Soils Workshop

NWPPA Alaska Electric Utility Conference

October 29-30, 2009
Anchorage, Alaska

Overview

General Soil Types

yp

Test Boring Logs and Blow Counts

Li
Liquefaction
f ti

Frost Heaving

Permafrost

Anchors, Trenching, and Transformer Pads

Transmission Structures

General Soil Types

yp

Coarse-grained (gravel, sand, cobbles, boulders)

Fine-grained (silt, clay)
Organic
O
(peat)
(
)

General Soil Nomenclature

Till, Glacial Till

Hard pan
Muskeg
Weathered Bedrock
Alluvial Deposits
Fluvial Deposits
Colluvium
Engineered Fill

Caliche
Residual Fill
Lacustrine Deposits
Boulder Clay
Loess
Floodplain
L
Loam
Regolith

Soils Bottom Line

Composition and density are what matters for your utility

work

Test Boring Logs

 Drill rig
g
Geotech investigation info

Test Boring
g Logs
g
Drilling/Excavating
g
g could also be referred on logs
g as:

Test Pits
Auger Holes
Peat Probes
Test Holes
Auger Points

Varies by company
Information varies by company/individual
Minimal consistency general standards are in place
but

Basic Information

Blows per foot

Moisture
M i t
content
t t
Soil type
Depth of frozen material
Water table

Blows p
per Foot
Uses a 140 lb hammer or 340 lb hammer depending
p
g on
sampler size
Low blows
Loose/soft material
Poorly consolidated
Low
L
strength
t
th

High blows
Dense/hard material
Consolidated
High strength

Typical
yp
Values (blows/foot)
(
)
Coarse Grained Soils (>50% sand and gravel)

Typical
yp
Values (blows/foot)
(
)
Fine Grained Soils (>50% silt and clay)

Moisture Content

Low moisture content

material unlikely to be saturated
likely able to be compacted
unlikely to contain organics or ash
if frozen, unlikely to have excess ice

Moisture Content (contd)

High
g moisture content
may indicate the water table
may indicate organics or ash
difficult to impossible to compact
susceptible to pumping
difficult to work with during construction
if frozen,
f
may have
h
excess ice
i

Moistures ((Typical
yp
Values))

Soil Types
yp

Relying on soil to:

Resist loads
Not settle
Keep anchors from pulling out
Support piles (lateral, uplift and axial)

Soil Types
yp
(contd)
(
)
Organics/Peat
g
Low strength
Low bearing
Low expectations

Fill Material
Often not compacted properly, loose
Often contains organics or debris
Often overlies an organic layer

Soil Types
yp
(contd)
(
)
Fine Grained Soils (Silts/Clays)
If soft

Low strength
S
Susceptible
ibl to settlement
l
Slightly better than organics
Provides excellent resistance to uplift

If stiff/hard
Medium strength
Susceptible
p
to settlement under heavy
y loads (g
(greater than 20003000 psf)
Provides good lateral resistance and bearing capacity
Provides excellent resistance to uplift

Soil Types
yp
(contd)
(
)
Coarse Grained Soils (Sands/Gravels)
(
)
If loose

Medium strength
Susceptible to settlement/liquefaction
Still provides good lateral resistance and bearing
Poor resistance to uplift

If dense

High strength
Low susceptibility to settlement under heavy loads
Provides excellent lateral resistance and bearing
Poor resistance to uplift

Test Boring
g Logs
g

Questions?

Liquefaction
q
Defined
e ed by Wikipedia
ped a a
and
d ot
others
e s as
as:
The behavior of soils, that when loaded, suddenly
transition from a solid state to a liquefied state.
T further
To
f th clarify
l if
When soil liquefies
liquefies, it loses strength and behaves as a
viscous liquid (like quicksand) rather than as a solid.

Liquefaction
q
(contd)
(
)
Need three conditions for liquefaction
q
to occur
1) loose sands, silty sands or silts
2) saturated (high water table)
3) ground shaking of significant duration

Liquefaction
q
(contd)
(
)

Pictures from Tulane University, Civil Engineering Dept.

Liquefaction
q
(contd)
(
)

Picture by Idaho State University, Environmental Geology Dept.

Liquefaction
q
Impacts
p

Loss of bearing
Settlement
Slope failures/Landslides
Underground objects float to the surface

Liquefaction
q
Damage
g
Niigata,
g , Japan
p
1964

Liquefaction
q
Damage
g
Loma Prieta Earthquake,
q
, CA ((Watsonville Bridge)
g )1989

Photos by Jeff Marshall

Liquefaction
q
Damage
g
Anchorage,
g , Alaska 1964

Liquefaction
q
Damage
g

Liquefaction
q
(contd)
(
)
How to identify?
y
Test boring or test pit logs
Soil type
Groundwater depth
p
Blow counts

NOTE: Liquefaction generally does not happen in gravels

and does not occur below a depth of 50 feet

Liquefaction
q
Mitigation
g
1)) Avoid liquefiable
q
soils
2) Build liquefaction resistant structures

Slabs tie everything together structurally

Pad construct a stiff mat of dense soil

Utilities ductile connections to accommodate movement

Piles larger diameter,

diameter extended depth
depth, some ductility in pile
cap

Liquefaction
q
Mitigation
g
(contd)
(
)
3)) Improve
p
the soil
Vibroflotation

Dynamic Compaction

Liquefaction
q

Questions?

Frost Heaving
g
Defined byy Wikipedia
p
as:

Frost heaving (or frost heave) is the process by which the

freezing of water-saturated soil causes the deformation
and upward thrust of the ground surface
surface.

