Search Documents

By Shawna Munn, Katie Castelo, Dave Wiley

Risk is inherent to work in the field of subsurface engineering, and many contract approaches have become so focused on shedding risk that they leave no room for one of the best tools in our industry, the observational method. Its development in subsurface engineering owes its foundation to Karl Terzaghi and Ralph Peck through their respective works dating back as early as Soil Mech- anics in Engineering Practice published in 1948 and "Advantages and Limitations of the Observational Method in Applied Soil Mechanics" in 1969. Throughout their fundamental works, a strong argu- ment for the observational method is made: "... the potential for savings of time and money without sacrifice of safety is so great that every engineer who deals with applied soil mechanics needs to be informed." (Peck 1969) Not every project will benefit from its use, but in today's risk management focused world, projects and contracts should be set up to allow for its use, while sharing the risk clearly and equitably between all parties. Without a proper contractual mechanism to leverage its use, perceived manage- ment of "risky unknowns" will over- ride substantive application of the method, and significant benefits may be lost as a result. As Terzaghi said, "A vast amount of labor goes into securing only roughly approx-imate values for the physical constants that appear in equations Therefore, the results of computations are not more than working hypotheses, subject to confirmation or modification during construction." It is our collective view that sub- surface engineers should take this task of confirmation and modification seriously. We should use the observa- tional method to derive performance- based designs that deliver design economy, constructability, cost and schedule advantages without sacrificing safety or quality. Collaborative style contracts provide a framework to approach shared risk and opportunity with appropriate incentives for the individual parties.

Aug 1, 2025

By Marya Gorczyca, Damian Siebert

Air rights projects are inherently challenging as they involve building in the "air space" above an existing structure. From a foundation engineering and installation standpoint there are numerous constraints and additional complexities to consider. This article describes how these issues were overcome for deep foundation design and construction at Lyrik Back Bay - Air Rights Parcel 12, the first successful air rights project over the Massachusetts Turnpike/Interstate I- 90 through this neighborhood in downtown Boston in 40 years. The project is unique in that it is both an infrastructure and commercial development project undertaken as a collaboration between a private development team S&A P-12 Property led by Samuels & Associates, and the state transportation agency, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT), owner of the land and transportation infrastructure.

Oct 1, 2025

By Erik Westerberg, K. Rainer Massarsch

The paper was presented 30 years ago at DFI's 20th Annual Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1995. Its main objective was to describe the operation and performance of vibrators with variable frequency and to illustrate their practical application in foundation engineering. Since then, powerful vibrators with variable frequency have been increasingly used in the foundation industry for installing/extracting piles or sheet piles, treating granular soils to decrease total and differential settlement, or mitigating the liquefaction hazard. However, the potential of variable frequency vibrators for pile installation. or ground compaction has not yet been fully realized. By adjusting the operating frequency of the vibrator, the penetration/extraction speed of piles or sheet piles can be increased signifi- cantly. At the same time, the emission of ground vibrations can be minimized. Some recent important developments for efficiently using vibrators are briefly summarized below. An important aspect of vibratory driving is "system resonance," at which the vibrator and the probe oscillate "in phase" with the surrounding soil. The relative displacement between the probe and the soil decreases during this phase. Probe penetration slows down, and ground vibrations increase. To effectively install piles or sheet piles in granular soils, the vibrator should be operated at a high frequency (typically above 30 Hz). The vertically oscillating pile emits horizontal stress pulses that are transmitted to the ground. This mechanism reduces the shaft resistance during driving in granular soils. Con- sequently, the shaft resistance of vibrated piles is often lower than that of impact-driven piles, the impact of which, by definition, occurs at res- onance of the pile-soil system. However, the shaft resistance of vibrated piles can be enhanced if, during the final phase of installation, the operating frequency is gradually lowered to achieve com- paction of the soil surrounding the pile shaft. It is also desirable that the vertical movement amplitude of the pile be gradually reduced to eliminate the formation of a gap below the pile toe. Electronic monitoring systems are available to assist the machine operator in determining system resonance dur- ing driving. Vibration sensors mounted on the vibrator or on the ground can determine, monitor and adjust the resonance frequency. Nowadays, ro- bust electronic systems can display the measured values to the machine operator and the geotechnical engineer on-site or in the office.

