Engineering Commons^™

Seismic Evaluation, Soil-Cement Mix Wall And Outlet Pipe Installation, Ivins Bench Dam, Utah, Russell L. Owens

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

An inspection of Ivins Bench dam and reservoir was performed following a 5.8 magnitude (M_w) earthquake in southern Utah. Sand was observed flowing from the drainage collection system and the Utah Division of Dam Safety requested that the reservoir be drained and the embankment repaired. Dames & Moore evaluated the liquefaction potential of the embankment and concluded that the embankment was not suitable for maximum storage. A repair concept using a soil-cement mix wall was developed and a dynamic stability analysis was performed using the computer program PLAC. The dynamic analysis indicated that the soil-cement wall would improve …

A Slope Instability Case History Involving Swelling Clay In Southern Brazil, L. A. Bressani, A. V. D. Bica, W. Y. Y. Gehling, M. R. Bianchini

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper describes a slope instability case history involving swelling clay. A 9-m high slope was cut in 3 sedimentary layers during the construction of a single-carriage road. A complex slope failure mechanism was identified during site investigation, consisting of: (a) a progressive surficial degradation, particularly of the lower swelling clay layer. (b) a deep-seated slope failure, and (c) the toppling failure of the upper stronger layers. Site investigation included SPT testing, undisturbed sampling and in situ suction measurement. Laboratory testing consisted of: (a) soil characterization by X-ray diffraction analysis, particle-size analysis and Atterberg limits tests; (b) evaluation of effective …

A Study On Prediction Of Improvement Of Watertightness Of Rock Mass By Grouting, Isao Nagayama, Yosuke Niitaka, Michio Ota, Masahiko Yamashita

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Grouting is a principal technique to improve watertightness of the foundation of dams. But it is not easy to predict the amount of grouting work until attaining the required improvement of watertightness of rock mass, since the improvement mechanism of watertightness by grouting is not understood comprehensively. Therefore, the grouting work is conducted with the split spacing method until attaining the required improvement. In this paper, the method to predict the effects of grouting is discussed analyzing grouting data obtained from the Hattabara Dam construction site. As the result or the analysis, it is understood that the logarithm of the …

The Tale Of Two Slides, W. Ken Beck

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Why do some residential structures slide downhill? This paper illustrates how a residential developer and home builder did not appreciate the geotechnical aspects of developing on a steep hillside, even when the site is within about ¼ mile of a known slide, and previous problems occurred at the site. Due to this indifference, the house in this study was constructed over an apparent previous slide, and destroyed by renewed slope movement. Our study was performed on behalf of the city who maintains both sanitary and storm sewers adjacent to the house. The purpose of our investigation was to determine the …

Use Of Geofabrics For Controlling Landslides − Case Histories, Dipak Mukherjee, Satish Kumar

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Four case histories on erosion and rock fall control by the use of natural and synthetic geogrids are described. Each of the affected area was analysed and treated adopting different techniques of installation of geofabrics mantle as control measures which resulted in significant improvement of slope stability. Treatment also helped in maintaining ecological balance of the hills.

Case History On The Foundation And Site Liquefaction Potential Evaluation For The Renovation Of A One-Hundred Year Old Building, Vassilios K. Magginas

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This case history involves the foundation and site liquefaction potential evaluation for the renovation of a one-hundred-year old building. The subject project is a four story structure with one basement, built of thick masonry walls and supported on shallow foundations. The project site is located in a seismic zone 3 per UBC. The subsurface geology consists of alluvial inter-bedded layers of silt, sand, and clay. Substantial additional loads were considered during the proposed renovation, and thus an extensive study on the foundation and geotechnical aspects of the project were required, including site geology, evaluation of bearing capacity and settlement, evaluation …

Investigation Of Ground Cracking At The Van Gogh Street School, Granada Hills, California, Gerald Kasman, Marshall Lew, Paul Elliott

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The Van Gogh Street School, located in the northern portion of the San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles, suffered damage from the January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake having a moment magnitude of 6.7. The school experienced significant cracking in some of the building walls and asphalt paving. The school, located approximately 7 miles from the epicenter, was within a zone of surface cracking coincident with the east-northeast to northeast trending Mission Hills syncline. There was speculation that either fault rupture, liquefaction and/or seismic settlement may have occurred at the school site.

A geotechnical investigation was performed to …

Morphoseismic Features In The New Madrid Seismic Zone (Central Usa) And Their Implications For Geotechnical Engineering, Ray Knox, David Stewart

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Morphoseismic features arc new landforms produced by earthquakes or pre-existing landforms modified by them. The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) contains thousands of earthquake-related surface features distributed over 13,000 square kilometers. They are attributable to some combination of (1) seismically-induced liquefaction, (2) secondary deformation, and (3) seismically-induced slope failures. Most were produced by the series of great earthquakes that occurred in 1811-12, but some predate and some postdate those events. They are being modified by ongoing activities such a fluvial processes, mass wasting, eolian processes, hydrologically-induced liquefaction (HIL), mechanically-induced liquefaction (MJL), and human activities.

