350, Construct an addition for new , Studies & ReportsAmerican Geotechnical
A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
October 18, 1988
File No. 1645
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Works, Geology Section
900 So. Fremont Avenue, Third Floor
Alhambra, CA 91803
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO GEOLOGIC AND GEOTECHNICAL REVIEW
SHEETS
dated August 1 and August 10, 1988, respectively,
Lot 6, Tract 29383
20 Buggywhip Drive
RollingHills, California
Gentlemen:
In response to the County of Los Angeles' Geotechnical
Engineering Review Sheet dated August 10, 1988, several.
items are requested for additional information. For your
convenience we have reiterated the items in question
followed by American Geotechnical's.response.
Item 1:
Item 2:,
Response:
"Provide the design parameters and analysis used
to determine the diameter, depth, and spacing
of the caissons. This analysis must show that
the site will be stabilized by the chosen
caisson schedule."
"The geologist (and) the soils engineer must
make a finding in accordance with Section 309.,
Los Angeles County Building Code."
Design criteria for underpinning foundation
systems was provided in the American
Geotechnical May 31, 1986 report, Figures 11
and 12. Therein conventional design criteria
are provided for friction piles. Criteria was
based on the results of laboratory testing and
engineering analyses as are presented in the
May 1986 report. The actual structural load-
ings, caisson and grade beam dimensioning have
been the responsibility of the project struc-
tural engineering, South Bay Engineering.
25202 Crenshaw Boulevard -Suite 101-Torrance, CA 90505 (213) 539-9983
5755 Oberlin Drive -Suite 104-San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 457-2711
1240 Van Buren -Suite 210 -Anaheim, CA 92807 (714) 666-2241
File No. 1645
October 18, 1988
Page 2
American Geotechnical
A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
Damage to the structure was identified in the
May 1986 report as primarily slope influences.
Although settlement of the fill may have been a
minor contributing factor, the slope influences
were considered more significant. The
structure at the site is quite close to the
descending fill slope which near the top of
slope is moderate to steep. Since the distress
to the structure was not resulting from gross
instability, criteria for remedial treatment
was developed to mitigate against those
processes contributing to distress. It was,
recommended that the structure be underpinned
and that underpinning be extended through the
fill and through existing landslide debris
underlying the site. Although there was not an
intent to increase gross stability in excess of
the County criteria, undoubtedly there'will'be
considerable benefit by the caissons penetrat-
ing the landslide surface. Presently,,we
estimate there are 59 deep caissons planned.
which penetrate the landslide surface by 18 to
25 feet each. Although a rough estimate of
factor -of -safety improvement could be made
based upon available information and assump-
tions as to conditions beyond those reviewed,
analyzing the factor -of -safety improvement is
beyond the scope of the current consulting. It
must be kept in mind that the underpinning is
considered "remedial treatment" and site
conditions will undoubtedly be improved
substantially as a result of the foundation
system as proposed. If the County finds it,
essential that additional stability calcula-
tions be conducted, the client should consider
drilling additional borings to further delin-
eate subsurface geometry including the land-
slide and shear key originally constructed.
Item 3: "Clarify that the orientation of Section A -A'
analyzed is the most critical.".
Response: Cross Section A -A' presented in the original
report was considered representative of the
underlying geotechnical conditions.' The
location of A -A' was selected because it
coincided with the best geologic information
available from subsurface exploration. Consid-
eration of a possibly more critical cross
File No. .1645
October 18, 1988
Page 3
American Geotechnical
A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
section, a second Cross Section X-X'.has been
prepared and has been included herein. It must
be kept in mind that X-X' utilizes projected
geologic information whereas borings were on
line with Cross Section A -A'. In Cross Section
X-X' the landslide head scarp was modified
slightly from Cross Section A -A' based on
additional view of stereoscopic aerial
photographs..
'It is hoped that the_information contained herein is
sufficient to allow permitting of the remedial construction.
If additional information is required, please do not
hesitate to. call.
Respectfully„„pubmitted,
AMERIC • �EQtTECHNICAL
r
fr
Gregory s)N Fxtrei��o��Q R f�`o f f
Principalrf��,wt•},eee Prs cs a3 Geologist
R.C.E. 26098 . C.E.G. 1183
G.E. 103
Distribution: 2 - City of Rolling Hills
2 Portuguese Bend Road
•Rolling Hills, CA 90274
l South Bay Engineering
304-Tejon Place
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Attn: Rick Morales
1 Russ Barto
#3 Malaga Cove Plaza, #202
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Attn: Max Wuthrich
2 - Allstate Insurance Co.
P.O. Box 17100
17100•Pioneer Boulevard, #200
Artesia,. CA 90701
Attn: Rosie Barnes
ELEVATION (FT)
X
990-
980
970-
960-
950-
940-
930-
920-
910
900-
890-
88b
870-
860-
850-
ERODED SCARP IDENTIFIED
FROM 1972 PHOTOS
Tm
Qls
o
OBI
4q;(
16 TRUE
DIP � \
��G �G1
5
O sci
Tm
EMBEDMENT.
PER CASSION
SCHEDUAL
EMBEDMENT
PER CASSION
SCHEDUAL
EXISTING GRADED SLOPE
AND PAD GRADE
Qaf
-990
-980
-970
-960
- 950
- 940
PREEXISTING NATURAL
SLOPE -930
-920
9
- 910
?� ? -900
Tm -890
-880
- 870
-860
-850
SCALE: 1"=16'
(AA) NOIIVA 13
GEOLOGIC CROSS SECTIONLX-X�
American Geotechnical
F.N. 1645 OCT. 1988 PLATE 1
ELEVATION (FT)
X
990-
980-
970-
960-
950-
940-
930-
920-
910-
900-
890-
886-
870-
860-
850-
ERODED SCARP IDENTIFIED
FROM 1972 PHOTOS
Tm
Qls
�O
0�
O(<'
7
\„I 16° TRUE DIP
9 TRUE
13 ° TRUE DIP \
G�O 0�
co(''�0
_,�0 �05
bO �p
TRUE DIP 19 ° \ \
Tm
EMBEDMENT
PER CASSION
SCHEDUAL
EMBEDMENT
PER CASSION
SCHEDUAL
EXISTING GRADED SLOPE
AND PAD GRADE
Qaf
PREEXISTING NATURAL
SLOPE
Tm
--990
-980
-970
-960
-950
-940
- 930
-920
- 910
- 900
-890
-880
- 870
-860
-850
SCALE: 1"=16'
(Id) NOI1VA313
GEOLOGIC CROSS SECTION ,jX-X'
American Geotechnical
F.N. 1645 OCT. 1988 PLATE 1