Report Information
Status: Completed
Uploaded: Jul 10, 2026 17:21
Uploaded by: Anonymous
PDF File
Summary
A geotechnical exploration was conducted for the proposed Dollar General located at US Highway 75 and West Pleasant Avenue in Warren, Minnesota. The investigation involved the advancement of nine soil test borings to depths ranging from approximately 11 to 21 feet below existing site grades. The subsurface profile revealed the presence of uncontrolled fill and organic topsoil extending to depths of 1 to 3 feet, underlain by lean and fat clays, which exhibited varying degrees of consistency from very soft to stiff. Groundwater was not observed during drilling, but based on sample moisture conditions, it is estimated to be between 10 and 12 feet below the surface. The presence of fat clays indicates potential for volumetric changes due to moisture fluctuations, necessitating careful management during construction to avoid disturbance of the natural soils.
For the foundation design, shallow spread footings are recommended, with a net allowable bearing pressure of 1,500 psf for columns and 1,200 psf for walls, requiring a minimum embedment of 60 inches for frost protection. It is crucial to excavate and replace the existing uncontrolled fill and topsoil with controlled engineered fill to ensure adequate support. Construction considerations include maintaining moisture content in the subgrade, preventing disturbance from construction traffic, and implementing effective drainage to mitigate groundwater issues. Overall, the site is deemed suitable for the proposed development, provided that the outlined recommendations are followed and that Terracon is retained for monitoring during construction activities.
Document Sections
| Section Type | Start Page | End Page | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Summary | 5 | 5 | Overview of geotechnical exploration and key findings. |
| Introduction | 6 | 6 | Purpose and scope of the geotechnical engineering services. |
| Project Information | 6 | 7 | Details about the project description and site location. |
| Subsurface Conditions | 7 | 8 | Description of subsurface soil profiles and groundwater conditions. |
| Recommendations for Design and Construction | 8 | 19 | Geotechnical recommendations for earthwork, foundations, floor slabs, and pavements. |
| General Comments | 19 | 20 | Final comments and recommendations for monitoring and further evaluation. |
| Appendix A - Field Exploration | 20 | 24 | Details of field exploration methods and boring logs. |
| Appendix B - Supporting Information | 24 | 24 | Laboratory testing data and results. |
| Appendix C - Supporting Documents | 24 | 24 | General notes and soil classification system. |
Boring Log Pages: 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
Key Fields
Fill Depth Range Page 5
Range: 1.0 - 3.0 feet
Reference: Found in Executive Summary: uncontrolled fill and organic topsoil encountered to depths ranging from 1 to 3 feet.
Bearing Stratum Page 8
Description: Fat clay (CH), grayish brown, stiff
Depth Range: 3.0 - 21.0 feet
Reference: Identified in the Recommendations section where the building can be supported on natural, undisturbed soils or engineered fill.
Groundwater Depth Page 3
Depth: 10.0 feet
Note: Estimated groundwater level based on sample moisture conditions.
Reference: Found in the Groundwater section where it states groundwater level is estimated to be between 10 and 12 feet.
Recommended Bearing Capacity Page 12
Value: 1500 psf
Foundation Type: shallow
Reference: Stated in the Foundations section for column loads.
Settlement Limits
Total Settlement: 1.0 inches
Reference: Total settlement limit for columns is less than 1 inch.
Differential Settlement: 0.75 inches
Reference: Differential settlement limit is less than ¾ inch over 40 feet.
Pile Load Capacity
Compression Capacity: None kips
Reference: None
Tension Capacity: None kips
Reference: None
Foundations Information
Foundations Summary
The geotechnical report for the Proposed Dollar General in Warren, Minnesota, recommends a shallow spread foundation system supported on natural, undisturbed soils or engineered fill after the removal of unsuitable fill and topsoil. The report outlines specific design parameters for the foundation, including allowable bearing pressures, embedment depths, and settlement criteria. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of proper site preparation and monitoring during construction to ensure the integrity of the foundation system.
General Foundation Recommendations (Shallow Foundations)
Foundation Type: Shallow Foundation
Allowable Bearing Capacity: 1.5 ksf
Reasoning: The net allowable bearing pressure for columns is 1,500 psf, which is the pressure in excess of the minimum surrounding overburden pressure at the footing base elevation.
Depth Requirement: 5.0 feet
Reasoning: Minimum embedment below finished grade for frost protection is 60 inches.
Settlement Criteria: Approximate total settlement is less than 1 inch, with estimated differential settlement of less than ¾ inch between columns and less than ¾ inch over 40 feet.
Additional Recommendations
It is recommended that Terracon be retained to monitor the construction operations to ensure compliance with the geotechnical recommendations and to address any variations in soil conditions encountered during excavation.
