Alexander Newman, P.E.

Participants, please note that a New

ASCE PDH reporting process is in effect:
• Your site coordinator received information on how to register your PDHs
earned along with the log-in information and should forward to all site
attendees
• It is important that you log-in to ASCE and follow the steps for recording
your PDHS
• At the end of the online process you will receive a confirmation, be sure
to print this page for your records
• Also, please record the state(s) you carry a P.E. license. Your P.E.
license information only needs to be recorded once.
• Should you have questions, please contact:
webinars@asce.org 1

Underpinning and Strengthening of

Foundations

ASCE Continuing Education Seminar

Presented by Alexander Newman, P.E.

Exponent Failure Analysis Associates,

Natick, MA
(508) 652-8500
anewman@exponent.com

Copyright © 2008 Alexander Newman 2

1
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Introduction
 Agenda
 Introduction: Why strengthen foundations?
 General approach and methods
 Adding supports
 Shoring and replacement
 Underpinning
- Pit underpinning
- Using drilled piers, micropiles, proprietary piers
 Enlarging footings
 Other strengthening issues
 Modifying soil properties
 Conclusion, Q&A
3

Introduction
 Some Reference Sources
 FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and Underpinning, V.
III, April 1976
 FEMA 172, NEHRP Handbook for Seismic Rehab. of Existing
Buildings (1992)
 FEMA 547, Techniques for the Seismic Rehab. of Existing
Buildings (2006)
 David B. Peraza, Getting to the Bottom of Underpinning, Structure,
Dec. 2006
 DoD UFC 3-301-05A (fmr US Army TM 809-05, Seismic Evaluation
& Rehabilitation for Buildings, 11/1999), 3/2005
 P. Beckmann, Structural Aspects of Building Conservation,
McGraw-Hill Int’l, London, 1995
4

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Introduction

 Related Two-day ASCE Seminar

 Design and Strengthening of Shallow Foundations for Conventional
and Pre-engineered Buildings

 Related ASCE Webinars

 Design of Building Foundations: Practical Basics
 Foundations for Metal Building Systems
 Design of Moment-Resisting Foundations for Pre-Engineering
Buildings

Why Strengthen Foundations?

 Reasons for Renovating Existing
Foundations:
 Strengthening
- Original foundations were inadequate for
vertical or lateral load (or later overloaded)
- Foundations were designed before loading
was finalized (MBS)
- Additional loading is proposed
- Field errors
- Prior or current renovations (e.g., making big
wall openings)
6

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Why Strengthen Foundations?

 Reasons for Renovating Existing Foundations, Cont’d
 Deterioration from…
- Aggressive chemicals (sulfates, acids, esp. in masonry mortar)
- Washout
- Loss of support caused by changes in water elevation
 Lowering bottom of footing because of adjacent construction
 Adding weight for uplift prevention
 Remediation of heave or settlement

General Approach and Methods

 Before Strengthening, Try Analysis … and Reason

 Undersized foundations may have completed settlement and will
perform OK unless changes occur in soil, ground water, or loading
 Settlement in cohesionless and cohesive soils: The differences
 Using live load reduction
 Check for surplus soil bearing capacity

 Can We Establish the Existing Pressure on Soil?

4
Alexander Newman, P.E.

General Approach and Methods

 Determination of In-Situ Foundation Pressure
 Per ASTM D1194
 Pit > 3’ x 3’
 Access tunnel > 18” wide
 Equipment:
–Hydraulic ram w/press. gage
–Load cell
–1” thick plate 12’x12”
–(4 min) dial gages to
measure soil deformation
 Best for sand/gravel, stiff clay
9
FEMA 547

General Approach and Methods

 Methods of Foundation Strengthening
 Adding supports in lieu of foundation strengthening
 Shoring and replacement
 Underpinning
- Pit
- By drilled piers, micropiles, helical piers
 Modifying soil properties
 Connecting to adjacent footings with deep tie beams

10 FEMA 547

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Adding Supports
 Adding Supports in Lieu of Foundation
Strengthening
 Often, the most cost-effective
 Consider first

11

Adding Supports
 Adding Wall Foundations Alongside Existing

12
FEMA 547

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Shoring and Replacement

 Using Needle Beams
for Temporary Shoring
 For replacement or
underpinning

13 FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and Underpinning, V. III, April 1976

Shoring and Replacement

 Inclined Temporary Shoring

14
FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and Underpinning, V. III, 1976

7
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Shoring and Replacement

 Foundation Placed in Wrong Location

15

Shoring and Replacement

 Another Foundation Placed
in Wrong Location

16

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Underpinning
 A process that transfers load to a greater depth than original
 Used to lower or to enlarge footing
 Temporary support is expensive and may not be needed if soil is
good and foundation strong

 Pit Underpinning vs. Using Micropiles, Etc.

