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Murphy Parkway Warehouse <br />December 19, 2016 <br />Job No. 146-618 <br />Page 4 <br />and caving soils may require formwork to keep them open. <br />The surface soils include low permeability layers and have variable drainage characteristics. The surface <br />soils have high silt contents that render them sensitive to moisture contents. High moisture content soils <br />are likely to be unstable under construction equipment, and require considerable aeration in order to <br />achieve a moisture content that will allow compaction. The surface soils are likely to have high moisture <br />conditions during the wet season and for several weeks following rains or irrigation. Subsurface soils <br />within a few feet of groundwater are likely to have high moisture contents year round. The potential for <br />high soil moisture contents should be considered in construction scheduling. <br />SOIL LIQUEFACTION POTENTIAL <br />Soil liquefaction is the loss of strength of low- to no- cohesion soils (usually sands) that occurs when <br />pore water pressure exceeds the confining stress (weight) of the soils. Liquefaction normally occurs only <br />under saturated conditions and in soils with a low relative density. Liquefaction can occur during <br />earthquakes as vibrations induce soils to readjust to a more compact state. Experience has shown that <br />earthquake induced liquefaction normally occurs only within the upper 50 to 60 feet of the soil profile. <br />The test borings show loose to medium dense sands and sandy silts within the upper nine feet. Layers <br />of medium dense to dense sandy soils are indicated between depths of six and 50 feet. The soils below <br />depths of 13 to 14 feet below the building pad level are likely to be saturated year round. Slightly higher <br />groundwater levels may be possible, but the duration of such high groundwater levels is expected to be <br />limited. <br />We have used the methods of Seed and others as implemented in the LiquefyPro software by CivilTech <br />Corporation to assess the liquefaction susceptibility of the sandy soils, as well as to evaluate potential <br />settlements of the loose near surface soils during seismic shaking. The method correlates standard <br />penetration resistance and liquefaction potential based on historical case studies. In determining <br />liquefaction potential, groundwater depth, confining pressures, and, intensity and duration of potential <br />ground shaking are considered. <br />Probabilistic seismic hazards mapping by the United States Geological Survey indicates that the peak <br />ground acceleration produced by maximum credible earthquakes on nearby faults (10 percent probability <br />of exceedance in 50 years) is likely to be on the order of 0.28 g. Interpretations according to the ASCE <br />7-10 standard indicates that the peak ground acceleration produced by maximum credible earthquakes <br />with a two percent probability of exceedance in 50 years is likely to be on the order of 0.43g. The <br />controlling earthquakes in developing these accelerations appear to mostly be events of magnitude 6.5 <br />to 6.7 occurring within the Coast Range/Central Valley (CRCV) boundary zone about 21 kilometers to <br />the southwest. Using these earthquake data, our analysis indicates that seismic induced liquefaction on <br />this project is unlikely, although some sandy soils at depths of near 40 feet may approach a state of <br />liquefaction under the highest levels of shaking. Settlements of the soils during maximum seismic <br />shaking are estimated to be on the order of one quarter inch. The results of the analyses can be viewed <br />on Plate 25, Liquefaction Analysis.