Jan 1, 1996

By Peter Faust, Mike Muchard

The I-205 improvements in Oregon include the seismic retrofit and widening of the Abernethy Bridge to withstand major earthquakes. When completed it will be the first earthquake-ready bridge that crosses the Willamette River in the Portland metropolitan area; establishing it as the regional north-south lifeline route after a disaster. To meet seismic performance goals, critical bridge piers were retrofitted with very large and deep nonredundant (single) drilled shafts with "outrigger" bents. New drilled shafts and columns were constructed on both sides of these piers supporting a new post tensioned "super beam." While the drHled shaft scope of the project is now finished, construction is still underway for the project, which is due for completion in 2025. Once the load is transferred to the new outrigger bents, the existing columns will be removed. Drilled shaft diameters for the river crossing ranged from 8.2-12.25 ft (2.5-3.7 m), with the largest shafts extending over 240 ft (73 m) in length. This size drilled shaft surpasses the typical dimensions used for transportation structures. Given the enormity of these shafts, combined with the complex geology and site constraints, the Oregon Department of Transportation required a prequalification process to select the foundation contractor, Malcolm Drilling.

Jan 1, 2025

By Morgan Eddy, Andy Steele

With its rich history and rapid urban development, the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood in Washington, D.C., is ready to welcome a new addition: Claret, a 12-story, 127- condo residence. Tasked to maximize below-grade space for the new development, Steelle Foundation converted an existing parking lot by excavating up to approximately 30 ft (9 m) deep. The team navigated many challenges, including proximity to an adjacent building, limited access to the site and a mandate to preserve a century-old Heritage Tree. a specialized foundation engineering approach. The catalyst for the project was the growing demand for high-quality residential spaces in the area, combined with the site's strategic location.

Mar 1, 2025

By Robert Tonning

Boston's Landmark Center, a historic site in the Fenway neighborhood, is undergoing a major transformation. Originally built in 1928 by Sears, Roebuck & Company, the building is being repurposed into a mixed-use development that will breathe new life into the structure while preserving its historical significance. A key aspect of Historic photo of Bo this project is the deep foundation system, which employs drilled micropiles. While these have been commonly used on construction projects for the past several decades, these truly "super piles" pushed con- ventional limits of both drill depths and working capacity in order to meet the project's requirements. The installation of these micropiles presented several challenges, from extreme depths and high capacities to tight timelines and complex site conditions. This article explores the engineering feats, challenges faced and innovative solutions that were developed and implemented throughout the process. Thanks to creative problem-solving and collaboration with the wider pro- ject team, Phoenix completed its work as a geostructural subcontractor ahead of schedule. The Landmark Center has a rich history in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. Before the present building was constructed almost 100 years ago by Sears, the site had been home to a number of factories, warehouses and other industrial buildings dating back to the late 1800s. The location was also near the former Fenway Railroad Yard, a modest transportation hub that served the surrounding area at the turn of the 20th century.

May 1, 2025

By Keshab Sharma, Jibendra Misra

Caissons and piles are mostly used as foundation types in bridges. Caissons are particularly suitable for bridges with expansive spans, locations with deep alluvial deposits, soil prone to lique- faction and when there's a notable risk of vessel collisions. However, they face challenges related to sinking and limited resistance against earthquakes. On the other hand, pile foundations are not well suited for deep-water scenarios due to their excessive length, diminished rigidity, susceptibility to vessel col- lisions and complications associated with construction. A potential solution to the issues mentioned above could be the adoption of CCPF. These foundations can also be applied to enhance existing caisson. foundations through retrofitting techniques in wind turbines, trans- mission lines and bridge foundations, demonstrating their adaptability and potential for improving the perfor- mance of foundation systems. There has been successful implementation in China, as evidenced by projects like the Qiongzhou Straits Bridge and the Longna Highway Yangtze River Bridge. Moreover, this foundation approach has been adopted for numerous cross- sea bridges globally, including ex- amples like the Benicia Martinez Bridge (U.S.) and the Hitsuichi-Jima Bridge (Japan). Research from 2016 has shown CCPF systems can be potentially used for offshore wind turbine foundations and retrofitting existing caisson foundations. The construction sequences of CCPF systems involve the sinking of caissons followed by driving the pile beneath the caisson. There are two possible options for connecting the pile with the caisson. The first option can be provided by ending the pile at the bottom plug level of the caisson, in which the pile is threaded into the caisson bottom to achieve a connection joint between the caisson base and the pile tops. This methodology enhances the flexibility of the foundation. The second method is to continue the pile up to the cap level of the caisson. The pile up to the cap level of the caisson provides better integrity than the first option between caisson

