Geotechnical Report

After extensive analysis of the SPT test data (see attached tables), it is apparent that the site
generally contains four layers of soil: a fill layer, a saturated medium stiff cohesive layer of silt
and clay, a hardpan layer of sand, and a dense layer of sand. The water table is at an average
elevation of 89 ft, which places it within the fill layer. It should be noted that the SPT is mainly
used to determine the soil profile. Using correlations to determine soil properties is not
recommended. Other tests should be considered, mainly the CPT (Cone Penetration Test).
The presence of the weak fill layer and the saturated cohesive layer indicate that a shallow
foundation is not adequate. The allowable bearing capacity was estimated to be around 5 ksf,
which is insufficient for the applied loads. Furthermore, the cohesive layer poses an issue for
settlement. One method of controlling the settlement of this cohesive layer is to apply a
surcharge for a few months before placing the footings. The surcharge would dissipate some
pore water pressure and will induce a certain amount of settlement. This will increase the
strength of the cohesive layer and reduce the settlement. However, the delay of construction is
not ideal.
While other ground improvement techniques can be considered, the most viable option for this
building is a deep foundation system. This is due to the presence of a dense sand layer at a
reasonable depth. The piles would rely mainly on the point resistance from the dense sand layer
and some frictional resistance from the weak layers.