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By Alan Quiroga

Nestled between Meridian Park and Howard University in the heart of Washington, D.C., the historic block between 14th, V and W streets North- west featured several original struc- tures, many of them dating to the 1800s. During its rich history, this square block has been home to a variety of different organizations including automobile showrooms and repair businesses, a parking garage, various industrial warehouses, and, in recent years, the headquarters of the renowned D.C. nonprofit Martha's Table. The revitalization of the buildings in this block also known as the Collection 14 project involved the transformation of aging and historical structures into a new multi-use development. The redevelopment project was distinguished by the retention of period street-facing building facades (to the extent possible) to preserve the character and culture of the historic neighborhood while revitalizing the block with some modern construction elements. The complexity of the project and difficult subsurface conditions required specialized and extensive sheeting, shoring and underpinning work to be performed. This project had many parties involved, including: • • • • Owner: Madison Investments Owner's representative: Compass Design & Development General contractor: McCullough Construction Civil engineer: Vika Capitol Structural engineer: Ehlert Bryan Architect: Perkins Eastman DC Geotechnical engineer: GEI Consultants Sheeting and shoring contractor: Steele Foundation

Aug 1, 2023

By Ilhan Chang, Ernest Nsabimana, Kiseok Kwak, Juhyung Lee, Young-Hoon Jung

"Numerical analyses were performed to analyze the behavior of two different type of suction piles (mono type and group type) under various soil layer conditions (uniform silty clay layer, uniform silty sand layer, and two-layer deposit consisting of clay and sand layers) and lateral loading locations (top, middle, and bottom of the suction pile). According to the results, mono suction pile shows maximum resistance when load is applied on its middle, regardless of the soil layer conditions, while group suction piles varies significantly according to the allowance on head rotation. When head rotation is allowed, the behavior of group type piles become similar to the behavior of mono suction pile. Whereas, when rotation is prevented, resistance is maximized when load is applied on the top head. Moreover, group suction piles show higher efficiency regardless of the ground condition and geological stratum. For further advances, concrete block on the top of group suction piles are suggested as an effective alternative method to prevent partial rotation and maximize ground resistance for group suction piles.IntroductionWith the development of offshore technology, applications and real site installations of suction piles are increasing significantly nowadays. They are generally used as mooring anchors in various floating structures, marine platforms, and offshore wind turbines. According to its convenience in installation and removal, suction type foundations are becoming good alternatives for deep ocean support systems. The bearing capacity is similar to the bearing behavior of ordinary offshore structures (piles or drilled shafts). The most common use of suction caissons is anchors for catenary mooring lines, where the chain angle at the mudline is close to zero (Randolph, 2002; Sharma, 2004).Recently, it is reported that a huge isolated single suction pile can be replaced by a group of moderatesized suction piles (Randolph et al. 2004). A single monopile is easy to be produced and installed in site. It is expected that monopile foundation is not applicable for deep depths because it has a limitation on penetration according to its huge side skin area (i.e. friction). Moreover, stiffness requirements sometimes render thicker pile wall conditions which are impractical to be produced."

Jan 1, 2017

"Every year during the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Geotechnical Team (NGT) takes time to talk about what we are doing in research, training development and policy support. At times, I have jokingly referred to it as the State of the Program Address, but we do see it as an important opportunity to update our transportation partners on priorities and needs for the program.This update is really a snapshot of the program during the previous year, with a look at projects that are currently active. Activities undertaken by the NGT are funded from multiyear roadmaps maintained by the FHWA program and research offices, and reflect trends and opportunities affecting and influencing transportation geotechnics now and in the future. The roadmaps identify activities in research, development, guidance, technology transfer and training that will be accomplished by the NGT through and beyond FY 2020 in eight broadly-defined focus areas: • Extreme events, geohazards and sustainable geotechnics• Performance management• Reliability-based design and construction• Advanced geotechnical modeling• Alternative delivery methods• Design and construction optimization• Site characterization• Quality assuranceThe process to identify focus areas and to develop activities that will be addressed by the NGT is guided and informed through input from the FHWA NGT members, and considers feedback and input from State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), FHWA Division offices, industry and academia. This process is revisited annually to review not only the activities that are currently funded, or will be funded, but also to review the relevance of the focus areas with respect to the future needs of the FHWA, State DOTs and the transportation community.In 2016, the NGT was successful in delivering several products that will advance the state of the practice and that better support policy. Products developed included research reports, design and construction guidance, and training courses. In 2017, the research and program offices will continue to work on projects that fit within our prioritized plan and that positively impact the geotechnical community as a whole. A listing of recently completed and currently active projects is provided below."

