You are a geotechnical engineer for a client that wants to build a two story, at-grade apartment structure at the site where you collected the soil samples at the beginning of this class. Based on the test results you obtained, determine if the soil is native, certified fill or uncertified fill. Additional field investigations indicated that the depth of the soil layer which you sampled extends to approximately four feet below ground surface, the ground water table is at about five feet below ground surface and there is approximately a one foot thick of wet clay layer just below the sampled layer. Underlying the wet clay is dense sand.
The client wants to support his building and slab with conventional foundations and a conventional slab to keep costs down. What could you do to the soil to permit this type of construction?
You may need to modify the soils somehow. How will you test the soils in the lab to be sure that the resulting compacted fill is acceptable for this type of construction? Devise a lab testing program that would give the assurance that the final compacted fill will be acceptable. The purpose of your testing is to provide specifications to the grading contractor for treating and preparing the subgrade. Provide recommendations to reduce the influence of ground water on the subgrade and foundation to be constructed? Your report must include a Cover page, Purpose, Equipment List, Diagrams/ sketches/ photos of the equipment, Description of procedure, Data sheets for the lab guys to fill out, Sample calculations, and graphs needed. Also provide a short discussion of what problems you may expect.