May 1, 2025

By Matthew Meyer, Rosa Castro-krawiec, Charles Bartlett

The PortMiami Tunnel project stands as an engineering milestone in Florida, marking the first large-diameter tunnel designed and constructed in the state. As we celebrate Deep Founda- tions Institute's 50th anniversary, it's apropos to revisit this groundbreaking work, first documented by Matthew Meyer, P.E., Rosa Castro-Krawiec, P.E., and Charles Bartlett, P.E., in the January-February 2012 edition of Deep Foundations magazine. Their account details the project's formidable chal- lenges and the innovative solutions that led to its success. Completed in 2014, the PortMiami Tunnel project was a monumental undertaking to alleviate commercial traffic congestion in Downtown Miami. The tunnel links the interstate high- way network to PortMiami in Biscayne Bay, easing city traffic while boosting cargo and cruise ship capacity. This project was not just a feat of engineer- ing but a catalyst for economic growth and regional development. One of the project's most remark- able aspects was its pioneering use of advanced ground improvement tech- niques, particularly deep soil mixing (DSM) for support of excavation (SOE) and groundwater control. Miami's geotechnical conditions presented a unique set of challenges, including highly permeable subsurface materials and high static groundwater levels. Traditional excavation methods were deemed too risky and costly, necessi- tating creative solutions. To launch and retrieve the 40 ft (12 m) diameter tunnel boring machine that was required to construct the tunnel, the project team opted for cutter-soil-mix walls with embedded.

Jan 1, 2012

By John Morris, Scott Stonecheck

The University of Pittsburgh wanted a new arena constructed for its collegiate wrestling, volleyball, and gymnastics, dance and cheer programs. Due to space constraints for the arena in the university's congested urban setting, the school selected a location atop a previously demolished football stadi- um originally constructed in 1925. The new Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center is nestled between the Peterson Events Center, student residence buildings Panther and Irvis Halls, and other critical campus infrastructure. Due to the site's con- straints, a permanent tied back soldier beam wall system was programmed for the subterranean portion of the arena's perimeter foundation wall, with the soldier beams and tiebacks using a delegated design-build approach and the permanent wall facing being designed by the building's structural engineer of record. Design and construction of the soldier beam wall system required a mix of conventional and unique approaches to address topographical, geological and site challenges. This article will provide an over- view of the approaches to the various challenges, the design concept, effi- ciencies gained through the design assist strategies employed through the early phase of the project, and lessons learned from site and geological dis- coveries uncovered and safely over- come during the physical work.

Mar 1, 2025

By Jarod McBride, Mike Johnston

Over the last decade the construction industry, particularly ground enhancement services such as Jet Grouting, have seen a dramatic rise in the cost of waste transportation and disposal services; increasingly representing a significant percentage of total job cost. As these costs increase and our industry continues making strides to become better stewards of the environment, one of the best ways we can contribute is by placing a priority on sustainability. Stage 3 Separation’s unique solutions contributed to sustainability while creating new economic value. This was achieved by reducing waste, reusing materials, and accelerating production when compared to the traditional spoils pit management practice. Stage 3 Separation believes in bringing sustainable solutions to industry and was successful in teaming with HRBT South Island to meet the following project metrics: (1) reduce the overall disposal costs and associated liability, (2) recycle/reuse base materials where fit, (3) meet specified water quality for discharge, (4) do all of this in way that contributes to accelerating the production schedule in a critical job path. The HRBT South Island project overview consisted of over 650 columns, producing north of 150,000 yds3 of slurry.  Our goal was to take the jet grout slurry waste stream and separate the liquids and solids; creating a water phase that met all environmental standards to be treated and disposed of directly into the environment and creating a dry stackable solid that could be sent directly to a landfill. Prior to Stage 3 Separation’s deployment the Jet Grout contactor was being hampered by poor spoils management, long spoil cure times, and at the mercy of costly vac-trucks or less than partial solid loads.  Within weeks of new process and the removal of these impediments production doubled, waste was cut in half, and numerous other efficiencies were gained. Keywords: Jet Grouting, Spoils Management, Sustainability, Waste Reduction, Production Performance

