Skip to main content

Simulating Foundation Collapse from Excessive Pressure

1:35
2:11
1.1M views

At 1:35 in

Learn about hydrostatic pressure, forms and your basement. #learn #concrete #basement #formwork

What happens here

To dramatically illustrate the impact of excessive pressure, the presenter simulates 'soil pressure' on the concrete foundation model by striking it with a tool. The model quickly breaks apart, visually representing how a real foundation can fail under extreme external forces, leading to structural compromise and leaks.

Goal: Provide a visual demonstration of the destructive potential of hydrostatic or soil pressure on a foundation.

Tools and materials

  • Concrete foundation model — Used to demonstrate foundation failure
  • Hammer — Applying force to the model to simulate pressure

What they say

Hide

splits in your block and this can cause your wall to bow. These cracks can also allow water through them. It'll go through and drain down your wall. This is why you want good grade and to extend your gutters out so the water will stay away. Let's demonstrate what happens when you get too much soil pressure. Water pressure is determined by column height, not by volume. A smaller tube will push out as much water as a bigger tube, but the bigger tube can keep the stream longer. Same size hole and same column height of water.

Auto-generated from the video audio.