Dynamic responses to ground motion include …

Test Track Low Frequency Vibrations Reducing Measure Near Oosthuizen, Herke G. Stuit

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

At the railway line north of Amsterdam the substructure of the track has been reconstructed to reduce vibrations at lower frequencies. Such a measure is sought for in the western Holland area where people are annoyed by railway traffic vibrations. Over a length of 300 m a 0.45 m thick concrete slab has been installed directly under the ballast layer. The thickness of the concrete plate has been determined by numerical calculations. To be able to compare the effect of the concrete slap a existing track with heavy passenger train traffic a representative weak soil profile has been chosen for …

Vibration Mitigation For Brewery Stockhouse Demolition, William J. Prosser, Thomas J. Mottin, George M. S. Manyando, Gary M. Andruska

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Nineteen thirty's vintage reinforced concrete brewery stockhouses, collectively known as Borsari Cellars, were demolished to make space for the construction of a new stockhouse. (A brewery stockhouse is a refrigerated building containing beer storage or aging tanks.) The stockhouses to be demolished shared three common walls with two other stockhouses which were to remain intact during the demolition. It was necessary that the three shared walls remain attached to the remaining stockhouses and that the demolition take place without causing vibration damage to glass-lined tanks in the remaining stockhouse, adjacent stockhouscs, and to several underground tunnels present below the demolition …

An Anchored Band Bracing System For Deep Excavations In Clay, Linbing Wang

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

An anchored band bracing system was introduced for the bracing of a deep excavation in hard clay with low-level expansion. In this system, stress redistribution was considered to further deduce the thickness of the surfacing shotcrete, global stability was ensured by prestressed anchors and a concrete band for the distribution of the prestress. The bracing system was shown to be cost effective and reliable under certain conditions, it is the first project using prestressed anchors combined with shotcrete for deep excavation bracing in hard clay with low level expansion in P.R. China. In this paper, the design procedure and criteria …

Excavation Behaviour Of Soft Marine Clay Deposit In South Korea, Young-Nam Lee, Seung-Won Lee

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

In this paper, it is demonstrated that the shear strength of soil around jet grouting pile may be increased with the elapsed curing time of grouting cement. Because soil around pile initially experiences the disturbance due to the jet grouting work process, the soil gains the strength as grouting cement is cured and the soil is stabilized. In addition, excavation behaviour of marine clay at sheet pile wall and strut excavation site is analyzed using measured data from inclinometers, load cells, and strain gauges. The time to install supporting system and not only depth to but also area of excavation …

Failure Of Excavation Bracing System For New World Plaza At Changchun In China, M. S. Wang, X. Wu, M. C. Wang

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper presents a case history on the failure of an excavation bracing system. The engineering projects involved the construction of the New World Plaza in Changchun, China. The plaza building had a 3-story deep basement which supported an 8-story building together with a 42-story main tower. The excavation area was surrounded by streets on three sides and an on-going 8-m deep excavation along the fourth side. The excavation varied from 15 m to 16 m in depth and was braced with 157 anchored cast-in-place reinforced concrete piles. The bracing system failed as soon as the design depth was reached. …

Passive Earth Pressure Tests On An Integral Bridge Abutment, Theodore A. Thomas Jr., Alan J. Lutenegger

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Passive loading tests were conducted on a rigid concrete retaining wall to study the effect of wingwall orientation on lateral earth pressure development. Loads were applied at the top of the wall to produce a rotational wall movement. Six tests were conducted (three of which are described herein), two with the wingwalls oriented parallel (0°) to the main wall, and two with the wingwalls oriented at an angle of 45° to the main wall, and two with the wingwalls oriented at an angle of 90° to the main wall. Based on these tests the distribution of passive earth pressure at …

Prediction And Performances Of Short Embedded Cast In-Situ Diaphragm Wall For Deep Excavation In Bangkok Subsoil, Wanchai Teparaksa, Narong Thasnanipan, Aung Win Maung, Wei Shixin

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper presents a case history of performances and predictions of a diaphragm wall which is subject to serve differently from its initial purpose for which the wall was constructed. The updated requirements associated with the additional excavation created a situation whereby the wall would become short embedded and behave like free-end supported wall. As the wall had been already constructed during the time of modification it was only possible to modify the excavation method and bracing system. Accordingly, the wall stability and possible toe movement were analyzed, to accommodate the updated requirements, by using finite element methods. Continuous inclinometer …

Analysis And Performance Of The Natm Excavation Of An Underground Station For The Athens Metro, Michael Kavvadas

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The paper describes the design methods and summarises the results of the analyses for the recent NA TM excavation of an underground station of the Athens Metro. The non-linear finite element calculations show that for the excavation method used (twin side-wall galleries and a central pillar), the settlements at ground surface are very sensitive to the assumed values of the ground properties as well as the excavation sequence and construction details; it is shown that the settlements can be reduced significantly by increasing the number of the excavation stages and the density of the temporary support measures.

