Piles and exterior slab on grade?
Piles and exterior slab on grade?
(OP)
I am wrapping up my first pile foundation design. The drawings are currently for review with another engineer (to make sure I did the design correctly). A question was asked with regards to the exterior slabs on grade. Currently I do not have these slabs on piles however, I am being told, from the geotechnical engineer, that these slabs should be place on piles or else they would be prone to settlement. While I agree that they may be prone to settlement I am questioning whether or not it matters if they settle.
There are 3 locations in question. A dumpster pad located next to the building, an apron in front of a drive through door and a pad in front of a loading dock. I can somewhat understand the point about the pad in front of the loading but I'm still not sure if it is necessary.
What do other people do in this instance?
There are 3 locations in question. A dumpster pad located next to the building, an apron in front of a drive through door and a pad in front of a loading dock. I can somewhat understand the point about the pad in front of the loading but I'm still not sure if it is necessary.
What do other people do in this instance?






RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
I've never put dumpster, drive-through paving on piling. That sounds ridiculous.
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
Whatever you do, DO NOT dowell the slab at the drive-thru to the slab inside the drive-thru = BAD. And, DO NOT dowell any pile supported slabs to non pile-supported slabs. This will cause cracking almost for sure.
I have, on occasion, while building homes, supported the driveway slab at the garage door slab off the wall or black footing. But, usually the problem there is more with heave rather than settlement.
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
I just find it a little hard to go against the geotechnical engineers recommendations. When I asked the question I never thought he would come back telling me that they should be pile supported otherwise they may settle.
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
Given the weight of the dumpster, and potential traffic, what type of settlement or differential settlement is expected. If these are settlements are tolerable, then let them float. It it settles too much, provide for a future topping slab to be applied once a majority of the settlement has occurred, likely this would be less expensive than driving additional piles.
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?
RE: Piles and exterior slab on grade?