PROBLEM STATEMENT You are responsible for the design of a combined footing to support two columns as shown in the figure below. The vertical dead loads on column A and B are 500 and 1400KN respectively. The design requires that the resultant of the column loads acts through the centroid of the footing. Note that the groundwater table is at a depth of in addition the dead loads, columns A and B also can carry vertical live loads of up to 800 and 1200 KN respectively. The live loads vary with time, and thus may be present some days and absent other days. In addition the live load on each column is independent of that on the other column. Check that the design meets all eccentricity requirements if the worst possible combination of live loads is imposed.

REFLECTION ESSAY Foundations are such an important component of any engineering structure. A foundation is the part of the structure which is responsible for transfering all the loads of this structure to the underlying ground. Therefore it is important that it be designed adequately.Depending on the function of the structure whether it be a civilian structure or one which houses bio-harzadous waste the foundational failure of a structure could mean a national emergency or even a environmental disaster.Winds, floods, fires, earthquakes and droughts are among the dynamic forces that can lead to foundation failures in commercial, residential,industrial and marine structures. In our mordern times structures also have to be designed for blast loads from possible terrorist attacks. As was the case of the world trade center attack. The building's foundation was designed to withstand the huge wind loads due to its many stories and even a blast load at its base which it experience a few years before 9/11.One could only imagine the results of the foundational failure of one of the nuclear waste plants.Although they maybe located in remote areas far away from humans but we ought to think of the lost of our already fragile ecosystem coupled with the further contamination of ground water. Much depends on a good solid foundation including many families, our delicate environment and millions of dollars in damages. The design of a good foundation may require some prior soil investigation as appropriate designs may vary from with soil type and groundwater conditions.The failure to conduct such an investigation may prove to be catastrophic which was the case in the St.Partricks building in Moscow in 2003, where many lost their lives when their apartment complex collapse due to foundational failure which engineers later attributed to the absence of soil exploration studies.As engineers we learn that our mistakes are very costly and hence the reason for thoroughness and good engineering instincts.A good design needs to be economical but the economics should be weighed with the purpose of the structure. If the structure is designed to house civilians for example or if it maybe a terrorist target in anyway no avenues should be spared to ensure a proper sounds foundation design.The designing process may require some fundamental geometry and statics in engineering knowledge coupled with a solid soil mechanics and foundation engineering background.However the most important requirement for a good foundation design would be good engineering judgement, a skill which is not aquired in the classroom but comes with the valued field experience. The lives of our family memebers and the protection of our already deteriorating environment should be in the hands of highly skilled and experienced engineers.Technolgy has provided a variety of computer aid software which helps with the design process but still the engineering judgement is still of crucial importance since the computer aids are limited to calculations.Since so much relies on a nations infrastructure hence a nation's foundations great care should be taken in their designs.