Case Histories Of Designing Tunnel Linings In Seismic Regions, Nina N. Fotieva, Nikolay S. Bulychev

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The original approach to the problem of designing tunnel linings upon the seismic effects consisting in the determination of the most unfavourable stress state in the every lining normal section at different combinations and any directions of long longitudinal and shear waves propagating in the plane of the lining cross-section is described in the paper presented. The analytical methods and corresponding computer programs based on that approach have been developed for the design of tunnel linings of an arbitrary cross-section shape, circular linings inducting the multi-layer ones of the complex of parallel mutually influencing tunnels etc. Two case histories of …

Design, Construction And Monitoring For The Excavation Of Shanghai World Plaza, B. Huang, L. Mohammad, Jianming Zhu, Xiaoping Zhu

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The Shanghai World Plaza is a multi-function building located in Shanghai Pudong New Development Area. It is a steel structure with thirty eight stories (199m) above the ground and three stories of basement. The excavation area of this building is 75m by 100m. The depth of the excavation is 16m to 18m (kernel part). The construction site is covered with soft soils up to a depth of 25m. Main streets, pipelines and existing buildings surround the site. The retaining structure employs a diaphragm with 1m in thickness, 30m in depth and 340m in total length. Three levels of H shaped …

Of Sewers, Sinkholes, And Safes: The Investigation Of The Sea Cliff Incident, December 11, 1995, San Francisco, California, Edmund Medley, Christopher Delp

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

On December 11, 1995, a 100-year old brick sewer ruptured in the exclusive Sea Cliff area of San Francisco, during and intense, but not extraordinary rain storm. Storm flow had been constricted by an Overflow Structure 1400 feet downstream of the failure, causing pressurization of the sewer. At the site of the initial failure water was forced through cracks in the sewer wall. Earlier construction of an adit below the brick sewer and the subsequent development of an adjacent sinkhole relaxed the soil confinement, allowing cracks to widen and water to escape. Ultimately, the sewer completely ruptured. Discharge from the …

Field Experiments On Jute Soil Stabilisers, A. K. Gupta, O. P. Yadav, Jai Bhagwan

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The Central Road Research Institute has been constantly working in the area of geotextiles since early 1980s. A number of laboratory studies on evaluation of geotextiles for their suitability for road application, as well as, actual field trials have been carried out by the Institute. Recently, a project was taken up for the development and promotion of jute based geotextiles for road applications. A number of field trials have been carried out using jute based geotextiles for various applications. The paper presents summary of field experiments carried out to improve the soil behavior, improvement in the stability of road side …

A Non Destructive Testing Program For A Group Of Jet Grouting Columns, G. Varosio

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

An extensive soil improvement program was developed for the Vultri Container Terminal, Italy, located on an Hydraulic Reclamation Fill. The Office and Warehouse Building, and the Light Tower foundations were supported by Jet Grouting Columns. A testing program was developed, including coring and nondestructive testing on the columns, to verify the as built conditions. Test results show the difficulties in evaluating Jet Grouting properties with a nondestructive approach, mainly related to the complex geometry of the columns. However, the analysis and the comparison of the wave records provided suggestions on the most effective testing procedures, and on the possibility of …

Performance Prediction And Uses Of Pv Band Drains Under The Embankments On Soft Marine Clays Of Bangkok, Kaushik Mukherjee

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The use of prefabricated vertical (PV) drains for the improvement of soft clays is a widely adopted technique today. Vertical drains arc used to accelerate the consolidation under preloading by taking the advantage of higher rate of horizontal flow of water through the soil. The present paper is aimed at the prediction of the performances shown by the ‘Alidrain’, used in the soft marine clays of Bangkok, in the field under embankment loading and in the laboratory in a in-house designed large scale consolidometer, by using a Finite Element model of the transient, axi-symmetric flow problem considering equal strain. This …

Seismic Retrofitting Using Micropile Systems Centrifugal Model Studies, A. Benslimane, I. Juran, S. Hanna, S. Drabkin, S. Perlo, R. Frank

