MARINE OIL TERMINALS

Division 6

SECTION 3106F 2. Adequate coverage of subsurface data, both hori-

GEOTECHNICAL HAZARDS AND FOUNDATIONS
3106F.1 General.
3106F.1.1 Purpose. This section provides minimum stan-
dards for analyses and evaluation of geotechnical hazards
and foundations under static and seismic conditions.
3106F.1.2 Applicability. The requirements provided
herein apply to all new and existing MOTs.
3106F.1.3 Loading. The loading for geotechnical hazard
assessment and foundation analyses under static and seis-
mic conditions is provided in Sections 3103F and 3104F.
3106F.2 Site characterization. Site characterization shall be
based on site-specific geotechnical information. If existing
information is used, the geotechnical engineer of record shall
provide adequate justification.
3106F.2.1 Site classes. Each MOT shall be assigned at least
one site class. Site Classes A, B, C, D, and E are defined in
Table 31F-6-1, and Site Class F is defined by any of the fol-
lowing:
1. Soils vulnerable to significant potential loss of stiff-
ness, strength, and/or volume under seismic loading
due to liquefiable soils, quick and highly sensitive
clays, and/or collapsible weakly cemented soils.
2. Peats and/or highly organic clays, where the thick-
ness of peat or highly organic clay exceeds 10 feet.
3. Very high plasticity clays with a plasticity index (PI)
greater than 75, where the thickness of clay exceeds
25 feet.
4. Very thick soft/medium stiff clays with undrained
shear strength less than 1,000 psf, where the thick-
ness of clay exceeds 120 feet.
3106F.2.2 Site-specific information.
1. Site-specific investigations shall include adequate
borings and/or cone penetration tests (CPTs) and
other appropriate field methods, to enable the deter-
mination of geotechnical parameters.
TABLE 31F-6-1
SITE CLASSES
SITE CLASS SOIL PROFILE
zontally and vertically, shall be obtained to develop
geotechnical parameters.
3. Exploration shall be deep enough to characterize
subsurface materials that are affected by embank-
ment behavior and shall extend to depth of at least
20 feet below the deepest foundation depth.
4. During field exploration, particular attention shall
be given to the presence of continuous low-strength
layers or thin soil layers that could liquefy or
weaken during the design earthquake shaking.
5. CPTs provide continuous subsurface profile and
shall be used to complement exploratory borings.
When CPTs are performed, at least one boring shall
be performed next to one of the CPT soundings to
check that the CPT-soil behavior type interpreta-
tions are reasonable for the site. Any difference
between CPT interpretation and subsurface condi-
tion obtained from borings shall be reconciled.
6. Quantitative site soil stratigraphy is required to a
depth of 100 feet for assigning a site class (see
Table 31F-6-1).
7. Laboratory tests may be necessary to supplement
the borings and insitu field tests.
3106F.3 Seismic loads for geotechnical evaluations. Section
3103F.4 defines the earthquake loads to be used for struc-
tural and geotechnical evaluations in terms of design Peak
Ground Accelerations (PGA), spectral accelerations and
design earthquake magnitude. Values used for analyses are
based on Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analyses (PSHA)
using two levels of seismic performance criteria (Section
3104F.2.1 and Table 31F-4-1).
3106F.4 Liquefaction potential. The liquefaction potential of
the soils in the immediate vicinity of or beneath each MOT,
and associated slopes, embankments or rock dikes shall be
evaluated for the PGAs associated with seismic performance
Levels 1 and 2. Liquefaction potential evaluation should fol-
AVERAGE VALUES FOR TOP 100 FEET OF SOIL PROFILE3
Shear Wave Velocity, Standard Penetration Test, Undrained Shear Strength,
VS [ft/sec] SPT [blows/ft] SU [psf]

A Hard Rock > 5,000

B Rock 2,500 to 5,000
C Very Stiff/Very Dense Soil and Soft Rock 1,200 to 2,500 > 50 > 2,000
D Soft/Dense Soil Profile 600 to 1,200 15 to 50 1,000 to 2,000
E1, 2 Soft/Loose Soil Profile < 600 < 15 < 1,000
F Defined in Section 3106F.2.1
1. Site Class E also includes any soil profile with more than 10 feet of soft clay (defined as a soil with a plasticity index, PI > 20, water content > 40 percent and
Su < 500 psf).
2. The plasticity index, P1, and the moisture content shall be determined in accordance with ASTM D4318 [6.1] and ASTM D2216 [6.2], respectively.
3. Conversion of CPT data to estimate equivalent Vs, SPT blow count, or Su is allowed.

542 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE