Geotechnical Design

Foundation Design

Foundation design depends on the load-bearing capacity of the soil and the type of structure being built. Common foundation solutions include:

✔ Shallow Foundations:

• Strip footings
• Pad footings
• Raft foundations (for weak soils or variable loads)

✔ Deep Foundations:

• Piled foundations (bored, driven, CFA)
• Pile groups & pile caps

✔ Ground Improvement Techniques:

• Soil stabilisation (lime or cement treatment)
• Stone columns
• Dynamic compaction

Slope Stability & Earthworks Design

For projects involving cuttings, embankments, or slopes, our geotechnical engineers assess:

• Design to prevent landslides or failure.
• Retaining wall requirements (e.g., gravity walls, reinforced soil).
• Ground reinforcement (e.g., geogrids, soil nails, anchors).
• Erosion control measures to protect slopes.

Retaining Structure Design

Retaining walls must resist soil pressures, water loads, and potential surcharge. Our engineers typically design:

• Gravity Walls – Mass concrete or gabions for stability.
• Cantilever Walls – Reinforced concrete with footings for additional resistance.
• Sheet Piling – Used for deep excavations or waterfront projects.
• Soil Nailed & Reinforced Earth Walls – Cost-effective solutions for steep slopes.

Groundwater & Drainage Considerations

Groundwater can reduce soil strength and cause instability. Geotechnical design often includes:

• Dewatering systems (e.g., well points, deep wells, sump pumping).
• Permeability and seepage analysis to assess groundwater movement.

At SSC we utilise the following software:

📌 Slope/W – Slope stability analysis.

📌 PDisp – Ground settlement analysis.

📌 XDisp Pro – building, utilities and rail damage assessments.

📌 Wallap / CADPWS – Retaining wall design.

📌 Repute – Pile group analysis.

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