VisualFoundation 12.0
VisualFoundation-mat foundations, combined footings, and pile caps. Get Smart Design of Concrete Footings.
Engineers Rest on VisualFoundation
Use this focused tool for an easier and more powerful way to model foundations. General FEA tools (like VisualAnalysis) can do a lot, but this is faster and smarter about the foundation-specific engineering.

Sketch Boundaries
Draw or import foundation geometry quickly. Mat (or raft) foundations are easy.

Define Components
Place walls, grade beams, columns, and pile supports. Powerful editing tools help you get the job done quickly.

Apply Loads Easily
Point and click load application that is flexible and clear.

Get Stability Checks
The software automatically checks for stability in each load combination.

Covers Punching Shear
Punching boundaries around columns or piles or walls are determined for you. Overlapped punching areas are combined and checked.

Make Smart Designs
Both ACI 318 and CSA A23.3 concrete checks are provided for the slab, beams and column-piers. Pile structural checks too.

Building Codes & Material Specifications
IBC, ASCE 7 or NBC load combinations (customizable)
Concrete: ACI 318-19 or CSA A23.3-19 (also older versions)
Steel Piles: AISC360-16; CSA S16-19
Wood Piles: NDS 2018

Modeling
Mat foundation (raft) analysis and design.
Pile cap analysis and design
Complex mat boundaries, including circular and polygonal templates
Generate copies of modeling elements using rectangular or circular patterns
New! Use the command-line to create scripts
Multiple mat thicknesses or soil properties
Holes in mats
Combined footings
Isolated footings (QuickFooting is specific to this purpose)
Wall footings
Concrete walls, grade beams (for loading or stiffness)
Columns (for loading, punching shear)
Pile supports (steel, wood, or concrete)
Pile stiffness control
Automated FEA mesh generation
Control mesh refinement near piers and piles
Automated soil compression spring stiffness
Sophisticated thick-plate finite element formulation
Import & export DXF files
Import & export with VisualAnalysis

Loads and Load Combinations
Customizable load combinations
Streamlined seismic load combinations
Uniform or linear area loads, rectangular or circular
Circular and rectangular "ring" loads
Overturning or uplift loads
Column loads, axial and moments
Linear beam loads
Wall loads, axial and moments

Stability Checks
Checks for overall horizontal sliding forces
Plots and checks bearing pressures
Overturning checks on the footing
Seismic overturning reduction per ASCE 7 12.13.4

Strength Checks
Slab shear plotted and checked
Column and column-group punching shear checks
Wall punching shear design checks
Pile support and group punching shear checks
Pile capacity limits are checked for tension or compression
Grade beams are checked for shear and moment

Design Features
Single or double layer of slab reinforcement
Size each layer of slab steel
Reinforcing bar patterns
Specify punching shear reinforcement
Design of piers (pedestals) for combined loads
Structural design of piles (wood, concrete or steel)
Grade-beam checks and reinforcement
Pile sliding resistance may be specified
Override for column or pile punching perimeter
Override for minimum mat reinforcement
Export to VisualAnalysis for more complicated tasks
Import from VisualAnalysis includes project criteria settings and wall reactions

Reporting
Post-analysis statics check reports are now available
Average bearing pressure value is calculated for the entire footing
Full-color reporting for a professional look and easy reading
Slab and grade-beam moment and shear diagrams
New! Plate moment and shear diagrams
Preview the report before printing
Customize what items are included in the report
Easy export to .xls, .docx, or .pdf file
Print one-page graphic summaries