GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS …

1 GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS FOR STRUCTURES March 2004 Updated December 1, 2017 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUREAU OF BRIDGES AND STRUCTURES GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES SECTION Engineering Manual Preamble This manual provides guidance to administrative, engineering, and technical staff. Engineering practice requires that professionals use a combination of technical skills and judgment in decision making. Engineering judgment is necessary to allow decisions to account for unique site-specific conditions and considerations to provide high quality products, within budget, and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

2 This manual provides the general operational guidelines; however, it is understood that adaptation, adjustments, and deviations are sometimes necessary. Innovation is a key foundational element to advance the state of engineering practice and develop more effective and efficient engineering solutions and materials. As such, it is essential that our engineering manuals provide a vehicle to promote, pilot, or implement technologies or practices that provide efficiencies and quality products, while maintaining the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

3 It is expected when making significant or impactful deviations from the technical information from these guidance materials, that reasonable consultations with experts, technical committees, and/or policy setting bodies occur prior to actions within the timeframes allowed. It is also expected that these consultations will eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, perceived or otherwise. MDOT Leadership is committed to a culture of innovation to optimize engineering solutions. The National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics for Engineering is founded on six fundamental canons.

4 Those canons are provided below. Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: 1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. 2. Perform Services only in areas of their competence. 3. Issue public statement only in an objective and truthful manner. 4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. 5. Avoid deceptive acts. 6. Conduct themselves honorably, reasonably, ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession. A. DESCRIPTION 1.

5 The work performed by the consultant GEOTECHNICAL engineer under these requirements shall consist of making a complete foundation INVESTIGATION for the adequate design and construction of bridges and other associated structures. A complete foundation INVESTIGATION and ANALYSIS shall consist of an adequate program of field sampling, laboratory testing, and engineering ANALYSIS and evaluation, with the results presented in report form. The INVESTIGATION and ANALYSIS shall be performed in compliance with the procedures outlined in this document and generally accepted principles of sound engineering practice.

6 The INVESTIGATION and ANALYSIS shall be under the general supervision and subject to the approval of the M DOT foundation ANALYSIS engineer. Unless otherwise subsequently noted, later references to as approved or directed will imply as approved or directed by the M DOT foundation ANALYSIS engineer. B. PERFORMANCE OF FIELD WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY 1. Entry Permission It is the responsibility of the consultant GEOTECHNICAL engineer to obtain permission for entry from each property owner whose property must be entered for any reason.

7 2. Damages It is also the responsibility of the consultant GEOTECHNICAL engineer acting as a representative of the Michigan Department of Transportation or local public agency to compensate the property owners for any damage incurred to their property because of the GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION . 3. Railroad Expenses This item consists of the actual cost invoiced by the railroad for railroad permits, flagman, right of entry, etc. The consultant GEOTECHNICAL engineer shall obtain the written approval of the State before incurring any railroad expense.

8 C. EQUIPMENT 1. The equipment used shall be hand operated or power drilling, and/or driving equipment, or other tools or equipment considered suitable or necessary for determination of the limits and conditions of the various soil strata, and for obtaining samples for examination, field classification, and laboratory ANALYSIS . D. LOCATION AND DEPTH OF BORINGS 1. General This section is to be used as a guide in planning the boring program. It is not the intent that the location, boring interval, and depth specified herein be rigidly adhered to.

9 The consultant shall make use of available soils and geologic maps, water well records, reports, publications, aerial photographs, and other reference material which are available to prepare a preliminary boring program. Borings shall then be selectively located during a field check attended by the consultant GEOTECHNICAL engineer and by the M DOT foundation ANALYSIS engineer or his appointed representative. The actual location, spacing, and depth of borings shall be dictated by the topography, geologic conditions, visible soil conditions, and design considerations, and in accordance with the practices set forth herein.

10 2. Depth of Exploration Borings should extend through any unsuitable or questionable foundation materials and sufficiently deep into stable soils that the potential for settlement from compression of that layer or that the deeper underlying soils is determined. If deep excavations are required for building the structure, the explorations should be carried to at least times the depth of the excavation in order to locate and determine groundwater levels in any aquifers that may exist below the level of excavation.