Foundation of a building intended to be built in clay soil

Abstract

The invention relates to a foundation (1) of a building (2) comprising an upper part (6) made of reinforced concrete. The foundation (1) comprises a lower part (7) comprising a casing (9), in particular made of geotextile, containing a pile of gravel (8a) and water (8b). The casing (9) is provided with a water supply channel (10) for water (8b). The casing (9) is provided with a water drainage channel (12) for water (8b). A waterproof plastic sheet (15), for example made of polyethylene, is at least interposed between the upper part (6) and the lower part (7). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Foundation of a building intended to be built in clay soil

[0001] The invention relates to a foundation for a building, such as a detached house or the like, intended to be built in clay soil or the like. It relates to such a foundation. It also relates to a building comprising such a foundation. Finally, it relates to a method for installing such a foundation.

[0002] In the field of building construction, it is common to have to build a building on clay soil, particularly soil rich in clay. Such clay soil has the characteristic of becoming saturated with water when it receives abundant rainfall, and therefore swelling, and then shrinking during dry periods, when rainfall is scarce or nonexistent. Thus, over time, clay soil tends to undergo several successive phases of expansion and contraction. Consequently, foundations laid on this clay soil tend to shift, which commonly causes cracks in the building, significantly reducing its value.

[0003] The construction of a building in such clayey soil proves dangerous because of these successive phases which are likely to cause movements of the building constructed, which lead to cracking of the building.

[0004] Ultimately, many builders often forgo construction on such clay soils, or are forced to undertake costly constructions. It is therefore known to erect the foundations of these buildings on piles that are driven deeply into the ground, penetrating the bedrock to anchor the foundations securely despite the clay soil. For example, see document EP1820904, which describes a pile of the aforementioned type.

[0005] An inherent problem with the use of such piles for the construction of a detached house is that the cost becomes excessive, even prohibitive.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide foundations for a building, such as a detached house or the like, which are solid, durable and prevent the appearance of cracks on the building, including when the foundations are installed in clayey or highly clayey soil, in particular containing clay, these foundations being inexpensive, easy to implement without the need for specific and bulky tools and / or construction equipment.

[0007] The present invention falls within this context and proposes a foundation for a building comprising an upper part made of reinforced concrete.

[0008] According to the present invention, the foundation comprises a lower part including an envelope housing a pile of pebbles and water.

[0009] The foundation advantageously comprises any one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination:

[0010] - the envelope comprises a geotextile,

[0011] - the casing is equipped with a water supply channel,

[0012] - the casing is equipped with a water drainage channel,

[0013] - the supply channel and the discharge channel are fitted to an upper zone of the envelope,

[0014] - the foundation comprises at least one interposed waterproof plastic sheet between the upper part and the lower part,

[0015] - the waterproof plastic sheet is U-shaped, with one base interposed between the upper part and lower part, and branches are arranged on either side of the upper part.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a building comprising at least one such foundation.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a method for installing such a foundation in a trench, particularly one made in clay soil, the foundation comprising an upper part, a lower part and at least one waterproof plastic sheet interposed between the upper and lower parts, the lower part comprising an envelope housing at least one pile of pebbles, the envelope being provided with a water supply channel and a water drainage channel, the envelope comprising a cover, the method comprising a first phase comprising placing the envelope in the trench, a second phase comprising filling the envelope with the pile of pebbles, a third phase comprising connecting the supply channel and the drainage channel to the envelope, a fourth phase comprising folding down the cover to close the envelope,a fifth phase comprising the placement of the waterproof plastic sheet at least against the lid and a sixth phase comprising pouring the upper area onto a base of the waterproof plastic sheet and between branches of the waterproof plastic sheet.

[0018] The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description and non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the single attached figure:

[0019] [Fig-1] represents a cross-sectional view of a foundation according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 1, the only figure in the description below, illustrates a foundation 1 of a building 2, such as a detached house or similar structure, installed in clayey soil 3, particularly rich in clay. It is understood that a foundation 1 is a buried part of the building 2 that supports a wall 4 of the latter. The wall 4 is, for example made from a stack of building blocks 5, such as stones, cinder blocks, bricks or other materials suitable for forming the wall 4.

[0021] The foundation 1 according to the present invention advantageously comprises an upper part 6 and a lower part 7, the upper part 6 overhanging the lower part 7. In other words, the upper part 6 is interposed between the wall and the lower part 7. In other words again, the wall 4 rests on the upper part 6 and the upper part 6 rests on the lower part 7.

[0022] The upper part 6 is commonly made of reinforced concrete, or similar material, with a first height H1 of approximately 50 cm, within + / - 10%, and a width L of approximately 50 cm, within + / - 10%. The upper part 6 notably includes a square section.

