Foundations, supports, and connections

Foundations are a critical part of any structure, responsible for transferring loads from the building to the ground beneath it. They play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of a structure.
Foundations come in a variety of types including strip, pad, and raft. The choice of foundation depends on factors like the type of structure, soil condition, and climate.
Strip foundations are commonly used for load-bearing walls and are laid along the length of the wall. This type of foundation distributes the load over a larger area for better support.
Pad foundations are square or rectangular pads of concrete that support column loads. This is particularly useful for structures made up of columns.
Raft foundations are large continuous concrete slabs that support the whole structure. They are used when the soil condition is poor, distributing the load over a large area.

Structural supports help to distribute and resist loads in a structure. They play a significant role in maintaining the stability of the structure.
The primary types of supports include roller, hinge and fixed supports, all of which serve different roles and have unique properties.
A roller support can resist vertical forces but allows horizontal movement. This kind of support is often used in bridges and beams.
A hinged support resists both vertical and horizontal forces but does not restrict rotational movement. It is commonly found in trusses and towers.
Fixed supports, also known as rigid supports, restrict all kinds of movement - vertical, horizontal, and rotational. These are commonly used in the foundations and at the ends of cantilever structures.

Connections are fundamental to any type of structure, helping to hold all the parts together and transfer loads.
There are two main types of connections in structural engineering: pin connections and rigid connections.
Pin connections allow rotation but prevent translation in any direction. They are used in structures that need some degree of flexibility.
Rigid connections resist both rotation and translation. They are often used in building frames to provide robust and stiff connections.
Deciding on the correct connection to use involves considerations like loading conditions, construction costs, structural performance, aesthetics, and maintenance costs.