Soil Basics for Foundations

Understand how soil types, bearing capacity, and groundwater inform Russian foundation choices.

Why Soil Matters

Foundations transfer building loads to soil. The soil's strength, compressibility, and drainage characteristics decide how large or deep a foundation must be.

Key Soil Parameters

  • Bearing capacity: load the soil can safely resist.
  • Compressibility: affects settlement and differential movement.
  • Groundwater: influences buoyancy, frost heave, and construction methods.

Using Investigations

Russian SP documents require site investigations. Logs, lab tests, and in-situ tests supply parameters for strip, slab, or pile foundations.

Related Standards