Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences

Review of methods to enhance the geotechnical and structural capacity of existing footings

Document Type : Review Paper

Authors

Mustafa H. Al-Asady 1
Alaa M. Al-Khekany 1
Saif Alzabeebee 2, 3
Rwayda S. Al-Hamd 4

1 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq.

2 Department of Roads and Transport Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq.

3 College of Engineering, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Karbala, Iraq.

4 Department of Civil Engineering and Management School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

https://doi.org/10.30772/qjes.2026.163701.1678
Abstract
Enhancing and retrofitting existing structural components is a critical process that aims to restore or improve the performance, safety, and durability of constructions. Foundations in particular can be susceptible to damage, failures, or differential settlements for a number of different reasons, including improper design parameters, lack of soil investigations, additional weights produced by story extensions, lateral loads resulting from seismic events, or changes to the structure’s purposes post-construction. Thus, the need for effective and economic strengthening methods is essential. Available techniques used to increase the structural and geotechnical foundation capacity are discussed in detail in this review paper. The geotechnical underpinning techniques involve soil improvements by piling, micro-piling, grouting, helical piers, and geosynthetic reinforcements, as well as structural enhancement approaches including concrete jacketing and footing enlargement. In terms of geotechnical improvement, micropiles were found to be the most effective in enhancing and stabilizing the foundation, and helical piers were the fastest and easiest to install in the soil. On the other hand, enlarging the footing offered better load distribution and enhancement to the shear capacity.

Highlights

  • Reviews current methods for strengthening existing building foundations.
  • Compares geotechnical and structural foundation strengthening techniques.
  • Micropiles provide the most versatile solution for foundation enhancement.
  • Helical piers offer rapid installation with limited ground disturbance.
  • Footing enlargement improves load distribution and increases structural capacity.

Keywords

Foundation strengthening
Footing enlargement
Geosynthetic
Helical piers
Underpinning
Crossmark
Subjects
  •  M. M. E. Zumrawi and H. K. E. Aldawi, “A study on strengthening of building foundation for storey extension,” Journal of Building Materials and Structures,
    vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 218–226, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.34118/jbms.v5i2.60
  • A. I. Polishchuk, I. V. Semyonov, and V. A. Demchenko, “Main reasons for strengthening foundations and base soil stabilizations of used buildings,” Journal
    of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1928, no. 1, p. 012029, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1928/1/012029
  • B. V. Duc, P. D. Tho, N. D. Chieu, and S. Yubonchit, “A case study of the improvement of an old building’s shallow foundation resting on sandy clay soil using
    cement slurry grouting technique,” E3S Web of Conferences, vol. 405, p. 04022, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202340504022
  •  D. M. S. Dixit, “Damage mechanism in problematic soils,” International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 232–241, 2016.
  •  V. K. Puri and S. Prakash, “Shallow foundations for seismic loads: Design considerations,” Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Case Histories
    in Geotechnical Engineering, 2013.
  •  M. Makarchian, “Review of underpinning methods,” Proceedings of the Engineering Geology and the Environment, pp. 3203–3212, 1997.
  • D. Kim, K. Baek, and K. Park, “Analysis of the bearing capacity of helical pile with hexagonal joints,” Materials, vol. 11, no. 10, p. 1890, 2018. [Online].
    Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11101890
  • E. G. Psaroudakis, G. E. Mylonakis, and N. S. Klimis, “Non-linear analysis of axially loaded piles using t–z and q–z curves,” Geotechnical and Geological
    Engineering, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 2293–2302, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-019-00823-2
  •  T. Armour, P. Groneck, J. Keeley, and S. Sharma, “Micropile design and construction guidelines: Implementation manual,” Federal Highway Administration,
    2000.
  • X. Liu, J. Yan, B. Tong, and L. Liu, “Evaluation of micropiles with different configuration settings for landslide stabilization based on large-scale experimental
    testing,” Frontiers in Earth Science, vol. 9, p. 693639, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.693639
  • R. H. Karol, “Chemical grouting and soil stabilization,” CRC Press, 2003. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429213830
  • Q. Chen and M. Abu-Farsakh, “Ultimate bearing capacity analysis of strip footings on reinforced soil foundation,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 55, no. 1, pp.
    74–85, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2014.12.006
  •  H. A. Perko, “Helical piles: A practical guide to design and installation,” Wiley, 2009. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470549063
  • G. G. Meyerhof, “Some recent research on the bearing capacity of foundations,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 16–26, 1963. [Online].
    Available: https://doi.org/10.1139/t63-003
  •  M. Makarchian, “An experimental study of foundation underpinning by piles,” International Journal of Engineering (IJE), vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 11–22, 2002.
  • A. K. Nazir and W. R. Azzam, “Improving the bearing capacity of footing on soft clay with sand pile with/without skirts,” Alexandria Engineering Journal,
    vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 371–377, 2010. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2010.06.002
  • M. A. Samokhvalov, A. A. Paronko, and A. A. Matyukov, “Experimental study results of the strip foundation fragment action underpinned by
    a drill-injection pile with widening low end,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1928, no. 1, p. 012019, 2021. [Online]. Available:
    https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1928/1/012019
  •  A. I. Polischuk and A. A. Petukhov, “Numerical analysis and practical application of methods for strengthening foundations with piles during reconstruction
    process,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1928, no. 1, p. 012069, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1928/1/012069
  • J. Han and S. Ye, “A field study on the behavior of a foundation underpinned by micropiles,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 30–42, 2006.
    [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1139/t05-087
  • J. Han and L. Ye, “A field study on the behavior of micropiles in clay under compression or tension,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 43, no. 1, pp.
    19–29, 2006. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1139/t05-089
  •  T.-H. Hwang, K.-H. Kim, and J.-H. Shin, “Effective installation of micropiles to enhance bearing capacity of micropiled raft,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 57,
    no. 1, pp. 36–49, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2017.01.003
  • H. Abbas, A. Almajed, E. Kotwal, and Y. Al-Salloum, “Bearing capacity enhancement of footings using confining inclined micropiles: Experimental and
    analytical investigation,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 22, p. e04184, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04184
  •  Z. Li and G. Zhang, “Centrifuge model test study on micro-pile reinforcement of shallow foundation,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 63, no. 3, p. 101320, 2023.
    [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2023.101320
  •  W. E. Kamash, H. E. Naggar, P. To, and N. Sivakugan, “The effect of long-term consolidation on foundations underpinned by micropiles in soft clay,” Ain
    Shams Engineering Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 101487, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2021.05.002
  • S.-W. Sun, B.-Z. Zhu, and J.-C. Wang, “Design method for stabilization of earth slopes with micropiles,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 487–497,
    2013. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2013.06.002
  • N. Li, K. He, J. Li, R. Wu, T. Xu, and J. Cao, “Dynamic response and failure mechanisms of micropiles in accumulation landslides under earthquake,”
    Buildings, vol. 15, no. 4, p. 539, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040539
  • W. Yao, J. Pang, and Y. Liu, “An experimental study of portland cement and superfine cement slurry grouting in loose sand and sandy soil,” Infrastructures,
    vol. 3, no. 2, p. 9, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures3020009
  • A. Pinto, R. Tom´asio, and G. Marques, “Ground improvement with jet grouting solutions at the new cruise terminal in lisbon, portugal,” Procedia
    Engineering, vol. 143, pp. 1495–1502, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.176
  • K. G´orski, R. L. Ignatowicz, J. Wierzbicki, R. Mazur, and J. Mazurkiewicz, “The numerical calculations of influence of underpinning on foundations
    settlement,” Studia Geotechnica et Mechanica, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 47–64, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2013-0036
  • G. Modoni and J. Bz´owka, “Analysis of foundations reinforced with jet grouting,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 138,
    no. 12, pp. 1442–1454, 2012. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000718
  • A. Chepurnova, “Assessing the influence of jet-grouting underpinning on the nearby buildings,” Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering,
    vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 105–112, 2014. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2014.01.005
  • A. Makowski and B. Pola´nska, “Application of jet grouting technology for the renovation of historic buildings,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol.
    1425, no. 1, p. 012201, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1425/1/012201
