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Geotechnical Engineering Report <br />l Home Base Warehouse - Everett <br />July 31, 1997 <br />NCA File No. 213497 <br />l Page 9 <br />Although structural loading information was not available at the time of this study, based on our <br />experience with similar structures supported on similar soil conditions and for the recommended <br />allowable soil bearing pressures, we estimate that the potential total settlement is less than I inch, and <br />that the potential differential settlement is less than 3/4 inch over a distance of about 20 feet. <br />1 Lateral Pressures <br />+ The lateral pressure acting on retaining walls is dependent on the nature and density of the soil behind <br />the wall, the amount of lateral wall movement which can occur as backfrll is placed, wall drainage <br />conditions, and the inclination of the backfrll. For walls that are free to yield at the top at least one - <br />thousandth of the height of the wall, soil pressures will be less than if movement is limited by such <br />factors as wall stiffness or bracing. We recommend that yielding walls supporting horizontal backfrll <br />and not subjected to hydrostatic forces be designed using an equivalent fluid density of 35 pounds per <br />lcubic foot (pcf). Non -yielding walls supporting horizontal backfrll and not subjected to hydrostatic <br />forces should be designed using an equivalent fluid density of 55 pcf. These lateral soil pressures do not <br />( include the effects of surcharges such as traffic loads, hydrostatic pressure, inclined backslopes, or other <br />surcharge loads. Surcharge effects should be considered, if appropriate. We ran provide <br />i recommendations for surcharge loads as they become apparent, if desired. <br />Lateral loads can be resisted by friction between the foundation and subgrade and the passive resistance <br />act; ^g on the below -grade foundation. For the latter, the foundation must be placed "neat" against the <br />undisturbed soil, or backfilled with a clean, free -draining, compacted structural fill; and the ground <br />surface adjacent to the footing must be level for a distance from the footing of at least 2 times the depth <br />of the footing. We recommend that lateral passive resistance be cai-ulated by using an equivalent fluid <br />density of 250 pcf. An allowable coefficient of friction between footings and the subgrade of 0.4 may be <br />used, and should be applied to the vertical dead load only. These values include a factor of safety of 1.5 <br />and 2.0 for friction and passive resistance, respectively, applied to the estimated ultimate soil steng$i. <br />The above wall pressures assume that the wall is drained and hydrostatic pressures do not develop. Wall <br />drains are discussed in the Subsurface Drainage sub -section of this report. <br />NELSON-COUVRETTE & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />