Hydrostatic Pressure Basement Wall

As the rain seeps into the ground the water table rises because the ground is unable to soak up all the water.

Hydrostatic pressure basement wall.

M max maximum moment in the basement wall nm the position of the max. It s like taking a bucket and forcing it into a swimming pool. Hydrostatic pressure refers to a water pressure and is a major cause of basement water problems. Four feet of water exerts nearly 300 pounds of pressure per square foot of wall and a basement footing with ten feet of saturated soil above it must withstand 600 pounds per square foot.

D m 0 42 h s 2e example earth pressure on basement wall. Properly designed and constructed footing and foundation walls are often strong enough to hold up against the forces of nature for many years. Hydrostatic pressure on the walls also pushes water vapor through the porous concrete of your home where the drier air inside of your basement sucks it up and makes your basement air more humid. This rising water table creates hydrostatic pressure against your foundation and the pressurized water will find every little crack chink and hole in your foundation walls and floor and make its way into your basement.

Hydrostatic pressure can easily drive groundwater into the basement through gaps and cracks in the masonry. Hydrostatic pressure is a major cause of basement water problems potentially causing leaks or worse cracking and bowing of the foundation but it can be fixed and even prevented. When you touch a concrete wall it s hard to believe that water can pass through it. Hydrostatic pressure can also result from water that is already in the soil i e.

If your house is located near a large water body for example the water table in the ground is likely to be very high. Hydrostatic pressure is a natural force that can move rocks buckle walls and cause havoc with your concrete but it does not explain every instance of water intrusion in concrete. The level of ground water. High water pressure can also cause seepage through solid concrete.

The pull of gravity against standing water is relentless causing the water to push and push hard against anything that restricts its flow. Water weighs slightly more than 60lbs. Moment in the basement wall can be calculated as. The amount of hydrostatic pressure exerted on your basement walls will depend on the water table i e.

The maximum moment acting in the basement wall can be calculated as. M max 0 128 f a h s 2c where. Don williams vice president of engineering at blue angel pumps says it s physics.