Foundation structure for constructions

1 . A foundation structure for constructions comprising:

a footing structure, which is designed to be buried to transfer and releasing stresses of a superstructure of a construction to the ground, and

mechanical connection elements firmly fastened to said footing structure to be able to structurally fasten the superstructure of the construction to said footing structure,

wherein:

said footing structure is mostly defined by a gabion structure filled with inert material and designed to be placed in a foundation excavation, to thereby define a dry foundation system substantially free of any mass casting;

said gabion structure comprises an upper side, designed to face the superstructure to be supported, which forms a closing panel of said gabion structure;

said mechanical connection elements are firmly fastened to said gabion structure and project upwards from said upper side of said gabion structure;

the foundation structure comprising two or more of said gabion structure that are independent of each other, wherein:

each of said two or more gabion structures has respective said mechanical connection elements firmly fastened thereto by means of respective tie rods and/or metal rings and

said respective mechanical connection elements of said two or more gabion structures are rigidly fastened to a bracing beam such that said two or more gabion structures form a substantially monolithic unit, wherein said respective mechanical connection elements structurally form hinge fasteners interposed between each of said two or more gabion structures and said bracing beam,

wherein:

said two or more gabion structures are aligned with each other in a first direction and the respective mechanical connection elements of said two or more gabion structures are rigidly fastened by said bracing beam extending in said first direction;

said foundation structure comprises a second plurality of two or more gabion structures extending in aligned relationship in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, wherein the respective mechanical connection elements of said gabion structures of said second plurality of said two or more gabion structures are rigidly fastened by a second bracing beam extending in said second direction; and

said bracing beam and said second bracing beam are rigidly connected to each other.

2 . A foundation structure for constructions comprising:

a footing structure, which is designed to be buried to transfer and releasing stresses of a superstructure of a construction to the ground; and

mechanical connection elements firmly fastened to said footing structure to be able to structurally fasten the superstructure of the construction to said footing structure;

wherein:

said footing structure is mostly defined by a gabion structure filled with inert material and designed to be placed in a foundation excavation, to thereby define a dry foundation system substantially free of any mass casting;

said gabion structure comprises an upper side, designed to face the superstructure to be supported, which forms a closing panel of said gabion structure;

said mechanical connection elements are firmly fastened to said gabion structure and project upwards from said upper side of said gabion structure;

wherein said mechanical connection elements are firmly fastened to said gabion structure by means of tie rods and/or metal rings; and

wherein said tie rods engage said gabion structure with a first end, wherein:

said first end of said tie rods engages a lower portion of said gabion structure; and/or

said first end of said tie rods defines a hook portion, a folded portion or a flange to be held in position by said gabion structure and/or by the inert material above said first end of said tie rods.

3 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said metal rings are rings made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

4 . A foundation structure for constructions comprising:

a footing structure, which is designed to be buried to transfer and releasing stresses of a superstructure of a construction to the ground; and

mechanical connection elements firmly fastened to said footing structure to be able to structurally fasten the superstructure of the construction to said footing structure;

wherein:

said footing structure is mostly defined by a gabion structure filled with inert material and designed to be placed in a foundation excavation, to thereby define a dry foundation system substantially free of any mass casting;

said gabion structure comprises an upper side, designed to face the superstructure to be supported, which forms a closing panel of said gabion structure;

said mechanical connection elements are firmly fastened to said gabion structure and project upwards from said upper side of said gabion structure;

wherein said mechanical connection elements comprise:

a base plate having a predetermined thickness and designed to be fastened to said footing structure,

a bracing beam designed to act as a support for the superstructure,

a connecting bar having a lower end fastened to said base plate and a distal end fastened to said bracing beam by adjustable fastening means, to thereby allow adjustment of a distance of said distal end from said lower end, and

a hardened layer made of a hardenable material said connecting bar being at least partially embedded therein,

said hardened layer contacting said bracing beam and said base plate to cooperate with said connecting bar in transferring and distributing loads from said bracing beam to said base plate.

5 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said lower end of said connecting bar comprises a stem and a head radially projecting out of said stem.

6 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said connecting bar projects upwards from said base plate over a section comprising said distal end.