[0023] The lower part 7 advantageously comprises a pile of pebbles 8a which is housed within a casing 9, made of a preferably impermeable material, such as a geotextile or similar material. The casing 9 thus forms a containment enclosure for the pile of pebbles 8a and for water 8b which fills the gaps in the pile of pebbles 8a. Therefore, the upper part 6 does not rest on the clay soil 3 but on the lower part 7, which is stable during variations in rainfall and does not undergo a contraction-expansion phase during periods of excessive or insufficient rainfall.

[0024] The envelope 9 is provided with a water supply channel 10 8b which equips an upper area 9a of the envelope 9. The water supply channel 10 8b therefore extends between a water inlet 9b 8b and a water source 11, such as a rainwater downpipe equipping building 2.

[0025] The casing 9 is provided with a drainage channel 12 through which excess water 8b inside the casing 9 is discharged when the casing 9 is full of water 8b and the supply channel 10 is supplying water 8b, particularly during storms occurring in the dry season. The drainage channel 12 extends between a water discharge 12a 8b and a rainwater drainage network 13. The discharge 12a is preferably located in the upper area 9a of the casing 9.

[0026] The envelope 9 includes a lid 14 which overhangs the pile of pebbles 8.

[0027] The lower part 7 thus forms a water reservoir 8b which is constantly water supply 8b is replenished via the water supply channel 10 8b. Thus, the upper part 6 rests on a water reservoir 8b and piles of pebbles 8a which together form a stabilizer for the building 2 embedded in clay soil 3.

[0028] The lower part 7 extends over a second height H2, which is approximately 30 cm, within + / - 10%, and over the width L, which is approximately 50 cm, within + / - 10%. The upper part 6 includes, in particular, a rectangular section.

[0029] The foundation 1 comprises a waterproof plastic sheet 15, in particular made of polyethylene, which is U-shaped, a base 15a of which is interposed between the part upper 6 and lower part 7, and of which branches 15b are arranged on either side of the upper zone 6. These arrangements are intended to protect the upper part 6 against rising moisture.

[0030] A method for setting up such a foundation 1 advantageously comprises a first phase comprising placing the envelope 9 in a trench, a second phase comprising filling the envelope 9 with the pile of pebbles 8, a third phase comprising connecting the supply channel 10 and the evacuation channel 12 to the envelope 9, a fourth phase comprising folding down the cover 14 for closing the envelope 9, a fifth phase comprising placing the waterproof plastic sheet 15 at least against the cover 14 and a sixth phase comprising pouring the upper area 6 on the base 15a of the waterproof plastic sheet 15 and between the branches 15b of the waterproof plastic sheet 15.

Claims

Demands

1. Foundation (1) of a building (2) comprising an upper part (6) made of reinforced concrete, characterized in that the foundation (1) comprises a lower part (7) comprising an envelope (9) housing a pile of pebbles (8a) and water (8b).

2. Foundation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelope (9) comprises a geotextile.

3. Foundation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the envelope (9) is provided with a water supply channel (10) (8b).

4. Foundation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the envelope (9) is provided with a water drainage channel (12) (8b).

5. Foundation (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the supply channel (10) and the discharge channel (12) equip an upper area (9a) of the envelope (9).

6. Foundation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foundation (1) comprises at least one waterproof plastic sheet (15) interposed between the upper part (6) and the lower part (7).

7. Foundation (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the waterproof plastic sheet (15) is U-shaped, of which a base (15a) is interposed between the upper part (6) and the lower part (7), and branches (15b) are arranged on either side of the upper part (7).

8. Building (2) comprising at least one foundation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A method for installing a foundation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the foundation (1) comprising an upper part (6), a lower part (7) and at least one waterproof plastic sheet (15) interposed between the upper part (6) and the lower part (7), the lower part (7) comprising a casing (9) housing at least one pile of pebbles (8), the casing (9) being provided with a water supply channel (10) (8b) and a water discharge channel (12) (8b), the casing (9) comprising a cover (14), characterized in that the method comprises a first phase comprising installing the casing (9) in a trench, a second phase comprising filling the envelope (9) with the pile of pebbles (8), a third phase comprising connecting the supply channel (10) and the discharge channel (12) to the envelope (9), a fourth phase comprising folding down the cover (14) to close the envelope (9), a fifth phase comprising placing the waterproof plastic sheet (15) at least against the cover (14) and a sixth phase comprising pouring the upper area (6) onto a base (15a) of the waterproof plastic sheet (15) and between branches (15b) of the waterproof plastic sheet (15).