Fill under heavy-duty pavement
Fill under heavy-duty pavement
(OP)
I am a site engineer working on a large retail project in a previously developed urban area. The client wants to eliminate pile supported concrete slab/paving in the area of a 30'wide drive-thru (between two four-story buildings), as well as, a loading area for self-storage (there are 3 pile supported stories overhanging the loading area). The client wants to replace the pile supported concrete pavement with heavy-duty asphalt pavement (220,000 EAL, 10-year design). Borings in the immediate area reveal 7 to 13ft. of loose to dense urban fill (e.g. soils, brick, rock, cinder, glass, etc.). Bedrock ranges from 17' to 45', Groundwater 8' to 14'.
This area was originally under the structural engineer's scope, but, the cost pushed it into my court. What should my concerns be other than compaction? Should I be looking into replacing a certain depth of the urban fill with controlled fill? If so how much?
I have contacted the geotechnical engineer on the project and plan to work with him to find a solution. In the meantime, I am posting this to get some additional ideas from the experts as this is not a strong suit of mine.
Thanks in advance.
This area was originally under the structural engineer's scope, but, the cost pushed it into my court. What should my concerns be other than compaction? Should I be looking into replacing a certain depth of the urban fill with controlled fill? If so how much?
I have contacted the geotechnical engineer on the project and plan to work with him to find a solution. In the meantime, I am posting this to get some additional ideas from the experts as this is not a strong suit of mine.
Thanks in advance.





RE: Fill under heavy-duty pavement
there's many ways to look at that problem. unfortunately, the actual conditions and owner's cooperation/pocket book will dictate which remediation is the most appropriate/acceptable. the owner can fix it as good or bad as they're willing to pay.
you're question is difficult to answer via the keyboard. your geotech, in combination with the owner's input, should be the most helpful in looking at the problem.
RE: Fill under heavy-duty pavement
RE: Fill under heavy-duty pavement
RE: Fill under heavy-duty pavement
Red flags are going up on this one.
So, the structural was contractually obligated to address this? As I am also a Site/Civil Eng, I wouldn't seal whatever you come up with. This is an issue for a Structural and/or a Geotech Eng to design and seal.
What "costs" affected this change; his cost to complete or the cost to impliment the solutions he designed? If it's cost to complete, he's passing the buck and dragging your budget down. If it is implementation, then his solution was fine, but Client can't afford it. In which case Client is passing the buck, and risking your reputation.
Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve
RE: Fill under heavy-duty pavement
put the responsibility on the owner to decide what they want and what they want to pay for. if they expect you to make that decision AND take the liability, i'd force complete remediation or let them put someone else's neck in the noose. good luck.
RE: Fill under heavy-duty pavement
This is a design change for the whole project team that has come about after CD's were issued (the project has had several addendums). The client determined it was an "excessive" cost for implementation after reviewing the structural engineer's design.
I appreciate the feedback.
RE: Fill under heavy-duty pavement
If its just heavy duty ashphalt required. You could go the simple way.Compact the base well, 15 ton roller. lay 4" of ashphalt, use the bay and wait for settlement if any. Come back in 1 yr and lay a final 2" course to bring it to level.
Intrusion Prepakt /marineconcrete.com