7 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

said base plate comprises a through hole extending from an upper side facing said bracing beam to an opposite lower side;

said through hole is of such a size as to avoid any interference with the stem of said connecting bar and any interference with the head of said connecting bar and

said connecting bar is introduced into said through hole from said lower side until said head abuts a portion of the lower side of said base plate.

8 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 7 , wherein:

the lower side of said base plate comprises a housing seat received in the thickness of said base plate for embedding said head of said connecting bar, and

said housing seat is closed by a closing plate once said connecting bar is inserted in said through hole.

9 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said base plate comprises additional through holes which define air vents to provide fluid communication of said housing seat with the upper side of the base plate when said head of said connecting bar abuts the lower side of said base plate.

10 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said base plate is a reinforced concrete sleeper.

11 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said base plate is a reinforced concrete sleeper, and said connecting bar:

is embedded in said reinforced concrete sleeper over a first section from said lower end and

projects out of said reinforced concrete sleeper by one end section comprising said distal end.

12 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said base plate comprises said closing panel of said gabion structure embedded therein.

13 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:

said connecting bar is a threaded bar and

said adjustable fastening means comprise a nut and a lock nut mounted in screw engagement on said threaded bar to clamp a portion of said bracing beam therebetween.

14 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said hardened layer of the hardenable material in which said connecting bar is at least partially embedded consists of a casting of a finishing mortar.

15 . The foundation structure as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:

said base plate comprises holes for the passage of tie rods for fastening said base plate to the footing structure and/or

a plurality of tie rods are provided for fastening said base plate to the footing structure.

16 . A method of making a foundation structure for a constructions, comprising the steps of:

forming a foundation excavation;

making a footing structure for foundations in said foundation excavation and

providing mechanical connection elements firmly fastened to said footing structure to be able to structurally fasten said footing structure to a superstructure of the construction,

wherein said footing structure is mostly defined by a gabion structure filled with inert material and designed to be placed in said foundation excavation, to thereby define a dry foundation system substantially free of any mass casting, wherein said method comprising the steps of:

positioning said gabion structure, filled with inert material, vibrated and closed by a base plate with a connecting bar installed, in said foundation excavation and

mechanically connecting said gabion structure to a bracing beam designed to act as a support for the superstructure, by said mechanical connection elements;

wherein said foundation structure is a foundation structure having the footing structure, which is designed to be buried to transfer and release stresses of the superstructure of the construction to the ground, and the mechanical connection elements are firmly fastened to said footing structure to be able to structurally fasten the superstructure of the construction to said footing structure, wherein the gabion structure comprises an upper side, designed to face the superstructure to be supported, which forms a closing panel of the gabion structure and the mechanical connection elements are firmly fastened to said gabion structure and project upwards from said upper side of said gabion structure;

wherein said step of mechanically connecting said gabion structure to the bracing beam by the mechanical connection elements comprises the steps of:

providing said base plate having the connecting bar inserted in a through hole and a housing seat closed by the closing panel;

placing said base plate over said gabion structure;

fastening said base plate to said gabion structure by means of tie rods;

providing the bracing beam in a desired position and at a desired height, by supporting the bracing beam with a temporary auxiliary support structure;

firmly fastening said connecting bar to said bracing beam by acting on an adjustable fastening means, until a head of said connecting bar abuts against a lower side of said base plate, and

casting a hardenable material into a formwork until it reaches at least a lower height of said bracing beam.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said step of mechanically connecting said gabion structure to the bracing beam is carried out by said mechanical connection elements, and includes the steps of:

providing the base plate having the connecting bar embedded therein;

placing said base plate over said gabion structure;

fastening said base plate to said gabion structure by means of tie rods and/or metal rings;

providing the bracing beam in a desired position and at a desired height, temporarily supporting the bracing beam with an auxiliary support structure;

firmly fastening said connecting bar to said bracing beam by acting on an adjustable fastening means, until a head of said connecting bar abuts against a lower side of said base plate, and

providing a formwork above said base plate in an area surrounding said connecting bar and

casting a hardenable material, into said formwork until it reaches at least a lower height of said bracing beam.