Boring Logs (8 found)
B-1 Terminated at 21.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 1.0 | - | TOPSOIL (OL), black | - | - | - |
| 2 | 1.0 - 4.0 | CL | LEAN CLAY (CL), grayish brown, soft | 3 @ 1.5' | - | - |
| 3 | 4.0 - 9.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), grayish brown, medium stiff, with lenses of silt | 7 @ 5.0' | - | - |
| 4 | 9.0 - 19.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown mottled, very stiff | 5 @ 15.0' | - | - |
| 5 | 19.0 - 21.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), dark grayish brown, very stiff | 4 @ 20.0' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 21 Feet
B-2 Terminated at 21.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 1.0 | OL | TOPSOIL (OL), black | - | - | - |
| 2 | 1.0 - 2.0 | CL | LEAN CLAY (CL), grayish brown, soft | 2 @ 2.0' | - | - |
| 3 | 2.0 - 4.0 | CL | LEAN CLAY WITH SAND (CL), dark grayish brown, stiff | 8 @ 4.0' | - | - |
| 4 | 4.0 - 19.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, very stiff | 8 @ 19.0' | - | - |
| 5 | 19.0 - 21.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), dark grayish brown, very stiff | 6 @ 21.0' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 21 Feet
B-3 Terminated at 21.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 1.0 | - | TOPSOIL (OL), black | - | - | - |
| 2 | 1.0 - 3.0 | CL | FILL - LEAN CLAY (CL), brown and dark grayish brown | 3 @ 3.0' | - | - |
| 3 | 3.0 - 14.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, medium stiff to stiff to very stiff, with lenses and laminations of silt, 2 inch silt layer at 13' | 6 @ 14.0' | - | - |
| 4 | 14.0 - 21.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), dark grayish brown, medium stiff | 6 @ 21.0' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 21 Feet
B-5 Terminated at 21.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 0.6 | - | FILL - CLAYEY SAND, brown, with a trace of gravel | 6 @ 0.6' | - | - |
| 2 | 0.6 - 3.0 | - | TOPSOIL (OL), black | 10 @ 1.2' | - | - |
| 3 | 3.0 - 7.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), grayish brown, stiff | 11 @ 7.0' | - | - |
| 4 | 7.0 - 14.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, stiff, with lenses of silt | 6 @ 14.0' | - | - |
| 5 | 14.0 - 21.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), dark grayish brown, soft | 4 @ 21.0' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 21 Feet
B-6 Terminated at 11.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 2.0 | - | FILL - POORLY GRADED SAND WITH SILT, brown, with a trace of gravel | 6 @ 0.3' | - | - |
| 2 | 2.0 - 4.0 | CL | LEAN CLAY WITH SAND (CL), grayish brown, stiff | 14 @ 3.5' | - | - |
| 3 | 4.0 - 7.0 | CL | LEAN CLAY (CL), dark grayish brown, very stiff | 17 @ 5.5' | - | - |
| 4 | 7.0 - 11.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), light olive brown, stiff to medium stiff, with lenses of silt | 7 @ 10.0' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 11 Feet
B-7 Terminated at 11.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 1.5 | - | TOPSOIL (OL), black | 14 @ 0.3' | - | - |
| 2 | 1.5 - 4.0 | CL | LEAN CLAY (CL), grayish brown, soft | 2 @ 4.0' | - | - |
| 3 | 4.0 - 7.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, soft | 3 @ 7.0' | - | - |
| 4 | 7.0 - 11.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, medium stiff, with lenses of silt | 7 @ 11.0' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 11 Feet
B-8 Terminated at 11.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 1.0 | - | TOPSOIL (OL), black | - | - | - |
| 2 | 1.0 - 4.0 | CL | LEAN CLAY (CL), grayish brown to dark grayish brown, stiff | 8 @ 1.0' | - | - |
| 3 | 4.0 - 7.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, soft | 4 @ 4.0' | - | - |
| 4 | 7.0 - 11.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, stiff, with lenses of silt | 8 @ 7.0' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 11 Feet
B-9 Terminated at 11.0 ft
| # | Depth (ft) | USCS | Description | SPT N | Sampler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 - 1.0 | - | TOPSOIL (OL), black | - | - | - |
| 2 | 1.0 - 4.0 | CH | FAT CLAY WITH SAND (CH), grayish brown, soft | 3 @ 1.1' | - | - |
| 3 | 4.0 - 7.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown mottled, medium stiff | 5 @ 4.1' | - | - |
| 4 | 7.0 - 11.0 | CH | FAT CLAY (CH), olive brown, stiff, with lenses of silt | 10 @ 7.1' | - | - |
Termination: Boring Terminated at 11 Feet