Vierendeel Superstructure.

The single-storey reinforced concrete (r.c.) frame structure shown in Fig. 1.3 was founded in soft ground liable to excessive sagging/differential settlement. Two main solutions were investigated:

(1) Normal r.c. superstructure founded on deep, stiff, heavily reinforced strip footings.

(2) Stiffer superstructure, to act as a Vierendeel truss and thus in effect becoming a stiff beam, with the foundation beam acting as the bottom boom of the truss.

The  truss solution (2) showed significant savings in construction costs and time.

Fig. 1.3 Stiff footing versus Vierendeel truss.