The Specificity of Shaping and Execution of Monolithic Pocket Foundations (PF) in Hall Buildings

Abstract

Pocket foundations (PF) are usually used under precast RC columns of steel or RC flyovers and industrial halls. PF is a specific type of foundation in which, apart from standard calculations concerning the fulfilment of the limit states in the base of the footing, the problems related to the appropriate design of its walls in the pocket are also important. In addition to the analytical and design part, a great challenge for constructors is also the selection of the appropriate construction technology of PF in terms of reinforcement preparation as well as the correct shaping of the foundation. The aim of the article is, therefore, to draw attention to the specificity of pocket foundation design—which is part of the structural systems in hall buildings—and to present the main problems that may arise during their construction at individual stages, including guidelines for checking the correctness of the conducted assembly works. The following article describes the main requirements for the construction of PF with particular attention to the type of surface present inside the pocket. The main problems related to the PF construction are also presented, and the methodology of assembling the precast columns in the footings is described. At the end of the manuscript, it is also discussed how to check and control the correctness of the skeleton installation works in hall buildings in order to prevent too large deviations in the assembled structure.