Pile foundation and Inverted Arch Foundation

Pile Foundation :

Pile is an element of construction placed in the ground either vertically or slightly inclined to increase the load-carrying capacity of the soil. Piles can be made of wood, steel, concrete, reinforcement concrete or composite materials. A pile foundation consists of a base of cement concrete, wooden or steel grillage supported by piles which distribute the loads to the earth through a considerable depth. Pile foundation is used when soil is soft and simple spread foundation is not practical at a suitable depth. It is most suitable for waterlogged areas.

Inverted Arch Foundation :

The inverted arch foundation is not used now a days due to the advancement of engineering technology. This is used where the bearing capacity of the soil below is very low and the loads are required to be distributed over a larger area. In this type of construction,depth of foundation is considerably reduced.