Jan 1, 2017

By Hamed Ardalan, Mohamed Ashour

"CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTIONThe use of piles to stabilize active landslides or to prevent instability in currently stable slopes has become one of the most important innovative slope reinforcement techniques over the last few decades. Piles have been used successfully in many situations in order to stabilize slopes or to improve slope stability, and numerous methods have been developed for the analysis of piled slopes (Ito et al., 1981; Poulos, 1995; Chen and Poulos, 1997; Zeng and Liang, 2002; Won et al., 2005).The piles used in slope stabilization are usually subjected to lateral force through horizontal movements of the surrounding soil; hence they are considered to be passive piles. The interaction behavior between the piles and the soil is a complicated phenomenon due to its 3-dimensional nature and can be influenced by many factors, such as the characteristics of deformation and the strength parameters of both the pile and the soil. The interaction among piles installed in a slope is complex and depends on the pile and soil strength and stiffness properties, the length of the pile that is embedded in unstable (sliding) and stable soil layers, and the center-to-center pile spacing (S) in a row. Furthermore, the earth pressures applied to the piles are highly dependent upon the relative movement of the soil and the piles."

Jan 1, 2013

By Rohrbach

Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL) testing is commonly used to verify the integrity, quality and ultimately the acceptability of the concrete in structural elements such as drilled shaft foundations, secant pile cutoff walls, and secant/tangent pile earth retention structures. Besides concrete quality, many factors can impact CSL test results (e.g. laitance, air temperature, access tube spacing, access tube debonding, etc.). Effective use of CSL testing requires fully informed qualified practitioners capable of distinguishing between abnormal readings unrelated to deficiencies in the drilled shaft concrete and similar readings indicating the presence or possible presence of drilled shaft defects. Based on data and experience gathered from CSL testing of thousands of drilled shafts across North America, this paper discusses such factors and other information useful when evaluating CSL test results, and provides practical recommendations intended to reduce the potential for incorrect test data interpretation. The CSL testing industry is lacking in a clear, universally accepted guideline for the interpretation of CSL data and acceptance criteria of these concrete elements. This paper proposes terminology and a streamlined process for use when atypical results are obtained. The proposed terminology and method are intended to simplify and expedite the submittal review and approval process. Because construction activities for these elements are often on the project?s critical path, the benefits obtained in terms of project savings and reducing costly delays are undoubtedly valuable.

By Alp Gokalp

The aim of this article is to present an application of jet grouting technique in stiff clays for foundations of the natural gas combined cycle power plant, under construction in Aliaga, Turkey. The plant site is in the Aegean coastal region and 60 km north of Izmir. The foundation soil is composed of quaternary alluviums on top and tuff base rock. The thickness of the alluvium varies between 16 m to 30 m. Groundwater was observed 2.5 m below the ground level. At the design stage, settlement analyses were carried out for the various buildings and facilities in the power plant. Based on the analyses, it was predicted that total and differential settlements are not tolerable, thus jet grouting is implemented as a ground improvement under the majority of the foundations of the power plant. This paper also describes the selection of jet grouting technique, application type and details of the process parameters such as injection pressure, number and size of nozzles, lifting and rotation speeds. Prior to the commencement of the jet grouting works, a number of preliminary parameter tests and preliminary pull-out tests were carried out throughout the site in order to define and verify the jet grouting process parameters to achieve the required diameter of 600 mm and minimum jet grout strength of 3.2 MPa. Moreover as part of the comprehensive quality control and quality assurance program pursued in the project, a number of tests; such as continuous coring, integrity testing, installation of confirmatory jet grout columns, were carried out during the production of jet grout columns.

