A Good Foundation
A good foundation is the basis of building a bridgeCopyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved.
Students explore the effects of regional geology on bridge foundation, including the variety of soil conditions found beneath foundations. They learn about shallow and deep foundations, as well as the concepts of bearing pressure and settlement.
The findings from geological site surveys are important to geotechnical and structural engineers who design bridges, buildings and other land structures. These engineers investigate the subsurface conditions of the area and the risks imposed by those conditions on various foundations. Having an understanding of the soil type and geological setting helps engineers select building materials that make a structure more likely to remain standing over time, taking into account technical, economic and environmental factors.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define and describe a foundation for a structure.
- Describe two basic types of foundations: shallow and deep.
- Discuss several factors that engineers must consider when designing foundations for a bridge, include soil conditions, materials and forces.