Assist. Dr. Riyadh Abd Al-Abbas Ali
Subsidence of foundations is the result of exposure of the soil that supports these foundations to water, which affects the properties of the soil
Which leads to changing its shape and size with the help of the loads that are imposed on it, and the reasons for this are many:
1- Not examining the soil and taking the necessary precautions.
2- Not choosing the appropriate type of foundation, such as (separate, joint, mat, cantilever...).
3- Water leakage from adjacent manholes, sewers or water tanks.
4- The emergence of new excavations nearby, which changes the soil stresses.
5- Not compacting the soil well.
6- Using construction waste, rubbish, etc. to neglect landfilling.
The most important signs of subsidence in buildings are:
1- Cracks appear in the walls and sides of columns.
2- Separation of walls from ground floors.
3- Fractures occur in window glass and doors do not fit properly.