Jan 1, 2002

By Brian McGlynn

There are many factors that can result in a site characterization being limited. For example, a client may undervalue the importance of a good geotechnical report, or an owner may feel that it would take too much time to perform an appropriate investigation among other reasons. For this project, neither was the case. The challenge was that the construction sequence of work required wick drains to accelerate the settlement of soil that had yet to be placed, resulting in the need to create a wick drain bid package based on unknown settlement parameters. This wick drain project took place in Long Beach, California, at the Long Beach Middle Harbor Re- development. For much of the past decade, the Port of Long Beach undertook a $1.5 billion redevelopment of two outdated terminals to create the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT). To achieve this goal, the existing terminals were demolished and the slip that serviced one of the older terminals was designed to be infilled to create the new area that would allow for the LBCT to manage 3.3 million TEUS (a commonly used freight term meaning twenty-foot equivalent unit) of cargo each year. Ultimately, the construction of the LBCT would be performed under multiple contracts to allow the new terminal to begin operation in a phased approach. Menard performed the wick drain installation under two out of three contracts, and this case history focuses on the challenges anticipated and faced under the second of these awarded contracts.

May 1, 2023

By Dale E. Berner

A new navigation dam at Olmsted on the Ohio River will be built "in-the-wet" using a lift-in construction method by the Washington Group/Alberici Joint Venture for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District. Up to 4,000-ton precast concrete dam shell segments will be prefabricated on the Illinois riverbank and lowered into the river on a marine skidway and cradle. A 4,500-ton capacity catamaran crane barge will lift the precast concrete shells and lifting frames from the cradle, and transport them partially submerged to a piled foundation pre-installed underwater. Tremie concrete will be used to compositely connect the shells, piles and sheet pile cut-off walls. This paper focuses on the pipe-pile foundations for this half-mile long navigation dam, and for the temporary precast yard and marine skidway. The dam foundations are designed to resist large ground motions from the New Madrid Fault Zone, and selected production piles are designed to serve as landing piles to support the shells during the construction process. Specific foundation issues addressed in the paper include: pile load tests; production field testing requirements; controlled fixity 24-inch diameter pipe-pile design including seismic considerations; cut-off wall design; sheet pile cellular fixed weir design; isolation jOint design; and temporary works foundation designs for both the precast yard and the marine skidway, including testing of 42-in diameter pipe piles.

May 11, 2007

"After the non-destructive testing is completed, the data must be compiled, evaluated, and interpreted. During this process, the data may indicate that there is an anomaly warranting further investigation, which may eventually be determined to be a flaw or defect. The definitions of an anomaly, flaw, and defect can be described as follows (after Amir, 2002):Anomaly - Any irregular feature identified in the NDT graphic results. An anomaly may be due to the testing instrumentation (such as noise), to the means used to perform the test (e.g. access tube debonding in CSL) or to the shaft itself. It is the responsibility of the NDT practitioner to gather and analyze all relevant data and try to resolve every anomaly before it is declared a flaw or defect.Flaw - Any deviation from the planned shape, size and/or material of the shaft.Defect - A flaw that, because of either size or location, may detract from the shaft’s intended performance or durability. The geotechnical engineer and the structural engineer are jointly responsible to decide which flaw comprises a defect.This section describes the process of evaluating the data, determining if an anomaly exists, and if so, deciding whether the anomaly is actually a flaw or a defect. If the anomaly is determined to be a defect, its effect on the performance of the shaft must be evaluated, and if necessary, the can be re-engineered, repaired, or replaced."

Jan 1, 2004

By Bernardo J. Jiménez, Harlem Lora, Roberto Acosta Mora

Circunvalacion Norte project is currently the most important infrastructure project in Costa Rica. It is the last segment of the urban perimeter highway. Site investigation of local geotechnical conditions were studied by SPT, CPT, pressuremeter tests and boreholes. A static load test was executed as a proof test with an associated ultimate resistance of 12056 kN (2710 kips). Drilled shaft design was done using PMT tests and axial nominal resistance varied between 4000 kN (900 kips) and 6000 kN (1350 kips). A total of 416 drilled shafts were constructed in 15 months with drill performance of 32 m/day (105 ft/day). Drilled shaft lengths varied between 4,0 (13 ft) m and 40,0 m (130 ft). Selfconsolidating concrete was used to achieve an adequate workability even in high densities rebar cages. Several site conditions proved the importance for maintenance of the working platform, predrilling of rock sockets and having spare parts to avoid increase in project’s cost. New procedures were taken to prevent concrete segregation on excavations near underground water flow. Monitoring the quality of the shafts from CSL test showed less than 3% of the shafts presented a considerable anomaly, which proved that the adopted construction method and materials were adequate. For the concrete anomalies, successful remediation was performed by means of grout at the base of the shaft with two different types of drilling methodology depending on the concrete anomaly.

