Fundamentbau

Fundamentbau, often translated as foundation construction, is the facet of civil engineering that designs and builds the foundations of buildings and other structures. It selects a foundation system, plans excavation, and places concrete or steel to safely transfer loads to the ground. The objective is sufficient bearing capacity, controlled settlement, and prevention of excessive differential movement.

Foundation systems fall into two broad categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations. Shallow foundations are used when bearing strata are near the surface and include pad, strip, and raft foundations. Deep foundations reach deeper soils or rock and include piles, drilled shafts (caissons), and driven or bored piles. Hybrid approaches and ground improvement may be used for weak soils.

Design relies on geotechnical investigations to determine soil properties, bearing capacity, allowable settlements, and groundwater conditions. Engineers consider vertical and lateral loads, frost action, shrink–swell behavior, earthquakes, and long-term settlement. Serviceability and durability are balanced with cost and constructability; drainage and frost protection may be integrated into the foundation system.

Materials and methods typically involve reinforced concrete and steel, with timber or composites in specific cases. Construction steps include excavation, dewatering, formwork, reinforcement placement, concrete pouring and curing, pile driving or drilling, and testing such as load tests and integrity checks. Quality control and safety are essential.

Standards and codes guide fundamentbau practice; regional codes vary but commonly reference geotechnical design standards. In Europe, Eurocode 7 covers geotechnical design; other regions rely on national or local regulations. The discipline requires collaboration among geotechnical engineers, structural engineers, architects, and constructors.