17

Underpinning
 Pit Underpinning of Walls
 Some say: Under favorable conditions, can place pits 16’ o.c.

18
Photo: David B. Peraza, P.E.

9
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Pit Underpinning Existing

Wall Foundations
 If OK w/o temporary support
 Approach pit; its size
 Pack soil behind sheeting
 1st excavation pit, same depth
 Continue excavation
 Place concrete…

FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems

19 and Underpinning, V. III, April 1976

Underpinning
 Pit Underpinning, Cont’d
 Transfer load using drypack or shims after > 24 hr for high-early
cement, 48 hrs for regular

 Can settle < ½” from:

Concrete shrinkage
Soil deformation
Loss of ground
Deflection of existing structure FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems
and Underpinning, V. III, April 1976

20

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Example of Pit Underpinning of Wall

21
Photos: David B. Peraza, P.E.

Underpinning
 Underpinning Column Footings in Quadrants

 Excavate and brace soil around footing

 Drive rebars through soil, place concrete
 Wait a few days, do other quadrants

Sequence: 1,3,2,4

22

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Underpinning Column Footings in Quadrants, Cont’d

23

Underpinning
 Pit Underpinning: Potential Problems
 Rubble foundations: May not be feasible to underpin
 Perhaps place a retaining wall alongside for excavation support
 Use other methods (below)

24

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Pit Underpinning: Potential Problems, Cont’d

 High water table with silts and clays
Example: Hi-rise building next to church… Underpinned perimeter,
but interior foundations settled w/dewatering => cracks,
settlement , church vacated
 Sandy soils
May settle if vibrated, both at perimeter and interior (from piles in
adj. bldg, soldier piles and lagging)
Can collapse into pit excavation, building loses support

25 Source: David B. Peraza, Getting to the Bottom of Underpinning, Structure, December 2006

Underpinning
 Pit Underpinning: Reducing Problems
 Engage a monitoring firm (by owner), do a preconstruction survey
 Establish benchmarks on adjacent buildings…
 …Place vibration sensors there to monitor peak particle velocity
generated by construction
 Place crack monitors over existing cracks
 Keep excavating contractor from excavating too much and too fast
ahead of underpinning work! Need close coordination (by GC?).

26 Source: David B. Peraza, Getting to the Bottom of Underpinning, Structure, December 2006

13
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Underpinning by Drilled
Piers, Piles and Minipiles
 When soil cannot support pits or
bearing strata is too deep

 Needle Beams and Drilled

Piers
 C-I-P piers in uncased holes or
piles for gravity load & uplift
 Requires interior access by
equipment
27 FEMA 172

Underpinning

 Underpinning by
Drilled Piers

28 FEMA 547

14
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Wall or Column Footing

Underpinned by Piles
Placed Alongside

29 FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and Underpinning, V. III, April 1976

Underpinning

 Adding
Piles/Piers
to Existing
Wall Footing

FEMA 547
30

15
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Underpinning Column Footings by Drilled Piers or
Piles Through Footing
 If footing is large enough

31 US Army TI 809-05

Underpinning

 Two Piles/Cantilever Beam

32

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Underpinning by Jacked Piles

 When DL is large
 Use open-ended pipe or H section
 Place in pits made as in pit underpinning
 Fasten a steel plate at bottom of footing and to top of pile, place
jack in between and blocking
 Splice pipe and continue

FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and

Underpinning, V. III, April 1976

33

Underpinning

 Underpinning by
Augered Pile Installed
in Slot
 Specialized equipment
needed to cut the slot

FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and

34 Underpinning, V. III, April 1976

17
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Underpinning by
Augered Concrete
Caisson With
Bracket
 Pit needed for bracket
 For smaller loads:
C-I-P piers (say, 12”
dia) w/ column-type
rebars & haunch

FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and

Underpinning, V. III, April 1976

35

Underpinning

 Underpinning by
Steel Pile with
Bracket
 Pile can be augered or
driven

FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and

Underpinning, V. III, April 1976
36

18
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Using Micropiles (Minipiles, Pin, Needle, Root Piles)

― Small diameter
― Design loads from 3 to 500+ tons
― Can be readily designed for tension/uplift loads
― Appropriate for a wide range of ground conditions
― Suitable for low headroom and restricted access
― Low noise and vibration
― Can penetrate obstacles

37 Source: Hayward Baker, Inc..

Underpinning
 Micropiles: Typical Uses
Can be spaced closer, so existing structure span is less. Still, may
have to stabilize existing masonry if piles are driven thru it.

