22. INVESTIGATION
What is the Purpose of an Investigation ?
• Due diligence prior to Site Acquisition
• Due diligence / satisfy Ordinance prior to
Construction
• Determination of Causation
• To obtain data to be used in Repair Design
• Investigation of sinkhole Development Trends
23. Due Diligence
Would you want to know the condition of this
detention basin before purchase ?
30. INVESTIGATION
What are the Components of an Investigation ?
• Review of site geology
• Conduct site walk site to observe physical
conditions
• Review of site history
• Conduct intrusive investigations
Geophysical Survey
Soil Borings / Probes
Excavation
Drilling
41. Look for Sources of Water During
Investigation
• Storm water runoff in natural features
• Storm water runoff over/into man-made
features
• Utilities
• Grading
45. History Review
What Would Be Important About Site History ?
• Has there been sinkhole activity history?
• Were prior sinkhole repairs completed ?
• Has any construction/site work been
completed recently ?
• What was the chronology of events ?
• Was there historic mining in the area ?
46. Surface Subsidence Repair or
Deeper Soils Issue ?
How long has subsidence
been active ?
Was there a history of
settlement or any repairs ?
59. • Mitigation practices are retrofits of proper
design
• BMP’s should be used during both
mitigation & construction
• Showing the proper design on the plans
leads the contractor to better results
Mitigation, BMPs & Design
60. Excavation is typically one of the final
steps in the investigation of a sinkhole
and the first step in the mitigation.
Excavation:
• Removes loose soils
•Provides a 1st
hand view of the collapse
•Permits channels to be traces
•May expose the throat or bedrock
Mitigation, BMPs & Design
67. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
Once excavation is completed backfill
can begin.
• Native soils typically have enough clay content
to be used in the repair.
• Use of bentonite clay will decrease the
permeability of the soil limiting water
movement.
• Flowable fill may be appropriate, too.
75. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
Pressure Grouting (Compaction, Permeation,
Consolidation, and Penetration Grouting)
• Improves bearing capacity of soil
• Fills voids
• Stabilized and supports foundations
• Seals channels within the soil or rock
78. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
Utilities are frequently the source of water that
can cause sinkholes. Proper design and
construction can minimize those impacts.
Bedding
Compaction
Clay Dikes
Piping
Storm Water
Drinking Water
Sewers
Irrigation
Electrical
85. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
•Following BMPs during construction limits
the amount of water encountering
carbonate bedrock.
•The BMPs are mostly just plain common
sense.
86. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
• Provide positive drainage away from building areas
and exposed rock at all times during
construction.
• Avoid water ponding or the concentration of
surface flow, which could result in surface erosion
and allow runoff to enter the sub-grade.
• Excavations, such as those for footings and utilities,
should be covered as soon as possible after
exposure. No more trenching should be opened than
can be backfilled that same day.
91. • Backfill should be placed in layers and compacted and
should be no more permeable than the adjacent soils.
• Where rock is encountered, excavation methods other
than blasting are favored. Blasting should be
performed by a contractor experienced with localized,
controlled blasting to minimize rock disturbance away
from the blast area.
• Exterior finish grades should provide for positive
drainage of run-off away from the building areas.
Mitigation, BMPs & Design
98. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
• Avoid deep cuts, especially in the building
areas. Where possible, keep ground floor
levels at or above existing grades. Where
basements are considered, poured
concrete walls should be considered.
• The area immediately adjacent to building
walls should be impermeable to reduce or
prevent infiltration of runoff into foundation
areas.
101. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
• Underground piping should be leak-proof
(gasketed joints, etc.). Use somewhat
conservative design to allow flexibility,
particularly at building entrances. Leakage
can be a prime source of origin of post-
construction sinkhole activity.
104. Mitigation, BMPs & Design
• Roof drainage should be piped and discharged
into the storm system.
• Underground piping should be properly
bedded. Where non-uniform rock conditions,
e.g. pinnacles, boulders, etc., are encountered
at the bedding elevation, the rock should be
over excavated at least 1 ft. and replaced with
compacted soil.