A project’s successful performance during and after construction is our number one objective. Raba-Kistner’s geotechnical design studies meet this objective for a diversity of projects.

Clients use Raba-Kistner’s services to assess soil/rock foundations for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Studies also direct foundation decisions for tanks, towers, cranes, dams, docks, and bulkheads. Clients receive a preliminary site reconnaissance and an evaluation of the project’s feasibility and/or master planning. Recommendations are then developed for foundation design and construction.

The performance of sloped or braced excavations and trenches rely on geotechnical design studies. Projects may include wooden shoring, trench boxes, tie-backs, soldier piers, and diaphragm walls. Our studies evaluate lateral pressures and bearing capacities. As part of dewatering system design, our geotechnical design studies assist construction and protection of permanent structures. An evaluation often recommends well points and French drains using mineral or synthetic materials. Design studies of retaining walls and cutoff walls requires a critical evaluation of lateral pressures, bearing capacities, and drainage.

The design and construction of concrete and earthen dams, embankment and excavation slopes are based on engineering studies. Raba-Kistner develops project criteria using computer-aided design analyses.

Geotechnical design studies often provide clients with general pavement guidelines. Raba-Kistner’s broad experience with similar conditions and soil classification and testing supports the quality of our studies. Comprehensive pavement design studies for parking lots, roadways, and airfields require more complex on-site and laboratory testing techniques. Our team fulfills these project requirements using California Bearing Ratio, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Triaxial and Dynaflect methods.

Geotechnical engineering evaluations are conducted for siting, design, and construction of numerous water and waste retention/disposal projects. Clients' objectives range from man-made ponds for retaining water to industrial and municipal effluents, and percolating rainfall runoff. Studies also meet the needs of liquid and solid waste disposal sites (hazardous and nonhazardous).