caisson foundation

caisson foundation [′kā‚sän fou̇n′dā·shən]

(civil engineering)

A shaft of concrete placed under a building column or wall and extending down to hardpan or rock. Also known as pier foundation.

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Caisson foundation

A permanent substructure that, while being sunk into position, permits excavation to proceed inside and also provides protection for the workers against water pressure and collapse of soil. The term caisson covers a wide range of foundation structures. Caissons may be open, pneumatic, or floating type; deep or shallow; large or small; and of circular, square, or rectangular cross section. The walls may consist of timber, temporary or permanent steel shells, or thin or massive concrete. Large caissons are used as foundations for bridge piers, deep-water wharves, and other structures. Small caissons are used singly or in groups to carry such loads as building columns. Caissons are used where they provide the most feasible method of passing obstructions, where soil cannot otherwise be kept out of the bottom, or where cofferdams cannot be used. See Bridge

The bottom rim of the caisson is called the cutting edge (see illustration). The edge is sharp or narrow and is made of, or faced with, structural steel. The narrowness of the edge facilitates removal of ground under the shell and reduces the resistance of the soil to descent of the caisson.

Underside of open caisson for Greater New Orleans bridge over Mississippi River

An open caisson is a shaft open at both ends. It is used in dry ground or in moderate amounts of water. A pneumatic caisson is like a box or cylinder in shape; but the top is closed and thus compressed air can be forced inside to keep water and soil from entering the bottom of the shaft. A pneumatic caisson is used where the soil cannot be excavated through open shafts or where soil conditions are such that the upward pressure must be balanced. A floating or box caisson consists of an open box with sides and closed bottom, but no top. It is usually built on shore and floated to the site where it is weighted and lowered onto a bed previously prepared by divers. See Foundations