Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities

The investigations on hand were performed due to the increasing number of deformations on marble cladding panels on building facades caused by atmospheric influences. A special triple dilatometer was developed to measure the thermal expansion of two kinds of marble that are typically used in stonemasonry, namely white crystalline marble from Carrara and Laas (both Italy). The strong anisotropy of their thermal expansion was investigated systematically, with special consideration of residual dilatations (thermal hysteresis). In analyzing the results, it becomes evident that there is a causal relation between this anisotropy and the observed permanent deformations of marble cladding panels. Measurements of the water absorption capacity of marble after different thermal pretreatments indicate a loosening of the grain boundaries in marble caused by temperature changes. The paper concludes that the strong thermal anisotropy of marble is an important factor for the lack of durability of this building material and therefore should no longer be neglected when producing marble panels.

This paper describes the failure of the Desert View Drive fill embankment in La Jolla, Calif. The embankment was built in late 1960 or early 1961. Other than a report of surficial instability in 1977, the embankment was marginally stable (factor of safety of 1.15) until 1990, when an excavation group cut into the embankment to construct a building pad and house. The resulting failure of the Desert View Drive fill embankment was a progressive failure, starting as a circular mode and eventually increasing to a wedge type movement of the entire fill embankment. The legal theories used as the basis to sue the city of San Diego were that (1) the city officials were aware of the defective condition (poor compaction) of the embankment, but they did not fix this condition; and (2) they failed to provide subjacent support to the homeowners property. The repair of the fill embankment consisted of the construction of 40 massive piers anchored in the underlying Ardath shale.

In the northern area of New Jersey along the Hackensack and Hudson Rivers exists a vast marsh known locally as the “Meadowlands.” The geologic history and land formations of these areas provide subsurface conditions that have lead to difficulties in design and construction, resulting in a number of problems with structures. In the past, these less suitable areas may not have been considered because of their poor subsurface characteristics, but the scarcity of prime development sites has made the use of the Meadowland areas desirable. Problems, such as excessive settlement, low bearing capacity, high water level, frost heave, and corrosion potential are associated with construction in these areas. This paper presents the findings of a literature review regarding foundation design and construction in marshy areas and provides examples of problems associated with structures in the Meadowlands area of Kearny, N.J. It concludes with recommendations for dealing with these issues in future construction.

During the last century, our perspective on foundation failures has changed profoundly. No longer are they seen as “acts of God,” but rather as opportunities for investigation and analysis. Failure investigation and analysis has become a hallmark of the geotechnical engineering profession as a way to verify geotechnical knowledge and theory. The present paper examines two frequently investigated failures, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Transcona Grain Elevator, in order to ascertain why these case studies have been important in a technical sense to the profession. The second half of the paper examines how historical and traditional cultures have symbolically interpreted foundation failures in the structures they have built, and how they have tried to prevent these failures by developing and implementing various ritual practices, especially feng shui . Some anthropologists argue that people perform such rituals because they want to feel that they have some control over their environment; others argue that the only thing empowered by the ritual is the person or groups who control the practice of the ritual.

Structural distress in concrete swimming pools caused by settlement or consolidation of dissimilar bearing strata was documented in an ASCE technical note by Kovacs in 1992. A particular mechanism described in the note was of postconstruction fill collapse causing differential settlement. This creates strain in the pool shell, leading to cracking. Water leaking through the cracks can then cause further collapse of sensitive soils, and may eventually lead to failure of the pool foundation. The writer has experience of a similar situation, but in this case believes the cause to be water leakage prior to cracking of the pool. The pool was part of a large mountainside hotel complex, and the structural problems had potential for serious damage. The writer agrees with the points raised by Kovacs, and the subsequent discussion papers, but believes that this case history identifies other important factors that should also be considered, both in pool construction and remediation.

Poor performance of cantilever retaining walls has been observed at many sites in Southern California during postconstruction investigations. It was found that, in many cases, distress occurred because the walls were constructed outside of the original design criteria. Our studies indicate that during mass grading development projects, walls are frequently designed using soil parameters obtained during a preliminary soil investigation. When actual construction of a given wall begins, conditions encountered sometimes vary dramatically from what was originally expected or intended. Unless the soil design criteria are reevaluated and modifications made to the original wall design, an inadequate wall may be constructed and over time according distress will occur.