PDH Engineer     PE PDH
PDH Online

FOUNDATIONS IN EXPANSIVE SOILS

Credit: 41 PDH
Course Fee: $399.00

Course topics

INTRODUCTION

Purpose
Scope
Background,
Causes and patterns of heave
Elements of design

RECOGNITION OF PROBLEM AREAS

Site selection
Hazard maps

FIELD EXPLORATION

Scope,
Surface examination
Subsurface exploration
Groundwater

LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS

Identification of swelling soils
Testing procedures

METHODOLOGY FOR PREDICTION OF VOLUME CHANGES

Application of heave predictions
Factors influencing heave
Direction of soil movement
Potential total vertical heave
Potential differential heave
Heave with time

DESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS

Basic considerations
Shallow individual or continuous footings
Reinforced slab-on-grade foundations
Deep foundations

MINIMIZATION OF FOUNDATION MOVEMENT

Preparation for construction.
Drainage techniques
Stabilization techniques.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES AND INSPECTION

Minimization of foundation problems from construction
Stiffened slab foundations
Drilled shaft foundations

REMEDIAL PROCEDURES

Basic considerations
Evaluation of information
Stiffened slab foundations
Drilled shaft foundations

REFERENCES.

– Foundation damage Investigation power point presentation.

Extra topics covered:

  • Comments on the design of post-tensioned slab-on-ground
  • Comments on the use of PTI method
  • Criteria for foundation inspection
  • Distress phenomena often mistakenly attributed to foundation movement
  • Foundation design option for residential buildings
  • Foundation maintenance and inspection guide for residential buildings
  • Foundation maintenance and inspection guide for residential buildings
  • Guidelines for evaluating foundation performance by monitoring
  • Homebuyers guide for foundation evaluation # 1.
  • Homebuyers guide for foundation evaluation # 2.
  • Installation guidelines of pre-cast concrete piles for foundation.
  • Post foundation repair performance of residential buildings on expansive soils
  • Quality control checklists for foundation inspection of residential buildings.
  • Recommended practice for Geo-technical Explorations and report.