Machine Foundation Design

The machine foundation, which houses the components of a power

plant, is one of the most critical structures within the facility. It provides

essential structural support and stability to ensure the overall safety and

efficient operation of the components. A well-planned and properly calculated

machine foundation enables the diesel generator and other equipment of

############ to perform effectively.

In addition to its effectiveness and efficiency in supporting the

########## components, the machine foundation also offers significant

space for maintenance and other activities within the facility. Furthermore,

since the operation of ########## components generates substantial

vibrations, it is essential to have a foundation that can withstand these

pressures. This emphasizes the importance of a carefully designed and

calculated machine foundation.

To successfully design the machine foundation of the ########### of

Ipil Ormoc City, the soil type of the project site was determined. As

mentioned, and concluded in the study conducted by Armecin et al. (2011),

the location has a mixture of sandy loam and clay giving an approximate safe

bearing power of 19.5 tonnes/m2 from Table 4-4 (Morse, 1953) which is the

max value for clay, soft soil and minimum for the sandy soil. Lastly, for the

concrete mixture, the standard mixture value from Table 4-1 which is 1:3:5 will

be employed.
Machine Foundation Calculation

To calculate the machine foundation of ########, the following

specifications of the chosen engine unit, together with the formulas and

standard values from the book, Power Plant Engineering by Frederick T.

Morse, will be utilized. Moreover, the calculation will be conducted for open

type diesel generators.

Open Type Diesel Generator

Prime Power

Unit 1: 18.4 kW Multi-cylinder Diesel Engine Generator

Specifications:

Height = 1130 mm or 1.13 mm

Length = 2250 mm or 2.25 m

Width = 730 mm or 0.73 m

Operating Weight = 748 kg

In calculating the weight of the foundation, it is necessary to have a

value of power in terms of bmhp. However, for this instance, since we don’t

have the required value, we will first utilize the given power in kW and convert

it into bmhp. In doing so, the following formula will be utilized.

P=18.4 kW ( 0.736 kW )
1 bmhp
=25 bmhp

After getting the required bmhp, the next process is to determine the

weight of foundation by utilizing the given values in table 4-5, wherein the

equivalent weight of multi-cylinder diesel engine is 570 kg/bmhp.

 Wf = ( 570
bmhp )
kg
( 25bmhp )=14250 kg

Considering that the type of soil in VSU is a mixture of sandy loam and

clay, we can use the value of 19.5 tonnes/m 2 as provided in table 4-4, Safe

Bearing Power of Soils.

tonnes
Sb=19.5 or 19.5x103kg/m2
m2

For the width and length of foundation, an additional 0.3 m will be

applied for clearance and allowance purposes.

Length of foundation = 0.5588 m + 0.3 = 2.55 m

Width of foundation = 0.381 m + 0.3 = 1.03 m

Since the width at the top of the foundation is already known, we can
then proceed in determining the width at the bottom through the use of the
following formula.
s b Wm+W f
= + fb
2 bL

Flexure Formula: fb
3
Mx Wm L
fb= > M= x e > x= > I = b h
I 3 2 12

Wm 730 kg
M= x e= x 1 m=243.33 kg−m
3 3

L 2.55 m
x= = =1.275 m
2 2

3 3
bh 1.03 m(2.55 m)
I= =¿ =1.423 m4
12 12

Mx 243.33 kg−m(1.275 m)
fb= = 4
=218.022 kg /m2
I 1.423 m

Calculating for the bottom width of the foundation, b

 s b Wm+W f
= + fb
2 bL
2
19500 kg/m 730 kg+14250 kg 2
= +218.022 kg /m
2 b (1.03 m)

b = 1.49 m

Volume of foundation

To calculate the volume of foundation, the only thing to do is divide the

weight of foundation by the density of concrete which is 2403 kg/m3

Wf 14250 kg
Vf = = =5.93m3
y 2403 kg /m3

Height of foundation

Since b>a, then the foundation is in trapezoidal shape, therefore, to

solve for the height of the foundation, the trapezoidal method will be used.

Vf= ( a+b2 )hL=( 1.03+1.49

2 ) h ( 2.25)
h=¿2.09 m

Overall Dimensions:

Top: 2.55 m x 1.03 m

Bottom: 2.55 m x 1.49 m
Height: 2.09 m

In building a machine foundation, it is necessary to also include the

computation for the amount and number of cements, sand, stone, form

lumber, and steel bars that will be needed. In doing so, the mixture of 1:3:5

from table 4-1 of Power Plant Engineering book will be utilized.

Cement = 6.2 sacks

6.2 sack of cement

3
( 5.93 m3 )=36.766 sacks of cement
1 m of concrete
Sand = 0.52 m3
 3
0.52 m of sand (
5.93 m )=3.0836 m of sand
3 3
3
1m of concrete
Stone = 0.86 m3
3
0.86 m of stone (
5.93 m ) =5.0998 m of stone
3 3
3
1m of concrete

Form Lumber Calculation

Diagonal=
√( 2 )
b−a 2 2
+h =
√( 1.49 m−1.03 m 2
2 )
+2.09 m2

Diagonal=0.23 m

Total Surface Area

Tsa=2 ( Diagonal ) ( L ) +2 ( 0.5 )( a+ b ) ( h )

Tsa=2 ( 0.23 m ) (2.55 m) +2 ( 0.5 ) ( 1.03 m+ 1.49 m) ( 2.09 m )

2
Tsa=6.44 m

Form Lumber = 7 m2

Number of Steel Bars

Weight of the steel ¯¿ 0.01(Wf )

Weight of the steel ¯¿ 0.01(14250 kg)

Weight of the steel ¯¿ 142.5 kg

Weight of each steel ¯

¿ 0.688 lb/ft ¿

Converting lb. to kg:

¯ kg
0.454
13.76 lb /steel ( )=6.247 kg/ steel ¯¿
1lb

¯¿
Number of steel bars=total weight of steel ¿
142.5 kg
weight of each steel ¯¿ = ¿
6.247 kg/ steel ¯¿ ¿

Number of steel bars=23 steel bars