Frost Heaving
g (contd)
(
)
Need three conditions for frost heave to occur
1) freezing temperatures
2) frost susceptible soils
3) water

Frost Heaving
g (contd)
(
)

Frost Heave Impacts

p
Differential movement is key!
y

Frost Heaving
g (contd)
(
)
What is the potential?
p

First and foremost what is the depth

p of seasonal
frost in your area?
Test boring or test pit logs
Soil type (frost susceptible/silty)
Groundwater depth
Moisture content

Frost Heave Mitigation

g
Not that easy!
y
1) Use of non-frost susceptible material (NFS)
2) Insulation to limit frost penetration
3) Edge drains along roadways to remove excess water
4) For pile foundations, install at depths sufficient to resist
heave

Frost Heaving
g

Questions?

Permafrost
Defined
e ed by Wikipedia
ped a a
and
d ot
others
e s as
as:
permafrost or permafrost soil is soil at or below the
freezing point of water (0 C or 32 F) for two or more
years. Ice is not always present.

Permafrost (contd)
(
)

Permafrost Concerns

Thawing
Differential movement
Settlement

Frost heave of active layer

Ice wedge or ice lens formation

Construction over Permafrost

Concrete Slabs

Insulation

Elevated

Pile supported

Construct foundations in late spring/early

p g
y summer when frost is
at its maximum depth

Use of technology to keep ground frozen (thermosyphons,

th
thermopiles)
il )

 Picture of p
permafrost thaw damage
g ((utility
y related))

Construction over Permafrost

(cont d)
(contd)
Pile Foundations
All piles at sufficient depths to resist uplift from freeze/thaw of active layer
No thawing, use of steam
Thermopiles
Paint piles above ground to reflect light

Storage/Parking Areas (Pads)

Insulated
Thermosyphons
Construct during maximum freeze
Dont pave

Permafrost

Questions?

Anchors
Two main types
yp of anchors
Plate Anchors
Helical Anchors

Capacity is a function of:

Depth of anchor embedment
Size/number of plates or
helices
Density of the soil
Shearing angle (friction angle)
Water table

Anchors (contd)
(
)
To roughly
g y calculate the ultimate p
pullout capacity
p
y ((holding
g
strength) of a plate anchor, determine
Soil Type (fine grained or coarse grained)
Determine soil density (soft to hard or loose to dense)
Estimate friction angle
Determine size of plate (B)
Determine length of rod (depth of embedment) (H)
Determine H/B

Anchors (contd)
(
)

Anchors (contd)
(
)
Use the following
g formula to calculate ultimate holding
g
capacity
Qu = NquAH
Qu = ultimate capacity (lbs)
Nqu = pullout capacity factor
= soil densityy (p
(pcf))
A = surface area of the plate (ft2)
H = installation depth (ft)

Anchors (contd)
(
)
Determine Pullout Capacity
p
y Factor

Hanna, Ayadat, Sabry, 2006

Pullout Resistance of single
vertical
e t ca sshallow
a o helical
e ca a
and
d
plate anchors in sand

Anchors (contd)
(
)
Example:
Soil = silty sand
Density = loose
Friction angle ~30
30 deg
Soil density ~115 pcf
24 diameter plate
24
Area of plate = 3.14 ft2
Depth
p of installation = 5.5 ft
H/B = 2.75
Pullout factor = 9

Anchors (contd)
(
)
Using
g
Qu =NquAH
Ultimate pullout capacity is (9)(115)(3.14)(5.5) = 17,874 lbs

Anchors (contd)
(
)
Helical calculations are similar
Helical anchors tend to have higher capacities
Capable of multiple helices spaced apart to maximize
capacity
Ability to measure torque during installation and back
calculate capacity
Numerous design manuals based on supplier (Chance,
etc.)
Calculations for capacities are estimates must do field
pull tests to verify capacities

Anchors (contd)
(
)
Calculations are based on g
gross assumptions
p

soil is homogenous (all the same)

soil is predominantly sand (diff

(diff. calcs for silts/clays)

no water table

f t doesnt
frost
d
t occur

Seek assistance with more detailed calculations when

there is a high water table or soft soils overlying denser
material

Anchors (contd)
(
)

Questions?

Transformer Pads
Good p
performance is a function of:
Loads on slab
Soil type, density, bearing capacity
Water table
Frost consideration (designed to minimize diff. movement)

If bearing on non-organics, a bearing capacity of 1,500 psf

could be used to estimate slab size/thickness

Transmission Structures
Towers,, buildings
g or sensitive structures should be
properly designed
Engage a structural engineer with assistance from a
geotechnical engineer
Loads and load combinations are more extensive
Seismic, wind, and ice loads must be addressed

Transmission Structures (contd)

(
)
Typical
yp
Foundations
Good soils - Normal loads - Water table >10 feet
Spread footings
Frost protected shallow foundations (thickened edge slab)
Poor soils - High loads - High water table
p p , H-pile,
p , helical piers,
p
, thermopiles)
p
)
Pile foundation ((timber,, pipe,

Trenching
g
Organics
g
and ash are not suitable for support
pp of utility
y lines
Settlement (short term and long term) likely
Amount of settlement is a function of how much load was added
to underlying soil
Overexcavate unsuitable material and replace or design for
estimated settlement

Geo e e sshould
Geotextile
ou d be used to
o sepa
separate
aeg
granular
a u a bac
backfill
from soft soils/organics to prevent loss of material

 Summaryy

Soils

Questions?