Análisis económico de cimentación en suelo blando: columnas de grava vs. Losa de cimentación en una vivienda en el sector de Chaullabamba, Cuenca

Abstract

Abstract: The high economic cost of constructing foundations for houses on soft soils often leads to substandard foundations. The primary objective of this study is to explore an alternative foundation solution for two-story houses on soft soils. The study investigates the behavior of gravel columns in foundations on soft soils using isolated footings. To evaluate the soil's geomechanical properties, friction angle, cohesion, and bearing capacity were assessed using the Meyerhof, Vesic, and Hansen methods, as well as through laboratory and in-situ tests. Two foundation options for a two-story house in Chaullabamba, Cuenca, Ecuador, were compared: an isolated footing on improved soil with gravel columns and a raft foundation on unimproved soil. The study found that the bearing capacity of the soil improved with gravel columns increased by 2.21 times compared to the unimproved soil. The friction angle and cohesion also improved, increasing by 1.89 and 1.68 times, respectively. It was determined that the cost reduction for the foundation with gravel columns is 83.28% less than the cost for the raft foundation.