Increasing Loads on Existing Foundations

As buildings and bridges are rehabilitated, sometimes for uses that were not foreseen by the original designer, there is often a desire to expand the structure, or put the building to some new use that results in additional loads on the existing foundations. The uncertainties involved in assessing existing foundations can be greatly reduced by employing state-of-the-art non-destructive testing (NDT) methods. When used in conjunction with load-tests and computer modelling of soil/structure interaction, these methods can provide the engineer with valuable information concerning the reliability and capacity of the foundations. This paper provides a review of

currently-available methods for assessment of existing foundations, and compares their capabilities. Case histories are presented to illustrate the benefits of the various methodologies.