Oct 7, 2024

By Omar Conte, Roger Archabal

In recent years, numerous developers have invested in former deep quarry lake sites, particularly to develop massive new logistics and residential projects in South Florida. Due to the flat geology encountered, necessary construction materials (structural fill, sand, concrete aggregate, etc.) have been quarried from the upper limestone and sand layers encountered in the region. Considering the shallow groundwater, these quarry excavations have created numerous large bodies of water (“lakes”) over the decades. Restoration of these massive lake areas which are now dispersed throughout prime real estate is ideal for development. There is a strong incentive to restore these large lake areas due to the lack of available large tracts of land near Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. The redevelopment of these large and deep-water bodies has important geotechnical challenges that need to be addressed before finalizing the infrastructure and foundation design/construction. This paper will go over the investigation techniques utilized, the geotechnical evaluation, analysis, and soil improvement recommendations to allow for safe bearing support and to overcome the uncertainties associated with settlement potential.  Several geotechnical aspects need to be considered to effectively perform mass lake backfill. These include: 1) the pre-backfill site investigation, 2) understanding the lake bottom conditions and soil layering below the bottom, 3) backfill material selection and backfill methodology, 4) quality control/quality assurance during lake backfilling, 5) post-fill ground improvement (preloading, dynamic compaction, vibro-compaction) and foundation construction are some of the key aspects for these types of projects. The geotechnical findings and lessons learned from several massive lake backfill projects will be discussed in the paper. This includes sites with measured lake bottom sediment layers of up to 15 to 20 feet thick, resulting in consolidation settlement of nearly 3 feet during ground improvement/preload settlement monitoring. The paper will present some innovative exploration and laboratory techniques to obtain important geotechnical data to cost-effectively develop these massive areas.

Oct 7, 2024

By John Turner, Joseph Hakim, Peter Faust, Benjamin Turner, Michael K. Muchard

An overview is presented of a unique axial bi-directional load test performed on a 3.0-m diameter (118inch) drilled shaft in January 2023 in Tucson, Arizona as part of a bridge replacement project. The shaft was excavated using crane-mounted grab tooling, resulting in a slightly curved base and corresponding uncertainty about the nominal base resistance relative to a conventional flat excavation base. The shaft was approximately 80 ft long and the load assembly was installed about 8 ft above the base. The load assembly location was selected to balance the estimated axial resistance above and below the jacks, as is customary. However, the presence of a 13-ft thick layer of strongly-cemented caliche with unexpectedly high compressive strength (2.8 to 5.1 ksi) produced higher than anticipated side resistance above the load assembly, resulting in a very stiff reaction against which significant load was transferred to the bottom segment. The maximum test load of approximately 9,000 kips resulted in just 1/8-inch upward displacement of the top segment and 5.0 inches of downward displacement of the bottom segment when the jacks reached their maximum stroke. Mobilized unit side resistances for the top segment ranged from about 2 to 9 ksf. Mobilized base resistance was on the order of 75 ksf. Since a primary objective of the load test was to confirm unit base resistance exceeding the AASHTO limit of 60 ksf for refusal blowcount sand, the test was deemed very successful and allows significant optimization of drilled shafts for the project. The test results also confirm that a curved base resulting from grab tooling can generate significant base resistance.

Oct 31, 2023

By Matthew Paquet, George Aristorenas, Philip Shull, Mike Senior

The Long Slip Canal is located in Hoboken, New Jersey. To reduce flood risk and raise the site for future rail facilities, New Jersey (NJ) Transit constructed an extension to the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and backfilled the canal. A significant challenge of the site was the compressibility of the soft marine clay in the canal during backfilling and impacts to adjacent CSO structures and an existing king-pile wall due to lateral spread of the clay. To limit impacts to the aforementioned structures when backfilling, NJ Transit’s designer specified soil mix ground improvement to be designed by the contractor. The contractor elected to Value Engineer (VE) the ground improvement with a pile-supported concrete Load Transfer Platform (LTP) to be constructed in the wet. Since the VE design bounded structures designed by NJ Transit’s designer, emphasis was placed on the impact of the VE design on adjacent structures. This paper will cover the unique aspects of this VE design and construction, including: comparison of the 2D and 3D Finite Element analyses, use of concrete to function as a LTP for underwater construction, and construction challenges in soft marine clays.