By Alice DiDonna

The heating and cooling of buildings worldwide represent a large amount of a country?s energy needs and are major sources of CO2. Therefore, decreasing the environmental impact of residential and office buildings is of crucial importance. Energy pile foundations are a sustainable solution to this problem and constitute a local, renewable and environmentally friendly resource. They are also in accordance with current energy policies. A system of pipes installed within the concrete with a heat carrier fluid that circulates through it can extract heat from the ground to satisfy the need for heat during the winter and expel excess heat resulting from air conditioning during the summer. Consequently, the foundation is subjected to a thermal load, which results in additional stresses and strains that must be considered in the design process. Despite the fast spread of this technology in the last decade, there is still a lack of knowledge about the thermo-mechanical behavior of energy pile foundations. Consequently, design approaches and guidelines are limited. Here, a new geotechnical method for the design of energy piles is illustrated based on the quantification of the additional thermal effects that appear inside the foundations. The method is based on the load-transfer curves approach and has been implemented into a numerical tool called ThermoPile. The software is presented and validated through a developed analytical solution and the results are compared with real in situ experimental tests.

Jan 1, 2011

By Brett K. Mainer

In the summer and fall of 2007, Drill Tech Drilling and Shoring, Inc. designed and built three 24-foot inside diameter shafts in Northern California using soil mix panels for support. The soil mixing was performed using the Bauer Cutter Soil Mix (CSM) method, by which rectangular soil mix panels up to 71 feet deep were arranged in an overlapping manner to form a 24-foot inside diameter circle. The shafts were then excavated to depths up to 51 feet. One of the shafts was a test shaft and used only the soil mix panels for support. The other two shafts were located immediately adjacent to the Mokelumne River and were used as access pits for a microtunnel drive under the river. These two shafts had wide flange beams embedded in the panels and were supported with several levels of ring steel placed during excavation. This project was the first use of the Bauer CSM method in the United States. The CSM method has been used extensively in Europe and Asia, but never for this application and never with this high a loading criteria due to water head and microtunnel reaction forces. Soil conditions at the river crossing shafts consisted of sands, gravels, and cobbles over top of sandstone and conglomerate bedrock ranging in strength up to 5,000 psi. Groundwater was within several feet of the surface. The shafts were successfully completed between October 2007 and January 2008, and the microtunnel was successfully completed in February 2008. This paper provides discussion regarding selection of the shoring type, structural design, the soil mixing method, and the mix designs. Shaft construction, shaft performance, and the capabilities of the CSM equipment are presented.

Jan 1, 2008

By D. Dreher Whetstone, Paul M. Blakita, Christopher M. Reith, Ravi P. Malviya

"Micro-piles are small diameter (5 to 10 inches), cast-in-place piles which can develop high load capacities by bonding with soil or rock. Micro-piles are particularly well-suited for moderate to heavily loaded structures requiring deep foundations in difficult subsurface conditions, such as karst, bouldery mine spoil, or unsuitable fills with concrete debris or other obstructions. Attempts to install conventional deep foundations including driven piles, drilled piers, or auger-cast piles are likely to be fraught with construction difficulties and disputes, delays, cost overruns, and may be unfeasible in some cases. Micro-pile installation equipment is very effective in installing foundations through such overburden or rock materials.This paper presents case histories of Micro-pile installations on two projects with difficult soil/rock materials. The project sites are located in Charles Town, West Virginia and Masontown, Pennsylvania.Charles Town, West Virginia ProjectThe Charles Town project entailed construction of a four-story pre-cast concrete garage. Triad Engineering, Inc. performed a geotechnical investigation for this project (Triad, 2001). The subsurface, geologic, and project specific information described in th is paper are largely based on the aforementioned geotechnical report.Ground ConditionsThe project site is located in Jefferson County, West Virginia, and is mapped to be underlain by the Elbrook Formation. This formation is described as argillaceous, dolomitic limestone with beds of dolomite and aphanitic and algal limestone (Dean, et al. , 1990). The carbonate rocks at the site were characterized as ""moderately solution-prone, highly calcareous and weathers differentially to produce a pinnacled or ""sawtooth"" top of rock profile. (Triad, 2001 )"" Overburden soils consist of low to high plasticity, fine grained residual soils formed by weathering of the parent carbonate rock. The residual soils include variable proportion of sand and rock fragments."

