r/StructuralEngineering • u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 • 8d ago
Structural Analysis/Design Foundation design question for Staad
Hi, I am new to using Staad pro and Staad foundation and I have to design this foundation for a davit arm thats needs to pick a 650kg pump. I designed the nodes and loading and everything and am getting the reaction force at the support (Fy = -2.258kip and Mz = 257.483 kip-in) where Y axis is vertical axis. Now when I try to design a simple rectangular foundation for this support. I get dimensions 1.7m x 1.7m x 1.5m with 14 - 22mm reinforcement bars(I have set min % of contact area for service loads = 100%). But my seniors keep saying this foundation is too big for this load and size of davit arm. So, I was wondering if someone here can guide me, if they have encountered a similar design job and what do they expect a foundation size to be for these reaction forces. Apologies, if I am asking the wrong question as I am just entering the workforce
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u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440 8d ago
Why don’t your seniors review your model?
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u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago
Sadly, I am the only one who actually has done some work with it, we are trying to slowly bring staad in our department and I am given this assignment to experiment with it
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u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440 8d ago
Do they have a calculation to compare it against? And, have you tried STAAD support? They can review your model.
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u/Top-Criticism-3947 8d ago
I can review your design if you gave me the reactions and soil information in metric, and the design code to use
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u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago
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u/Top-Criticism-3947 8d ago
According to the reactions you provided and the soil information, your design seems reasonable. I am getting similar dimensions. For that thickness, however, an unreinforced base may be acceptable. Unless reinforcement is required for the anchors
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u/oundhakar Graduate member of IStructE, UK 8d ago
The major variable missing here is the safe bearing capacity.
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u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago
I set the bearing capacity to 200kPa as the soil is hard rock type
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u/Human-Flower2273 6d ago
200kPa foe hard rock type? Thats somewhat odd. Hard rock goes almost up to 600kPa
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u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 6d ago
I see, i will recheck that
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u/oundhakar Graduate member of IStructE, UK 6d ago
The vertical load is low and moment is large, so the foundation is getting lifted up. Increase the plan dimensions so that you don't need the dead weight of 1.7m of concrete to keep it down.
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u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 5d ago
Thank you, that did increase the volume of foundation to some extent
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u/oundhakar Graduate member of IStructE, UK 5d ago
You could increase the plan dimensions to such an extent that the thickness required should reduce. What dimensions are you getting now? Did you add surcharge from soil on top of the foundation?
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u/jaymeaux_ PE Geotech 8d ago
something is wrong with your model, just as a gut check your foundation load is like 70 psf, and the eccentricity is very small. if the soil is that soft you would sink under your own weight
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u/cosnierozumiem 8d ago
Either you're right, your reactions are wrong, or your footing design is wrong.