38
FHWA-RD-75-130, Lateral Support Systems and Underpinning, V. III, 1976

19
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Typical Micropile Design Steps

1. Geotechnical study
2. Determine load to be supported
3. Design pile-to-structure connection
4. Design pile-to-soil or rock load transfer
5. Develop a pile testing program (typ. to 2x static load)

39 Source: Hayward Baker, Inc.

Underpinning

 Types of Micropiles
 Driven: Light loads thru soft soil
 Compaction grout: Shallow depth,
loose, sandy soils (by blast of
compressed air)
 Jet grout: High capacity, most soils
where direct pressure grouting is not
possible

40
Hayward Baker, Inc.

20
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Types of Micropiles, Cont’d

 Post grouted: All soils. Post-grouting
enhances friction capacity of pile
 Pressure grouted: High capacity;
wide range of soils; enhanced friction
capacity by densification & grout
permeation of soil
 Drilled, end bearing: Small diameter,
can transfer high loads to till or rock

41
Hayward Baker, Inc.

Underpinning
 Typical Grouted Micropile Construction
 Detail next

42
FEMA 547

21
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Grouted Micropile Connection Details
 Top plate for tension (placed deep enough into footing), bottom for
compression

43 FEMA 547

Underpinning
Example: Using Minipiles for Seismic Retrofit of
Union Station Theater, St. Louis, Mo.
 Problem: Seismic upgrade of I-70/64 bridge column foundations was
needed, but there was a theater was built around two of them… Access
could only be through a pair of 6 foot high doors
 Solution: Minipile installation w/low overhead drill rig

44 Hayward Baker, Inc.

22
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Minipiles for Seismic Retrofit, Cont’d
 Minipile: pipe to rock,
then drill into rock 18’
 Flush rock hole, place
high-strength (150-ksi)
bar & grout
 Bearing plate on top of
bar + shear studs

Hayward Baker, Inc.

45

Underpinning
 Minipiles for Seismic
Retrofit, Cont’d
 Bar placed in black corrugated plastic
& space within grouted
Existing column and excavated foundation

Completed minipile with cap and rock anchor

Hayward Baker, Inc.
46
High capacity rock anchors with corrosion protection

23
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Example: Underpinning with Minipiles to Repair
Settlement in a SE Florida Parking Garage.
 Problem:

 Three story precast parking garage; shallow foundations with 4 ksf

 Assumed soil: 0 - 25’ firm sand / dense sand & limestone
 But: One interior isolated column began settling
 SPT at that location found isolated pocket of 0 – 13’ sand fill / 7’
organics / dense sand & limestone
 Solution: Minipiles installed w/low overhead drill rig, doweled into
existing column

47 Hayward Baker, Inc.

Underpinning
 Example: Minipiles
for Repair of
Settlement, Cont’d

48
Hayward Baker, Inc.

24
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning
 Example: Minipiles for Repair
of Settlement, Cont’d

Hayward Baker, Inc.

49

Underpinning
 Using Proprietary Steel Anchors
 Helical PulldownTM Anchors (AB CHANCE® Anchors)
 Good sources of info:
- AB Chance Co.
http://www.abchance.com

- Solid Earth Technologies, Inc.

www.solidearthtech.com

50 Solid Earth Technologies, Inc.

25
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Underpinning

 Jacked Steel (Atlas) Piers

 End-bearing piers hydraulically
pushed to load bearing strata
 ATLAS SYSTEMS, INC.
1026-B South Powell Road,
Independence, MO 64056
Telephone: (816) 796-6800, web
http://www.atlassys.com

51
Hayward Baker, Inc. and Atlas Systems, Inc.

Enlarging Footings
 Enlarging Existing Footings

52
FEMA 547

26
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Enlarging Footings

 Some Assumptions in Widening Footings

 Idealized model with uniform pressure

53 After Poul Beckmann, Structural Aspects of Building Conservation, McGraw-Hill Int’l, London, 1995

Enlarging Footings
 Assumptions in Widening Foundations, Cont’d

 Drilled-in SS threaded rods or hooked bars

 Threaded SS PT bars in pressure-grouted holes

54
After Poul Beckmann, Structural Aspects of Building Conservation, McGraw-Hill Int’l, London, 1995

27
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Enlarging Footings
 Widening Concrete Foundations, Cont’d
 Real life: Unequal pressure => more settlement when loaded
 Using flatjacks over the pressure slab to preload soil
 Preload gradually in clay (weeks)

