Foundation Design Philos

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1. Design of structures and foundations for vibrat

and G. Pincus
2. Foundation analysis and design by J. E. Bowe
3. Dynamics of bases and foundations by D. Bark
4. Design of Machine Foundations - Lecture Note
Department of Civil Engineering, The Universit
Canada, N6A 5B9

In this page I will talk about the rigid block foundation

Reciprocating machines (Compressor). We are cons
rigid and thus a lump mass model can be considered
the design of a block foundation, we need to follow t
data:

Step-1 : Review of pump / compressor drawing (Ven

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The machine data pertinent to the dynamic analysis

should be obtained from vendors.

Plan dimension of pump / compressor bas

Height of rotor / shaft center line from the b
Anchor bolt location, size and embedment
Weight of machine parts and the rotor parts
rotor)
Location of center of gravity both vertically
Operating speed of machines and power r
Magnitude and direction of unbalanced forc
For reciprocating machines both primary a
couples and respective CG locations need
Limit of deflection and vibration amplitude

Step-2 : Collection of Geotechnical / soil data (Pl disc

project design criteria)

The Geotechnical data are used for evaluating the s

coefficients, and are required for both static and dyn
foundations. Following soil parameters are required:

Soil weight density

Poisson's ratio
Dynamic shear modulus (G)
Shear wave velocity (vs)
Dynamic modulus of sub-grade reaction (
Allowable soil bearing pressure or pile loa
foundation

Step-3 : Categorization of rotating machines based o

The rotating machines are categorized based on mac

categories of machines:

Low Speed machine: The low speed mac

than 500 RPM. High tuned foundations, h
machine's operating speed, should be de
case machine do not pass the resonance
down condition.
Intermediate speed machine: The interme
speed range 500 RPM to 1000 RPM. Fo
type of machines high tuned or low tuned
foundation is low tuned, dynamic amplitud
coast down condition.
High Speed machine: The high speed ma
more than 1000 RPM. Low tuned foundat
than machine's operating speed, should b
In this case machine will pass the resona
down condition. Dynamic amplitude shall
down condition. You need to ensure that
operation during the resonant conditions.
Variable Speed machine: The variable sp
range as prescribed by vendor. Foundati
machines high tuned or low tuned side wh
dynamic analysis of foundation is required
speeds to ensure that the dynamic design

Step-4 : Preliminary sizing of foundations:

A block foundation consists of massive concrete bloc

preliminary sizinng of block should be based on the f

Weight of the block foundation should be

reciprocating machines and 3 times the w
The width of foundation should be at leas
the bottom of foundation to the center line

The center of mass of machine foundatio

coincide with the centroid of the soil found
Horizontal eccentricity should be limited t
dimension.
For a rigid mat, following criteria to be foll
o

o
o

Minimum thickness of the mat will b

dimensions or 1/10 th of largest fou
greater .
Maximum thickness of the mat will
Minimum thickness of mat, t = 0.00
modulus of subgrade reaction, lbs/
cantilever projection (inches), mea
Foundation analysis and design by

Step-5 : Requirement for dynamic analysis of founda

Dynamic analysis of concrete foundations are not re

supporting rotating equipment. You need to refer you
conditions for dynamic analysis. Following are the ge
dynamic analysis of foundation supporting rotating e

Dynamic analysis is not required if the we

Dynamic analysis is not required if the po

If you are not doing any dynamic analysis of concret

for foundation sizing and put it into 3D model for any

If you are doing the dynamic analysis of concrete blo

Step-6 : Calculation of un-balanced forces for dynam

If unbalance force is not mentioned in the Vendor eq

calculate the force as follows:
Un-balance force for pump: Fpump = mp-rotor x e x w2
Un-balance force for motor: Fmotor = mm-rotor x e x w2
Where, mp-rotor = weight of pump rotor,

mm-rotor = w

w = circular frequency = 2 x pi x (f / 60), f = speed o

e = rotor eccentricity, depends on machine speed

Eccentricity Table ( Refer reference -1)

Machine

Operating Speed (f in RPM)

Pump / compressor

f < 3000

Pump / compressor

f > 3000

Motor

f < 1500

Motor

1500< f < 3000

Motor

f > 3000

Now you are having all the information to start the fo

put all the above data in any computer software prog
books to calculated the natural frequencies of founda
tables that I have attached here (click for the table).
Natural frequency analysis of foundation:

This rigid block has six degree of freedom. So, you w

natural frequencies:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Sliding Frequency along horizontal X-direction

Sliding Frequency along horizontal Y-direction
Sliding Frequency along vertical Z-direction
Rocking Frequency about X, rotational mode
Rocking Frequency about Y, rotational mode
Rocking Frequency about Z, rotational mode

When the CG of foundation system is far above the f

to be considered to calculate the foundation natural
and rocking mode frequencies overlap each other an
analysis may be more critical. You can calculate the
formula mentioned in the table.

Coupled condition: 1. Sliding along X & Rocking ab

Rocking about X

Once, analysis is completed, please check the found

Resonance Frequency Check:

Calculate resonanace frequency and check that the

frequency vs resonance frequency (f / fd) is either le
six degrees of freedom.

Resonance frequency can be calculated as follows:

where, fn = foundation natural frequency, D = Dampi

Soil Bearing Pressure / Pile Capacity Check

Soil bearing pressure or pile load should not exceed

any foundation upliftment in seismic / wind condition
Maximum Velocity check:

Maximum velocity should fall in "Good Condition" pe

Environmental condition

Maximum displacement amplitude of vibration at fou

"Zone-B" of figure -1 and it should fall below the Zon
2 in the attached table.
Reinforcement:

Reinforcement shall be provided per project approve

minimum reinforcement as follows:
0.2% rebar on all face of concrete block and mat.
1% rebar for all concrete pedestal.
Rebar spacing should not be more than 300 mm.
Anchor Bolt:

Anchor bolt shall be checked for start-up and coast d

For a typical pump foundation drawing click here

I hope this page will be very helpful to you to unders

foundation.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Please do not print o

without written permission from Subhro Roy.
Disclaimer: This page is prepared based on experience on
and most of the explanations are taken from different text
which are referenced in the contents. Any similarity of the
document is simply a coincidence. Subhro Roy is not resp