bearing capacity can be increase is given below-

1-Soil Stablization

2-Compacting the soil

3-Replacement of soil

4-Draining the soil