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Recommended Practice for the Design of Residential Foundations


Quiz Questions

1. An engineered foundation is defined as one for which design is based on three phases:
geotechnical engineering information
design of the foundation is performed by a licensed engineer
construction is observed with written documentation
All of the above
2. Prior to foundation design, geotechnical investigation and report should be completed by a geotechnical engineer.
True
False
3. Geotechnical reports should contain, as a minimum:
purpose and scope, authorization and limitations of services
investigative procedures
laboratory testing results
logs of borings and plan(s) showing boring locations
site characterization
foundation design information and recommendations
Professional Engineer’s seal
All of the above
4. The geotechnical engineer shall characterize the site for design purposes. The report shall comment on site conditions, which may affect the foundation design, such as:
topography including drainage features and slopes
trees and other vegetation
seeps
stock tanks
fence lines or other linear features
All of the above
5. Deep Foundation (pier/pile) design information should include:
Bearing capacity and skin friction along the pier length
Pier types and depths, and bearing strata
Down drag effects on the piers
All of the above
6. What are the parameters required for Shallow foundations (including post and beam footings) design?
Bearing capacity and footing depth
Minimum bearing dimension
I & II
None of the above
7. The foundation design engineer shall obtain sufficient information for the design of the foundation.  This may include:
information gathered by a site visit
the subdivision plan, site plan or plat
the geotechnical report
all of the above
8. The plan shall require that a geotechnical engineer issue a summary report describing the methods, and results of investigation and testing that were used, and a statement that the existing or placed fills are suitable for support of a shallow soil-supported slab-on-ground, or that the foundation elements should penetrate the fill to undisturbed material.
True
False

9. The engineer’s foundation plan and specifications should include:
descriptions of the reinforcing or pre-stressing cables and hardware;
concrete specifications including compressive strengths;
site preparation requirements;
notes concerning nearby existing or future vegetation and the required design
features to accommodate these conditions; and
the schedule of required construction observations and testing.
All of the above
10.

At a minimum, foundations should be observed and tested as applicable to determine whether:

exposed sub grade soils are prepared in accordance with the plans and specifications;
fill material and placement are in accordance with the plans and specifications;
pier placement, size and depth meet plans and specifications;
foundation elements, including reinforcement, meet plans and specifications
immediately before concrete placement;
concrete properties and placement meet plans and specifications;
for post tension slabs, stressing meets the specified elongation and stressing load of
each tendon; and.
specified site grading and drainage has been constructed.
All of the above
11.

At the satisfactory accomplishment of all the requirements of the plans and specifications, the engineer of record shall provide a letter to the client indicating, to the best of his knowledge the construction of the foundation was in substantial conformance with:

the minimum standards of practice presented in this document
the engineer’s plans and specifications including any modifications or alterations authorized.
I & II
None of the above
12. Most problems resulting from expansive soils involve swelling or shrinking as evidenced by upward or downward movement of the foundation producing distress to the structure.
True
False
13. Engineered fill is that which has been designed by an engineer to act as a structural element of a constructed work and has been placed under engineering inspection, usually with density testing.
True
False
14. Select fill is composed of the material randomly found on the site, or imported to no particular specification, other than that it be free of debris and trash.
True
False
15. Foundations can experience downward movement as the result of the drying influence of nearby trees.
True
False
16. Forming fill is that which is typically used under residential foundation slabs and is variously known as sandy loam, river loam or fill dirt.
True
False
17. Uncontrolled fill is fill that has been determined to be unsuitable (or has not been proven suitable) to support a slab-on-ground foundation. Any fill that has not been approved by a qualified geotechnical engineer in writing shall be considered uncontrolled fill.
True
False
18. Pre-existing fill may be classified as engineered fill, after investigation by the geotechnical engineer. The approval may depend on the fill thickness, existence of trash and debris, the age of the fill, and the results of testing and proof rolling.

True
False
19. All laboratory testing shall be performed in general accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or other recognized standards.

True
False
20. Expansive clay is defined as soil having a weighted plasticity index greater than 15 as defined by Building Research Advisory Board (BRAB) or a maximum potential volume change greater than 1 percent.

True
False