55
After Poul Beckmann, Structural Aspects of Building Conservation, McGraw-Hill Int’l, London, 1995

Enlarging Footings

 Widening Rubble
Foundations
 Pressure grout before
underpinning
 Grout travels easier
horizontally; vertical
spacing of ~ 2 ft?
 Remove finishes to
expose joints

56

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Enlarging Footings
 Widening Rubble Foundations, Cont’d
 Cut into existing foundation
 Alternate the hooks
 Corrosion-resistant coating?

57

Enlarging Footings

 Widening Rubble Foundations, Cont’d…

 Drill and PT after 28 days
 Use to widen the footing or make
a beam to span between new
deep foundations

58

29
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Other Strengthening Issues

 Increasing Uplift Capacity of Column Footings
 Increase size by underpinning as above
 Add drilled piers or soil anchors (use drill bits from 4” to 6” dia.,
insert deformed rod, pump grout as bit is withdrawn). Can PT
rods if anchored into grouted soil below casing.

59
Contractors for FEMA use a power drill to place 4ft long steel anchors into sand to tie
down FEMA travel trailers in Pensacola, June 2005 (FEMA)

Other Strengthening Issues

 Increasing Uplift Capacity of Footings, Cont’d

 Connect to adjacent footings with deep tie beams

 May need a concrete overlay on top of footing
 Will concrete overlay on top of footing help?

60

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Other Strengthening Issues

 Increasing Lateral Resistance of Column Footings

 Increase footing size to increase passive pressure
 Connect to adjacent footings with deep tie beams for same
 Improve soil behind the footing to increase passive pressure

61

Soil Improvement
 Soil Improvement
 Methods depend on type of soil – get expert advice
 For coarse sand and gravel, cement grouting to bind particles
 For fine sands and coarse silts, chemical grout injection (better
penetration than cement but more $)
 For other soils, compaction grouting
 Excellent source of info:
www.haywardbaker.com

62
FEMA 547

31
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Soil Improvement
 Chemical Grout Injection
 Permeation of sands with fluid grouts to produce sandstone-like
masses to carry loads. Grout mixes with sand, forms composite
material with higher soil strength (200-300 psi possible)
 Grouts: Sodium silicates,
Acrylates, Acrylamides,
Polyurethanes …
 Gel sets in 1-3 hrs
 Usually, no heave

Hayward Baker, Inc.

63

Soil Improvement
 Chemical Grouting, Cont’d
 Grout injected in clean sand at regular patterns below footing
 May require holes through floor slab (disruption)

64
Hayward Baker, Inc.

32
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Soil Improvement
 Chemical Grouting, Cont’d
 Proper confinement stress req’d to prevent heave (soil + found. DL
may be OK).
 Cannot be done near the surface – may blow off the soil
 Take precautions not to fill adjacent cracked sewers, duct banks…

65 Hayward Baker, Inc.

Soil Improvement
 Example: Chemical Grouting at Trane Company
Manufacturing Facility, La Crosse, WI
 Problem: Addition to an existing manufacturing facility building would
significantly increase foundation bearing pressure
 Solution: Chemical grouting (sodium silicate) to consolidate clean
sandy soils beneath the footings to increase allowable bearing
capacity and distribute new foundation loading

66
Hayward Baker, Inc.

33
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Soil Improvement
 Example: Chemical Grouting, Cont’d

Installation of sleeve port (Tam) grout

pipes (with holes in sides) using
portable drilling equipment

(Another method of grouting: Pump and

withdraw)

67 Hayward Baker, Inc.

Section Showing Zone Of Stabilized Soil Beneath Footing

Soil Improvement
 Example: Chemical Grouting, Cont’d

Grouting Operations Underway Showing Grout Pipe Locations and

68
Chemical Grout Storage Tanker Hayward Baker, Inc.

34
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Soil Improvement
 Compaction Grouting
 Sim. to chemical, but grout displaces
soil rather than mixes with it. A very
viscous and stiff (0-3” slump) site-
mixed grout is pumped in stages,
forming grout bulbs, which displace &
densify the soil under.
 Some overburden stress req’d
 Can act as both a column and a soil-
improvement system.

