A raft or mat foundation consists of a large concrete slab or a slab and beam system resting on soil or rock and supporting all the loads through a number of columns or walls.
Define mat or raft.
Raft definition a more or less rigid floating platform made of buoyant material or materials.
Raft foundation is also known as mat foundation.
Mat definition a piece of fabric made of plaited or woven rushes straw hemp or similar fiber or of some other pliant material as rubber used as a protective covering on a floor or other surface to wipe the shoes on etc.
Raft slab of uniform thickness is very popular because of simplicity in design construction.
Definition of raft foundation along with working principle when to choose raft types of raft foundation materials of raft foundation raft construction steps etc are discussed below.
According to aci committee 336 mat foundation is continuous footing that supports several rows of columns in either direction covering at least 3 4th of total assembly area of columns outer parameter having shape like slab with without opening or.
The raft foundation is a very commonly used type of foundation system.