Good Soil For Building Foundation

            One of the most important things to consider upon building a structure is the kind of soil to be used. According to Robert M. Felton (2010), recognizing the soil where a foundation rests on is part of the foundation system itself. In building strong foundations, good soils must be used. Examples of these are expansive clay soil, sandy loam soil and rock soil. First, expansive clay soil contain minerals such as smectite clays that absorb water. Though some people may say that this is dangerous to buildings, they do not know that damages are done slowly because of this soil. Second, sandy Loam or sometimes called select fill is a very stable soil that shows little change with the increase or decrease of moisture or temperature. This soil can easily support a slab foundation without heaving too much. Lastly, rock soil is good in providing great stability to buildings. Soil needs to be solid if it is to support a wall, buildings or steps. According to Immamura, A. (1937), If the quality of soil is hard and unyielding, the threat of earthquakes is minimal.

            It is also important to know the different types of soils as to know which are efficient for building strong foundations. Based on the Unified Soil Classification System, soils can be classified as coarse grained, fine grained and highly organic. According to Jonathan S. Goode (2006), coarse grained soils are those least affected by moisture-content changes as most surface becomes gravitational water. Examples of these are sands and gravels. On the other hand, fine grained soils like silts and clays are good in providing plasticity and compressibility upon force exertion. Lastly, highly organic soil is rich in minerals and nutrients necessary for strength and stability.

            Knowing the characteristics of a good soil is important in deciding which soil to use. According to Wallis B. (2001), these properties are strength, cohesion and consolidation. The strength of soil exhibits the magnitude of shear stress that it can sustain. It is important to assess the soil strength in order to provide stability to the building. Next cohesion is one of the measurement indexes of soil resistance. Cohesive soils are generally dense and tightly bound together. This cohesion increases as the particle size of the soil decreases. Lastly, according to Kshitija Nadgouda (2006) consolidation is the removal of water from soil. In other words, it is the squeezing out of water from the soil to make it more dense. This way, soils can provide greater foundation to buildings.

Earthquake Proof Buildings

  Earthquakes are natural hazards uncontrolled by man. This is why earthquake resistant structures are made and proved to be helpful in the past and until this present. Many engineers and architects are continuously trying to improve and develop structures to prevent disasters caused by earthquakes. In order to be successful in building earthquake proof structures, one must consider different factors. These include choosing good soil for a strong foundation, using efficient building materials and following a well-designed structure. People should take note of these factors when building their residences and other structures. Additionally, further studies regarding this matter must still be done in order to improve buildings and constructions. By doing so, we cannot only save properties but the lives of many people as well. 

In order for buildings to be earthquake resistant, three important factors are to be considered. First, soil foundation must be taken note of. Soil is essential for building strong foundations. One must be meticulous when choosing good soil such as expansive clay soil, sandy loam soil and rock soil. At the same time, it is important to know the different types of soil: coarse grained, fine grained and highly organic.  These soils have the properties of strength, cohesion and consolidation which are significant for strong foundations. Likewise, materials to be used in building the structure must be chosen carefully. Lightweight materials like timber, plywood and bamboo are favorable choice; as well as high quality materials such as masonry, traditional tiles and hardwood. It is also vital to choose efficient building materials for the roof. Lastly, designs for structures must be well thought of. Structures must be continuous, symmetrical and simple in plan. Building techniques like base isolation, energy absorption and isolation from seismic motion must be applied when designing the construction. In addition, structures must be built with moment-resisting frames, shear walls and eccentrically braced frames.

            To be able to achieve earthquake-proof buildings, they should have strong foundations, should make us of efficient building materials and should be well-designed in order to resist seismic motion. Characteristics, techniques and designs of earthquake-proof buildings must be studied in order to have a well-designed structure. The types of materials to be used must also be considered to attain effective earthquake-resistant buildings. There must also be good soil in order to have strong foundation. By doing so, damages caused by earthquakes to buildings will be lessen and prevented.  Knowing the different characteristics of earthquake-proof buildings will pave way for the improvement of current structures. With this, buildings will be able to resist the destruction caused by seismic vibrations.