Subject :- Building Material and Construction, Text Book :- B.C.
Punmia Building Construction I have
Question to this Subject
ChatGPT said:
Got it You have a question from Building Materials and Construction (Textbook: B.C. Punmia –
Building Construction).
Please go ahead and share your question — I’ll solve it step by step or give you a clear explanation
based on the textbook and subject concepts.
Do you want me to:
• Write short exam-oriented answers,
• Or give detailed explanatory notes with diagrams/examples?
You said:
Can You Give a Detailed Explanatory Notes with Diagram/Examples?
ChatGPT said:
Perfect Yes, I can create detailed explanatory notes from B.C. Punmia’s Building Construction
with clear explanations, diagrams, and examples (just like classroom notes).
To prepare the notes, I just need you to share your specific question/topic from the subject.
For example, do you want notes on:
• Bricks and their classification
• Cement types and tests
• Stone masonry / Brick masonry
• Foundations
• Roofs, doors, windows, etc.
Please tell me the exact topic or question from Building Materials and Construction so I can
prepare the full detailed notes (with diagrams and examples).
Would you like me to start with “Bricks and their Classification” as a sample?
You said:
Foundation, RCC Foundation Footing and Column Details Explain and Sketch and Construction
Processar, Excavation, Base Concrete, Sentering (Size and Depth) Base of the Footing.
ChatGPT said:
Great You’ve asked for detailed notes on Foundation, RCC Foundation Footing and Column
details with sketches and construction process (Excavation, Base Concrete, Centering, Size and
Depth, Base of Footing).
I’ll explain step by step (like in B.C. Punmia’s Building Construction style).
Foundations and RCC Footings – Detailed Notes
1. Foundation (Basic Concept)
• Definition: The foundation is the lowermost part of a building which transfers the load of the
structure safely to the ground.
• Purpose:
o To distribute building loads evenly on the soil.
o To prevent unequal settlement.
o To provide stability against sliding/overturning.
2. Types of Foundation
• Shallow Foundations (depth < width; used where soil is good near surface):
o Spread Footing
o Combined Footing
o Mat (Raft) Foundation
• Deep Foundations (depth > width; used where soil is weak):
o Pile Foundation
o Well Foundation
3. RCC Foundation Footing and Column Details
(a) Isolated Footing
• Used for individual columns.
• Load from column → spread to larger area → soil.
• Usually square, rectangular, or circular in shape.
Sketch (Typical RCC Isolated Footing with Column)
Column
▼
┌──────────────┐ ← Column reinforcement (vertical bars)
│ │
│ Column │
│ │
└──────────────┘
/\/\/\/\/\/\ ← Footing reinforcement (bottom steel mesh)
──────────────
PCC bed
───────────────
Compacted soil
(b) Column with Footing Details
• Column Bars (Longitudinal reinforcement): Usually 12–16 mm dia steel bars.
• Stirrups (Ties): 6–8 mm dia bars to hold main bars together.
• Footing Reinforcement: Placed at the bottom, usually two-way mesh (spacing 150–200 mm
c/c).
4. Construction Process
Step 1: Excavation
• Depth depends on:
o Safe bearing capacity (SBC) of soil.
o Frost depth (in cold regions).
o Minimum depth = 1 m below natural ground.
• Excavation should be vertical and of proper size.
Step 2: Base Concrete (PCC Bed)
• Before footing reinforcement, a lean concrete mix (1:4:8 or 1:5:10) is laid.
• Thickness: 75 mm to 150 mm.
• Purpose: To provide a level, clean, and hard surface for footing.
Step 3: Footing Reinforcement Placement
• Bars are cut, bent, and placed as per structural drawing.
• Proper cover blocks are provided (usually 40–50 mm).
Step 4: Centering & Shuttering
• Wooden/steel formwork used for sides of footing and column starter.
• Must be leakproof to avoid loss of cement slurry.
Step 5: Concreting of Footing
• Concrete mix (M20 or higher) poured into formwork.
• Compacted with needle vibrator.
• Top surface leveled and finished.
Step 6: Column Starter & Column Reinforcement
• Column bars extended from footing (development length provided).
• Formwork for column fixed vertically.
• Concrete poured in column in lifts.
5. Size and Depth of Footing
• Depth (D):
o As per Rankine’s formula:
D=qw(1−sinϕ1+sinϕ)2D = \frac{q}{w}\left(\frac{1 - \sin \phi}{1 + \sin \phi}\right)^2D=wq
(1+sinϕ1−sinϕ)2
where q = load intensity, w = unit weight of soil, φ = angle of repose.
o Practically kept 1–1.5 m for small buildings.
• Footing thickness:
o Minimum 150–300 mm (depends on load).
• Size:
o Determined by SBC of soil.
o Area of footing = Load from column / SBC of soil.
6. Example
• Load on column = 500 kN.
• SBC of soil = 200 kN/m².
• Required footing area = 500 / 200 = 2.5 m².
• Provide footing = 1.6 m × 1.6 m (approx).
In exam/notes style, you can draw:
1. Excavation with PCC base.
2. RCC footing with reinforcement mesh.
3. Column starter bars rising from footing.
Do you want me to create clean labeled sketches (diagrams) of:
• Excavation & PCC base,
• Reinforcement of footing,
• RCC column with footing,
so that you can directly use them in your notes?
You said:
Underbeamed Pile - Single underbeamed and Double Underbeamed
ChatGPT said:
Excellent You are asking about Under-Reamed Piles (sometimes written as underbeamed piles in
older notes). This is a very important topic from B.C. Punmia – Building Construction. Let me explain
in full detail with diagrams and construction details.
Under-Reamed Pile Foundation
1. Definition
• An under-reamed pile is a cast in-situ RCC pile with one or more bulb-like enlargements
(called under-reams) formed at its base or along its length.
• These bulbs provide anchorage against uplift and increase load-bearing capacity.
• Commonly used in black cotton soil and expansive clays (to resist swelling/shrinkage).
2. Why Under-Reamed Piles?
• Prevents upheaval and differential settlement due to expansive soil.
• More economical than deep foundations like wells or caissons.
• Provides stability against uplift loads (important in transmission towers, tanks, etc.).
3. Types of Under-Reamed Piles
(a) Single Under-Reamed Pile
• Has one bulb at the bottom.
• Used where:
o Moderate load capacity is required.
o Soil has medium swelling/shrinkage.
• Depth: 2–3 m below ground level (minimum).
Sketch – Single Under-Reamed Pile
Column / Pile Cap
║ ║
║ ║
║ ║
( ) ← Single under-ream bulb at bottom
──────────────
Firm Strata
(b) Double Under-Reamed Pile
• Has two bulbs at different depths.
• Used where:
o Soil is highly expansive (e.g., black cotton soil).
o Heavy load capacity is required.
• Depth: 3–6 m (depends on soil and load).
Sketch – Double Under-Reamed Pile
Column / Pile Cap
║ ║
║ ║
( ) ← First bulb
║ ║
║ ║
( ) ← Second bulb
──────────────
Firm Strata
4. Construction Process of Under-Reamed Piles
1. Boring
o A pile auger with special under-reaming tool is used.
o Borehole made to required depth.
2. Formation of Bulb (Under-Reaming)
o Under-reaming tool expanded → cuts and forms a bulb cavity.
o In double under-reamed piles → process repeated at two levels.
3. Reinforcement Cage
o Steel cage with main bars and ties lowered inside the borehole.
4. Concreting
o Concrete poured (usually M20 or higher).
o Tremie method used if water is present.
5. Pile Cap / Column Connection
o Piles connected at top with pile cap.
o Load transferred from structure → pile cap → piles → soil.
5. Suitability
• Best in expansive soils like black cotton soil.
• Used in:
o Residential buildings.
o Water tanks.
o Transmission line towers.
o Machine foundations.
6. Advantages
• Resists uplift pressure due to swelling soil.
• Economical compared to raft/well foundations in problematic soils.
• Provides stability for light to medium structures.
In exams, a neat labeled diagram of single and double under-reamed piles is must.