Oct 31, 2023

By Gerhard Lang

Due to the worldwide population growth, the development of sustainable infrastructure and the exploration of renewable energies play a key role. The increasing need for complex building structures involve the development of innovative deep foundation technologies. Conventional methods like bore piles reach their technical and economic limits under certain conditions. As an alternative, new mechanized technologies, mainly coming from the tunnelling industry, have been developed to overcome challenging mixed ground conditions, high groundwater tables or economic limits in greater depths. For more than 20 years, the mechanized Shaft Sinking technology (VSM) has been in operation to build foundation and shaft structures all over the world, for tunnelling projects or for intelligent underground parking systems. More than 100 circular shafts have been built with reinforced concrete lining, mainly through difficult, groundwater bearing soil, in depths of up to 115 meters. The VSM is completely remote-controlled from the surface and covers a diameter range from 4.5 to 18 meters. Offshore foundations, especially in non-drivable ground conditions and medium water depths require drilled installation methods. The Offshore Foundation Drilling (OFD) technology, based on the concept of a full-face tunnelling machine, enables a rapid and economically drilled installation of offshore foundations in variable ground conditions and rock strengths. In 2022, drilling works for the subsea installation of 73 monopile foundations have been completed with OFD for the St. Nazaire wind farm in France. With a drilling diameter of 7.7 m, this OFD equipment is currently the largest offshore drilling rig. This paper will present the mechanized technologies of VSM and OFD with their application fields and benefits to the construction industry.

Oct 31, 2023

By Bengt Fellenius

Hunter and Davisson (1969) wrote a pioneering paper that brought the presence of residual force and its consequence for pile load-transfer to the attention of the profession. The paper presented observations at the 1963 Lock and Dam 4 project of the Corps of Engineers, where, for one of the first times, strain-gage instrumentation was used in static-loading tests. The tests combined results from compression (push) tests with those of subsequent tension (pull) tests and presented an innovative analysis linking the results of compression and tension tests to determine the true load-transfer of the pile. The analysis established that driven piles are left with locked-in force-distribution—residual force—and that this force affected the evaluation of records from an instrumented static loading test. While the concluding recommendation that static loading tests should combine push and pull tests and the piles should be instrumented in order for the true load-transfer mechanism be determined was not that often followed by the profession, the paper certainly established the importance of the residual force. This paper adds additional insight by reanalyzing the original test records in terms of effective stress, as opposed to stress-independent method of the old times, and of pile movement as opposed to "capacity".

Oct 31, 2023

By Karen Dawson, Patricia Bennett

Designers and constructors of King County’s $275M Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station located in Seattle, WA, overcame classical Puget Sound Lowland geotechnical challenges to provide treatment of 70 MGD of combined sewer overflows (CSOs), provide 1.2 MG of CSO storage, and convey the treated effluent 1,600 ft to a new outfall in the Lower Duwamish Waterway. The site is underlain by over 200 ft of very soft to dense deltaic deposits with moderately high compressibility, low strength, and is susceptible to seismically-induced liquefaction. The industrial history of the area made contamination a consideration for deep foundation selection and restrictions on construction methods. This paper describes some of the key aspects of the project, including a water-holding structure able to tolerate more-thancommonly-accepted settlement by utilizing a robust reinforced concrete slab and relatively short rigid inclusions combined with load distribution mat, settlement monitoring and water preloading prior to constructing grade-sensitive features. Case history information is presented for construction of a nominal 100 ft diameter, 92 ft deep secant pile intake pumping station/equalization basin which utilized a 32 ft thick tremie seal to reduce construction dewatering risks.

Oct 31, 2023

By Kevin Baumgartner, Howard Perko

Common technologies for temporary and permanent support of excavations (SOE) include soldier piles and lagging, secant/tangent piles, slurry walls, and tie-back walls. This paper discusses an innovative technology consisting of helical soil nails with high tensile wire mesh facing.  This novel technology has been used on a number of SOE projects in recent years saving both time and money as well as providing a number of other benefits.  Case histories including Denver Bronco’s training facility, Pulliam Theater, a bridge abutment, and a train platform are presented.  This SOE technology is highly sustainable as both the mesh and soil nails can be removed and re-used, if desired.  The system avoids the need for concrete or grout, so it eliminates curing times and problems associated with field quality assurance and inclement weather placement.  Helical soil nails consist of central pipe or solid steel shafts with small diameter helices spaced over the entire length.  The length of the nails is typically on the order of the height of the excavation.  The nails are spaced relatively close together in rows to reinforce the earth.  The face of the excavation is held back using high tensile strength steel wire mesh over geo-fabric.  The mesh is stretched between the helical soil nails and fastened down using spike plates on the helical nail caps.  Both hand calculation and computer methods for design of this concrete-less alternative to the traditional SOE will be covered. The SNAP 2.0 computer program is used to determine factors of safety with regards to overturning, sliding, and bearing, among other checks.  Through practical applications and real-world calculations, this paper educates the reader on the proper design and application of the helical soil nail and high tensile mesh SOE system.  AutoCAD details and example plans are provided.