69 Hayward Baker, Inc.

Soil Improvement
 Jet Grouting
 High-velocity injection of fluids erodes soil, replaces it with
interconnected soilcrete columns 3-4’ dia. (strength > 1000 psi).
 Widely used to underpin historic structures.
 Gravels and sands easiest to erode, clays more difficult

70 Hayward Baker, Inc.

35
Alexander Newman, P.E.

Soil Improvement

 Jet Grouting Systems

 Single Fluid Jet Grouting (Soilcrete S) – best for cohesionless
soils
 Double Fluid Jet Grouting (Soilcrete D): Grout jet shrouded with
air for more efficient erosion in cohesive soils.
 Triple Fluid Jet Grouting (Soilcrete T):
Grout, air and water are pumped through different lines, yielding
higher quality soilcrete. Most effective system for cohesive soils.
71 Hayward Baker, Inc.

Soil Improvement
 Soil Mixing (“Deep Mixing Method”)
 Mechanical blending of the in situ soil with cementitious materials
(reagent binder) using a hollow stem auger and paddle
arrangement to achieve improved character, generally a design
compressive strength or shear strength and/or permeability.

72 Hayward Baker, Inc.

36
Alexander Newman, P.E.

 In Some Cases, Building Replacement is Best

 A case of Westin La Paloma parking garage in Phoenix.
 400 x 120 ft 2-deck precast structure was built into the side of a hill
on uncompacted fill
 A decade of problems: Subsidence, cracking, rotation of retaining
walls on 3 sides…~$300K of studies and repairs
 Replaced with PT framing on caissons
bypassing the fill

73
Source: ENR, August 4, 1997, p. 17.

Q&A
Alexander Newman, PE
Exponent Failure Analysis Associates,
Natick, MA
(508) 652-8500
anewman@exponent.com
74

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

Live P.E. Exam Review Courses, Fall 2010

ASCE's live P.E. Exam Review Courses on the web will assist ASCE members and other
civil engineers in preparing for the P.E. Exams. Three review courses are offered :

P.E. Civil Exam

P.E. Environmental Exam
P.E. Structural I Exam

In addition, a special Seismic Review webinar is available.

Pay a single site registration fee and an unlimited number of people in your organization can attend at
that site.

For more information and registration visit http://www.asce.org/Content.aspx?id=89

75

P.E. Environmental Exam Review

Course Dates Course Topics

Mon., Aug. 23 Air Quality

Mon., Aug. 30 Waste Water Treatment
Mon., Sept. 13 Hazardous Waste
Mon., Sept. 20 Storm Water
Mon., Sept. 27 Environment Assessment
Mon., Oct. 4 Water Resources

For more information and registration visit

https://secure.asce.org/ASCEWebSite/WEBINAR/ListWebinarDetail.aspx?ProdId=16629

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

P.E. Structural I Exam

Course Dates Course Topics

Wed., Aug. 25 Structural Analysis
Wed., Sept. 1 Masonry Design
Wed., Sept. 8 Concrete Design
Wed., Sept. 15 Steel Design
Wed., Sept. 22 Timber Design
Wed., Sept. 29 Bridge Design

In addition, we will present a Seismic Review course on August 18.

For more information and registration visit
https://secure.asce.org/ASCEWebSite/WEBINAR/ListWebinarDetail.aspx?ProdId=16626

77

P. E. Civil Exam Review, 12-Part Series

Course Dates Course Topics

Tuesday, Aug. 24 Structural Analysis
Thursday, Aug. 26 Strength of Materials
Tuesday, Aug. 31 Geometric Design
Thursday, Sept. 2 Concrete Design
Tuesday, Sept. 7 Soil Mechanics
Thursday, Sept. 9 Foundation Engineering
Tuesday, Sept. 14 Hydraulics
Thursday, Sept. 16 Hydrology
Tuesday, Sept. 21 Steel Design
Thursday, Sept. 23 Waste & Water Treatment
Tuesday, Sept. 28 Construction Materials
Thursday, Sept. 30 Construction Management

For more information and registration visit

https://secure.asce.org/ASCEWebSite/WEBINAR/ListWebinarDetail.aspx?ProdId=16627

78

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Alexander Newman, P.E.

P. E. Civil Exam Review, Three Depth

Sessions

Course Dates Course Topics

Tue., Oct. 5 Traffic Engineering
Wed., Oct. 6 Geotechnical
Thru., Oct. 7 Water Resources

For more information and registration visit

https://secure.asce.org/ASCEWebSite/WEBINAR/ListWebinarDetail.aspx?ProdId=16632

79

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