Solving Customary & Complex Challenges In Geotechnical Engineering

S&ME has provided practical geotechnical solutions for decades. We perform essentially every type and phase of site investigation, including: preliminary reconnaissance and conceptual studies for site selection, identification of geologic and sustainability issues, foundation design, and on through final design and facility construction. We routinely identify building-code geologic hazards such as seismic liquefaction, loss of bearing or expansive subgrade issues.

Our experience encompasses mountain, Piedmont, coastal plain, Mississippi Delta and marine regions. Our clients are national and multi-national – regional and local – public and private – large and small. We work throughout the Southeast, the Midwest, Caribbean and Mexico.

Geotechnical Engineering Services

Geotechnical consultation includes a wide range of services. Pre-design services include simple site reconnaissance or design-phase geotechnical exploration, laboratory services, and report preparation. S&ME also provides extensive consultation services during progression of the design through construction. Lastly, S&ME provides consultation related to forensic studies of distress.

Site Characterization and Profiling

Soil Test Drilling and Sampling, Vertical and Inclined Borings
Electronic Cone Penetrometer Soundings
Seismic Cone Penetrometer Soundings
Marchetti Flat-Plate Dilatometer Soundings
Menard Pressuremeter Testing
Direct Push Sampling
Diamond Coring of Indurated Materials and Rock
Packer Testing, Pumping Tests,
Geophysical Profiling
Vane Shear Testing

Physical Testing of Soils and Rock

Soil Classification and Index Test Properties
Soil Triaxial Shear Strength Properties
One-Dimensional Consolidation Testing
Soil Permeability Testing
Soil Subgrade Bearing Testing
Rock Compressive Strength Properties
Soil Corrosivity Test Series

Assessment of International Building Code Seismic Issues

IBC Seismic Site Class
Design Spectral Values, Peak Ground Acceleration, and Building Code Design Category
Site Specific Probabilistic Response Analyses
Site Specific Dynamic Response Analyses
Liquefaction Initiation, Volumetric Compaction, Loss of Bearing, and Lateral Spreading

Identification of Geologic Hazards

Sinkholes
Expansive Soils
Shallow Ground Water
Compressible Soils
Corrosion Potential
Slope Instability
Scour and Erosion

Geophysical Measurements and Interpretation

ReMI/MASW/MAM Methods
Seismic Refraction Methods
Ground Penetrating Radar
Electrical Resistivity Imaging
Terrain Conductivity Methods

Geotechnical Instrumentation

Installation and monitoring of settlement plates or settlement transducers.
Installation and monitoring of crack gages or extensometers
Installation and monitoring of borehole inclinometers
Installation and monitoring of open well peizometers or pore pressure transducers.

Shallow Foundation Assessment and Evaluation

Allowable Bearing Pressure, Overturning, Lateral and Uplift Resistance
Computation of Settlement and Angular Distortion of Structures
Bearing Capacity Loss Under Seismic Loads
Footings on Indurated Materials or Rock
Mat or Strip Foundations, Spring Constants under Static and Dynamic Loading

Recommendations for Ground Improvement

Rammed Aggregate Piers
Vibrofloat/Vibro-replacement Stabilization
Design and Installation of Earthquake Drains
Staged Construction of Earthen Structures
Instrumentation and Monitoring of Surface Surcharging
Design and Monitoring of Wick Drainage System
Deep Dynamic Compaction

Sizing and Installation of Deep Foundations

Driven Steel H-sections, pipes, precast concrete, auger cast, and timber piles
Sizing and evaluation of Grouted Minipiles and Helical Piers
Soil Bearing Drilled Concrete Shafts
Rock Bearing Drilled Shafts and Sockets
Computation of Uplift Resistance of Deep Foundations
Lateral Analyses of Deep Foundations and Foundation Groups
Computation of Stiffness Matrices for Lateral Loading
Selection and Acceptance of Pile Driving Equipment
Computations of Driving Stresses and Drivability

Verification and Load Tests of Deep Foundations

Static Load Tests with Conventional Load Frame, Telltales or Electronic Strain Gages
Dynamic Testing Using Pile Driving Analyzer
Lateral Load Tests of Deep Foundations

Permanent Retaining Structures

Conventional Cantilevered Retaining or Basement Walls
Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls
Bulkheads or Submerged Walls
Reinforced Soil Slopes
Permanent Tieback Walls
Global Stability Analyses of Retaining Structures
Bridge Abutment Walls
Computation of Earthquake Lateral Thrust

Building Slabs on Grade

Design Recommendations for Modulus of Subgrade Reaction
Recommendations for slab-on-grade placement and curing
Design Recommendations for Capillary Barrier
Design Recommendations for Jointed Slabs
Underslab Drainage Systems
Recommendations for Slabs with Special Adhesive Coatings or Membranes
Waterproofing/Moisture Protection

Subgrade Preparation and Improvement for Pavements

Selection of Subgrade Bearing Value or Modulus of Subgrade Reaction
Selection and Placement of Base Course Materials
Recommendations for Bound or Unbound Subbase Layers
Recommendations for Underdrain or Shoulder Drains
Recommendations for Stabilized Soil Layers

Recommendations for Flexible or Rigid Pavements

Pavement Condition Surveys
Thickness Computation for Flexible and Rigid Pavements
Recommendations for Pavement Overlay or Repair
Recommendations for Shoulder Pavement and Curbing
Use of Recycled Pavement Materials
Dimensioning and Construction of Jointed Rigid Pavement
Selection of Load Transfer Devices for Jointed Rigid Pavement
Recommendations for Full Depth Reclamation of Existing Pavement

Earthwork and Grading Specification Language

Surface Preparation
Surface Drainage during Construction
Rough Grading, Fine Grading and Surfacing
Suitability of Fill Soils for Reuse in Construction
Difficult Excavation, Ripping and Blasting
Installation of Conduits and Pipes
Soil Stabilization Using Cement or Lime
Stability Analyses for Earthen or Rock Slopes

Shoring and Bracing

Design Recommendations for Shoring and Bracing of Temporary Excavations
Temporary Excavation Support Using Soil Nailing
Design Recommendations for Soldier Pile and Lagging Walls, Sheet Pile Walls
Design Recommendations for Tensioned Tendons
Monitoring Shoring Systems During Construction

Temporary and Permanent Site Dewatering

Gravity Ditches or French Drains
Use of Sumps or Trenches
Temporary Dewatering using Submersible Deep Wells or Vacuum Wellpoints
Monitoring of Ground-water Levels during Construction
Computation of Estimated Seepage Flow and Gradients using Computer Software

Vibrations during Construction

Assessment of near-field and far-field vibrations due to Blasting, Vibratory Compaction, Pile Installation
Monitoring Vibrations During Construction
Conducting Preconstruction Surveys