Jan 1, 2005

By Chris M. Haberfield

The design of side resistance of drilled shafts socketed into rock has traditionally been empirically based on the results of pile loading tests in which the side resistance can be isolated from the side resistance. In practice, this is achieved in one of several ways : loading the pile in tension, using a collapsible base, or by using a device such as an Osterberg cell to load the pile from the base. Although this approach has resulted in generally safe design practice, this has been at the expense of efficient design practice. Safety in design has been achieved through conservatism, which has been necessary because of the large scatter that is evident in the pile socket resistance database (Rowe and Armitage, 1984; Kulhawy and Phoon, 1993). Research at Monash University through the 1980's has been aimed towards understanding and then modelling the complex mechanisms of shear transfer at the concrete-socket interface of sedimentary rocks. Armed with such an understanding, the important factors which affect the strength of pile sockets can be isolated, and the reasons for the large scatter can be deduced. This paper briefly describes the research approach taken, and the main features of the design method and computer program which have now been developed. Some load-settlement predictions of the program are compared with the results of full-scale pile socket tests. The paper then presents the results of a numerical study which relates predicted socket a factors to unconfined compressive strength of the rock, socket diameter, initial normal stress and socket roughness.

Jan 1, 1996

By Norm Kirk, Robert Bittner

"The addition of a new powerhouse at the existing Tulloch Hydroelectric site on the Stanislaus River in the western foothills of the Sierras Nevada Mountains of central California required a deep excavation in rock on the downstream face of the dam. A cofferdam (water exclusion device) was necessary to isolate the powerhouse construction site excavation from the existing Goodwin Reservoir and the turbulent discharge from the existing powerhouse. The cofferdam was positioned on a steeply sloping fractured rock surface exceeding 50 degrees.This paper describes the challenges encountered during design and construction of the cofferdam and describes the unique design features used to address these challenges including:•,The use of flat-sheet-piles to form cellular walls on the steeply sloping rock surface.•,The use of 5-ft deep tremie concrete plugs in the bottom of the sheet pocket cells to create the bottom seal of the cellular cofferdam walls against the sloping rock surface.•,The use of vertical post-tensioned rock anchors to provide shear resistance at the contact point between the base of the cellular-wall and the sloping rocksurface.INTRODUCTIONModification or expansion of existing hydroelectric power plants often require downstream cofferdams or water exclusion devices to temporarily separate new construction from turbulent downstream discharge of the existing dam. Most dams are positioned on solid rock in the narrowest and therefore the steepest section of the river. This combination of steeply slopingrock and the need for an exclusion barrier creates a challenge for the design engineer trying to maintain a safe dewatered construction site. Typical cofferdam solutions for hydroelectric dams usually use large granular filled circular sheet pile cells that perform as gravity structures. However, this type of structures is not well suited to steeply-sloping highly irregular rock surfaces in a confined area."

Jan 1, 2017

By Debra F. Laefer

Jet grouting is a ground improvement technique that has become widely adopted over the past three decades, yet relatively little data has been published about performance characteristics of mixes under adverse conditions, such as the inclusion of clay lenses. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the impact of clay on the strength of jet grouting. A total of 150 grout samples were subjected to 0-10% levels of Kaolinite and Bentonite inclusion. While the Bentonite was introduced as a pre-hydrated slurry, the Kaolinite was mixed in two ways: in a pulverized condition and as large chunks. Sample strength and stiffness were measured at multiple dates within the first 28 days. With 10% clay inclusion all samples exhibited significant strength and stiffness losses. With some, substantial losses began with as little as 4% clay. Even a 1% clay inclusion tended to decrease strength and stiffness between one-quarter and one-third of the control sample. Depending upon clay type and inclusion method, results differed significantly with respect to strength and stiffness development and failure mechanism. Petrographic analysis is used to provide further insights as to apparently divergent behaviors.

Jan 1, 2009

By Dan Brown

This paper provides an overview of the advantages and limitations of continuous flight auger (CFA) and drilled displacement (DD) systems compared to other deep foundation systems, along with a summary of important considerations for selection and design. Geotechnical and project considerations are described which favor the use of CFA and DD piling, and also which may be problematic for this type of construction or which may limit the practicality and competitive advantages. A brief summary of design methods for axial and lateral loading is included.

Jan 1, 2005

By Yahia M. Al-Smadi

Effect of lateral loading against existing sheet pile wall and distribution of gravity loading due to various number of construction loading scenarios were studied. The objective of this effort was to determine the loading case that permits the contractor to utilize a 400 ton crane at the specified location with the existing limitation imposed on site. Staged analysis was determined as the methodology that will more accurately predict the exiting and additional stress due to the impose crane loading. A reliable and robust analysis (ANSYS) software was used to complete both 2D and 3D finite element model and analysis. Analysis model parameters such as material properties, non-linear behavior of the soil, and meshing are presented and discussed. At the conclusion specific range of crane operation and pick weights operating on existing concrete mat supported on top of an existing tunnel was reviewed and deemed acceptable.

Jan 1, 2010

By Michael E. Ameel

The vibrated beam method of installing a vertical barrier wall is one of the least applied techniques, yet given certain site conditions and constraints, it is a cost-effective and proven method of controlling lateral groundwater flows. A recent full-scale application of this technique demonstrated its usefulness at an active manufacturing facility located in Northern Wisconsin. At this site, a 3,233 foot long cutoff wall was keyed into an underlying bedrock, which was located an average of 40 feet below the ground surface. Using a slag cement-clay based slurry, a 1E-7 cm/sec or less, nominal 4-inch wide cut-off wall was constructed using the vibrated beam method. Challenges included working around an active manufacturing facility with minimal access to the work area; installing the wall through a very dense glacial till; minimizing soil excavation volumes of potentially impacted soil; and, working around and adjacent to numerous active utility lines without impacting the facility operations. At utility locations, the vibrated beam wall was supplemented with a jet grout panel wall, without the need to bypass or otherwise interrupt any of the plant?s utilities. Quality control consisted of the monitoring and measuring of slurry parameters, survey control, and real-time monitoring and documentation of all critical barrier wall installation parameters. A vibration monitoring plan was also implemented to measure vibrations at utilities and adjacent facility structures. Proper equipment selection, significant up-front planning and close coordination with the facility resulted in a safe and successful project. The work was completed ahead of schedule during the 2009 construction season.

Jan 1, 2010

By Bill Paparis

The thirty year old wharf structures at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey?s Port Elizabeth Marine Terminal are being modernized for the next generation of Post-Panamax container ships, which require deeper water and larger container cranes. The terminal operator is upgrading the wharf in order to remain competitive, now and into the future. The upgrade coincides with the Army Corps of Engineers? $733 million project to deepen the main shipping channel in New York Harbor. This paper focuses on the structural modifications to accommodate berth deepening and to support the heavier loads of the new cranes. An overview is provided of the design and actual construction, including typical problems encountered when combining new and existing structures. The wharf improvements included: ? Installation of a steel king pile/sheet pile cutoff wall along the face of the wharf to permit increasing the depth from ?12.2 m + 0.61 m to ?15.2 m + 0.61 m ( ?40 ft + 2 ft to ?50 ft + 2 ft) ? Removal of the existing crane rail support beams and installation of new piles and beams to support the increased crane loads ? Replacement of the existing timber fender system with a new system capable of resisting the berthing energy of a 152,000 MT displacement vessel, and having dedicated sections for berthing barges ? Replacing the existing overhead, landside crane electric feeder system with a waterside, cable reel trench system. The work included upgrading the transformer capacity at the terminal for increased crane power demands This paper provides a case history for port administrators, terminal operators, engineers, and shipping lines challenged with upgrading aging terminals.

Jan 1, 2013