Oct 7, 2024

By Vijaya Rao Parigela, Jason Redgers, Bushra Khan

Ground Improvement was required for adoptable roads profile below the designated Rights of Way as part of infrastructure and streetscape works for an urban development project over an area of 500,000 m2 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, UAE. The site is heterogenous with low-lying coastal profiles consisting of marine and wind-blown aeolian deposits followed by medium to stiff silty and clayey deposits and mudstone causing unacceptable settlements in the past to roads and associated structures. Exacting specifications from client and consultant included various requirements in terms of achieving bearing capacity, overall stiffness of ground, friction angle, relative density, and mitigation of any liquefaction risk for site based on local codes and standards. As such an extensive soil investigation campaign comprising of Cone Penetration Testing, CPTs carried out to ascertain individual CPT profile each representing an equivalent area of 2,000 Sq.m. Critical part was the site characterization which in this case, soil classification according to Robertson, 2012 was utilized. Thus, ground improvement scheme was prepared using High Energy Impact Compaction, HEIC (depth < 2.5m), Rapid Impact Compaction, RIC (depth < 4m) and Dynamic Compaction, DC (depth < 8m) as required to meet the compaction criteria in conjunction with the general contractor. Post compaction Cone Penetration Tests, CPTs and load tests were further evaluated to demonstrate performance. Overall works included predesign, execution and post testing and design verification to show compliance to specification in line with contract requirements.

Oct 31, 2023

By Kenichi Soga, Andrew Yeskoo

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) allows the user to measure continuous strain and temperature profiles along an installed fiber optic cable. The technology has successfully been deployed for a range of geotechnical and geostructural applications, including monitoring&nbsp;of deep foundations This paper presents the results of a fiber optic sensing installation&nbsp;for the measurement of strain in a cast-in-drilled-hole (CIDH) foundation&nbsp;element during a top-down load test. DFOS is particularly suited to strain measurements during pile load testing as it can generate continuous strain profiles along the length of the pile, removing the need for interpolation between point-based strain gauges. The hypothesis is that continuous strain profiles allow insight and understanding of the true, non-idealized pile behavior during loading. A field trial was performed north of Sacramento, California, where a series of load tests were performed on sacrificial piles instrumented with fiber optic strain and temperature sensing cables. The fiber optic instrumentation design consisted of 4 vertical strain cables, as opposed to the more common 1 or 2 cables, allowing for the identification and analysis of non-uniform strain distribution across the pile at single depths. This non-uniform distribution has often been ignored through averaging&nbsp;or discarded as erroneous data, missing potentially real behavior within the pile. The fiber optic data was used to evaluate an independently identified outlier strain gauge reading and confirm the reading as valid, as well as identify bending behavior within the pile which contributed to non-uniform strain measurements across the pile. This research demonstrates the value of the use of DFOS for pile strain measurements and the benefit that it offers over point-based measurements and the interpolation that it necessitates&nbsp;between discrete readings.

Oct 7, 2024

By Guoming Lin, Yan Jiang

The Hutchinson Island ferry landing, a vital transportation hub located between the Savannah Convention Center and Westin Hotel, faced a critical infrastructure challenge on June 18, 2022, when the sheet pile bulkhead along the Savannah River experienced movement, resulting in a substantial crack in the brick-paved plaza. &nbsp;Immediate monitoring efforts commenced within two hours of the bulkhead disturbance, revealing progressive movements over the subsequent two weeks, leading to approximately ten feet of deflection and six feet of settlement behind the bulkhead. &nbsp;Subsequent repair work involved the extraction of 65-ft-long steel sheet piles. This investigation embarked on a meticulous review of the original design and construction procedures, followed by a comprehensive subsurface exploration program. &nbsp;The steel sheet piles were originally supported by drilled helical anchors, and the failure mode and pattern were closely scrutinized. &nbsp;Analysis of the pulled-out sheet piles revealed consistent shape and yield points. &nbsp;Computer modeling was conducted to replicate the actual deflection profile and yield point as verification of the soil parameters and design models. This paper presents the investigative findings, including an analysis of subsurface conditions and the most probable causes for the bulkhead failure. &nbsp;The results of the investigation have been instrumental in formulating design recommendations for the repair of the bulkhead system. &nbsp;By shedding light on the root causes of the failure, this research contributes valuable insights to the soil-structure interaction in the steel sheet pile design. Top of Form

Oct 7, 2024