Foundation practice and design in Brazil: a brief review of past and future developments

Abstract

Brazilian experience in the design and execution of foundations to support superstructures of distinct sorts goes way back to the early colonial period of the XVI century, a few years after the discovery of this land (Katinsky, 1994). Since then, the geotechnical technology related to such constructions has been considerably upgraded and expanded to new system types. The present manuscript aims to briefly review some key aspects of the foundation practice in Brazil during its last decades of development, from the mid-20th century to the present daytime. It does not intend to make a state-of-the-art of the subject but rather highlights the most interesting and relevant points in this evolutionary process of design and construction techniques. Prospective or future foundation technologies will also be envisaged. Given space limitations, it will definitively be narrowed, absent or eventually unfair in some topics or comments. Still, it will serve to highlight the importance of this particular field in the context of the special celebration issue of the 75 years of the Brazilian Soil Mechanics Association. It has been collectively written by some of the most experienced and renowned practitioners and researchers of the Brazilian geotechnical society, despite the absence of so many high-quality others that could equally be present herein. Time and space, unfortunately, have deprived this manuscript of a broader participation and scope.