  • P. G. A. Njock, J. Chen, G. Modoni, A. Arulrajah, and Y.-H. Kim, “A review of jet grouting practice and development,” Arabian Journal of Geosciences,
    vol. 11, no. 16, p. 459, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3809-7
  • F. B. Gularte, R. A. Griffis, J. E. Kasunich, and T. C. Best, “Case study of compaction grouting for foundation support in karst terrain: Earth and marine sciences
    building, university of california at santa cruz,” GeoJournal, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 291–295, 1993. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00767500
  • K. H. Chin, H. P. Disla, and B. Cote, “Design and construction of compaction grouting for foundation soil improvements,” 7th International Conference on
    Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:114091397
  • A. M. El-Kelesh, T. Matsui, and K. Tokida, “Field investigation into effectiveness of compaction grouting,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental
    Engineering, vol. 138, no. 4, pp. 451–460, 2012. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000540
  • N. Shrivastava and K. Zen, “An experimental study of compaction grouting on its densification and confining effects,” Geotechnical and Geological
    Engineering, vol. 36, no. 2, p. 983–993, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0369-7
  • Shrivastava and Zen, “Finite element modeling of compaction grouting on its densification and confining aspects,” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering,
    vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 2365–2378, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0468-0
  • A. N. El-Attar and A. A. El-Latief, “Performance of square footing on geogrid reinforced soft clay,” Ain Shams Engineering Journal, vol. 15, no. 5, p. 102671,
    2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2024.102671
  • S. Dash, “Bearing capacity of strip footings supported on geocell-reinforced sand,” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 235–256, 2001.
    [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-1144(01)00006-1
  • M. Kazi, S. K. Shukla, and D. Habibi, “An improved method to increase the load-bearing capacity of strip footing resting on geotextile-reinforced sand bed,”
    Indian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 98–109, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-014-0111-9
  • M. N. A. Raja and S. K. Shukla, “Experimental study on repeatedly loaded foundation soil strengthened by wraparound geosynthetic reinforcement technique,”
    Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 899–911, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2021.02.001
  • G. M. Latha and A. Somwanshi, “Bearing capacity of square footings on geosynthetic reinforced sand,” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, vol. 27, no. 4, pp.
    281–294, 2009. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2009.02.001
  • A. Demir, A. Yildiz, M. Laman, and M. Ornek, “Experimental and numerical analyses of circular footing on geogrid-reinforced granular fill underlain by soft
    clay,” Acta Geotechnica, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 711–723, 2014. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-013-0207-x
  • D. M. Carlos, M. Pinho-Lopes, and M. L. Lopes, “Effect of geosynthetic reinforcement inclusion on the strength parameters and bearing ratio of a fine soil,”
    Procedia Engineering, vol. 143, pp. 34–41, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.005
  • A. Mohajerani, D. Bosnjak, and D. Bromwich, “Analysis and design methods of screw piles: A review,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 115–128,
    2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.01.009
  • M. Elkasabgy and M. H. E. Naggar, “Axial compressive response of large-capacity helical and driven steel piles in cohesive soil,” Canadian Geotechnical
    Journal, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 224–243, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2012-0331
  • V. Venkatesan and M. Mayakrishnan, “Behavior of mono helical pile foundation in clays under combined uplift and lateral loading conditions,” Applied
    Sciences, vol. 12, no. 14, p. 6827, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/app12146827
  • Y. Bian, T. C. Hutchinson, D. Wilson, D. Laefer, and S. Brandenberg, “Experimental investigation of grouted helical piers for use in
    foundation rehabilitation,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 134, no. 9, pp. 1280–1289, 2008. [Online]. Available:
    https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2008)134:9(1280)
  • H. Nagai, T. Tsuchiya, and M. Shimada, “Influence of installation method on performance of screwed pile and evaluation of pulling resistance,” Soils and
    Foundations, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 355–369, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2018.02.006
  • S. D. Turkane, A. V. Navale, and H. N. P. Channa, “Performance behavior of soil plasticity for fly ash-based geopolymer: A flexible pavement material,”
    Discover Civil Engineering, vol. 2, p. 207, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-025-00366-x
  • M. A. Fouda, M. Elkateb, T. Elkateb, and A. Khalil, “Experimental investigation of rc footings resting on sand strengthened with concrete jacketing,”
    Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal, vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 133–142, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.25046/aj050615
  • M. A. Fouda, A. Ibrahim, M. El-Kateb, T. Elkateb, and A. Khalil, “Numerical investigation for strengthened rc footings with square concrete jacketing,” Case
    Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 16, p. e00807, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00807
  • G. E. Thermou and A. S. Elnashai, “Seismic retrofit schemes for rc structures and local-global consequences,” Progress in Structural Engineering and
    Materials, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2006. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1002/pse.208
  • X. Lu and R. S. Aboutaha, “Structural strengthening of square spread footings using circular external prestressing,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 31,
    p. 101344, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101344
  • M. S. Saiidi, D. Sanders, and S. Acharya, “Seismic retrofit of spread footings supporting bridge columns with short dowels,” Construction and Building
    Materials, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 177–185, 2001. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0950-0618(00)00046-5
  • G. T. Truong, K.-K. Choi, and H.-S. Kim, “Punching-shear behaviors of rc-column footings with various reinforcement and strengthening details,”
    Engineering Structures, vol. 151, pp. 282–296, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.08.037
  • R. C. Rogers, “Modifying existing foundations to carry additional load,” Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, vol. 5, no. 3, pp.
    115–121, 2000. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0680(2000)5:3(115)
  • T. D. Saunders, J. A. Cahill, D. I. Mclean, M. L. Marsh, and C. L. Ho, “Seismic retrofitting of bridge substructures,” Transportation Research Record, pp.
    37–47, 1995. [Online]. Available: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:108201432
  • N. R. El-Sakhawy, T. N. Salem, A. A. Al-Tuhamy, and A. A. El-Latief, “Behavior of circular and square footings resting on sand soil,” The Egyptian
    International Journal of Engineering Sciences and Technology, vol. 21, pp. 24–32, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.21608/eijest.2016.97182
Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 294-300

  • Receive Date 15 February 2025
  • Revise Date 20 April 2025
  • Accept Date 30 July 2026

Submit Manuscript

Guide for Authors

Article Processing Charges (APC)

Reviewers

Call for Reviewers

Contact Us