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

A series of centrifuge tests were conducted on micropile group and network systems in order to investigate the response to earthquake loading and soil-micropile interaction behavior. Model tests on group and network systems embedded in loose to medium dry sand are described. Micropile bending moment, deflection, and acceleration were measured during testing. Dynamic p-y curves were derived from the measurements for low and high levels of shaking and were compared with the backbone p-y curves for sand recommended by API and other published data. Group and network effects were investigated for different configurations and at different levels of loading. For …

Selection And Design Of Foundations For The I-15/Us 95 Interchange, Stage Ii Improvements − A Case Study, Joy J. Lee, John M. Tehaney

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) is acting as design consultant for the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) for the Stage II Improvements to the 1-15/US 95 Interchange located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The improvements to the interchange include the design and construction of seven new bridge structures. All seven structures will use drilled shaft foundation systems for support. This paper describes the selection and design of the drilled shaft foundation systems for Ramp N-MLK, a sixteen span precast segmental box girder structure. Subsurface conditions and geotechnical data for the project site are described. A comprehensive design methodology was used, including consideration of …

Soil-Nailed And The Tie-Back Wall Construction Using Hollow Nails, Kyle Rollins, Kenneth Murphy, Shaun Dustin, Jerry Bishop

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Excavation support is commonly provided using soil-nailed walls or tie-hack walls. This paper describes two case histories where nails and anchors where installed using a hollow reinforcing bar and a disposable drill bit. A lean grout was pumped through the reinforcing bar as it was driven into the ground. This process created a reinforced grout column with a diameter of about 150 mm. This procedure reduced the time of installation and resulted in cost savings of about 25% in comparison with conventional procedures. The procedure was used successfully to install nails in sandy gravels and silty sands. It was also …

A Case Study Of The Application Of Lightweight Fill For The Restoration Of An Interchange Ramp, T. C. Kim, S. Q. Ahmad, T. J. Kazmierowski

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

A highway embankment and a sanitary sewer were constructed in the City of London, Ontario, Canada. During construction, a manhole settled approximately 1.5m. There were signs of rotational movement and slope instability in the interchange ramp embankment itself. These movements were attributed to insufficient removal of a deep deposit of peat beneath the ramp embankment identified in the original site investigation.

As part of remedial work, additional peat was removed and replaced with compacted sand. Despite these measures, the manhole continued to settle. Monitoring over a period of 30 months showed that the manhole settled by an additional 260mm.

Four …

An Ecotechnical Alternative: An Embankment Of Incinerated Municipal Solid Waste, Ph. Gotteland, G. Bossonney, D. Coulon

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Incineration seems to be one of the best solutions to solve the problem of household refuse disposal. In compliance with European legislation, part of this incinerated refuse, could be used in public works. The authorities are fully aware of the high economic stakes involved, and this is the reason why they would like to control and define the conditions of use of such incinerated refuse. An innovative alternative is presented in this paper, involving the use of slag from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (I.M.S.W.R.), lightened by the inclusion of old tyres, and strengthened with a layer of geosynthetics, in order …

Research On Crack Depth Measurement In Concrete By Using Rayleigh Waves, Wei Xinjiang, Xia Tangdai

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The possibility of crack depth measurement in concrete by using Rayleigh waves and the feasibility of measurement method are3 introduced in this paper. The principle of crack measurement in concrete by using in-plan Rayleigh waves and the measurement analysis method are studied by using finite clement method.

Shopping Center Saved By Short Aggregate Piers, Thomas W. Blackburn, Tom M. Farrell

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

We were faced with an extraordinary geotechnical challenge; our client wanted to support large tilt wa11 buildings and pavements for a 32 acre Commercial Shopping Center on 5 to 8 feet of saturated, I lo 3 blow/foot hydraulically placed fill. To make matters more difficult, the site was in the seismically active Napa Valley. We offered 3 solutions; 2 conventional, and 1 unconventional. Our conventional solutions consisted of: 1) piers founded in the normally consolidated clay below the hydraulic fill, or, 2) over-excavation and replacement of the upper 5 to 8 feet of highly unstable soil. Our unconventional solution consisted …

Alcanena Industrial Waste Landfill − Description Of A Portuguese Case History, L. M. Pissara, N. Guedes, J. Garrido, M. L. Lopes, C. C. Freitas

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Alcanena is a municipality located in the center of Portugal where about 85% of the Portuguese tanning industries are located, representing 65% of the national production. During decades the industrial waste was disposed directly in the soil and the waste waters discharged into the river without any treatment. Following the recent Portuguese environmental policy, the national authorities decided to rehabilitate this area. First, by the construction of a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) and a impermeabilized lagoon for WWTP mud deposition, then by the construction of a landfill for deposition of the tanning scraps and, finally, when the maximum capacity …