Case Study on Planning and Execution of Residential Building on Complex Hilly Terrain: Sustainable Perspective

Abstract

This paper depicts a sustainable approach for the safe and cost-effective construction and design of foundations at Devannapet village, Hasanparthy Mandal of Warangal, Telangana State, India. Owing to the uneven topography of the site, the residential building was proposed to be constructed at a relatively higher slope compared to the road level. The uneven distribution of the soil stratum necessitated the adoption of novel and sustainable site-specific foundation technique. To meet the sustainability criteria, the excessive material obtained from the site during the leveling was utilized as construction material (filling, drainage, and as a component in concrete mix design) and in the design of stone masonry earth retaining structure at the downstream side. The engineering philosophy behind designing such a foundation has been discussed in detail in this paper relying on cost–benefit analysis for various components of the foundation. The seepage and drainage problems at the foundation level have been discussed. The details of reinforcements, stability checks, and the resultant design have been discussed in detail in this manuscript. The sustainable method employed in this article will assist the practicing engineers in designing cost-effective foundations for residential buildings when similar terrains are encountered.