Q. Illustrate the Purpose of pedestals?

When structural steel works are connected to foundation, pedestals are generally designed to carry loads from metal columns through ground surface to the footings that are located below the ground surface. With the installation of pedestals, it's the pedestals, in place of metals, that come into contact with soils. Purpose of the provision of pedestals is to evade the direct contact of metal columns with soils that can cause possible metal corrosion by soils. Soils around the pedestals must be properly compacted to provide sufficient lateral resistance to prevent buckling of pedestals.

Fig: Pedestal