Failures

Although nobody likes to see a failure, especially a catastrophic one, it is important to learn whatever we can from them so that the geo-community does not make the same mistakes again.

Excavator mounted drilled shaft rig topples over in Austin, Texas
Failures

Drilled Shaft Rig Topples in Austin, Texas [Video]

March 2, 2010 rockman Comments Off on Drilled Shaft Rig Topples in Austin, Texas [Video]

Excavator mounted drilled shaft rig topples over in Austin, Texas An excavator mounted drill rig drilling shafts as part of a project to pass utilities under I-35 near 51st Street toppled over while trying to move in soft, rain soaked soil. The Austin Fire Department was able to extract the operator from the cab and he was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, a minor miracle. I’m not sure what the purpose of the drilled shafts were for. Since the project was for some kind of utility pipe jacking under the freeway, I’m speculating it was drilling holes for temporary shoring for the jacking pit or something along those lines. I’m sure OSHA will be looking into the incident. Video news story after the break. (Photo from Austin KXAN.com).

[…]

San Antonio retaining wall failure landslide
Failures

Retaining wall failure and landslide in San Antonio Displaces 25 Homeowners

January 27, 2010 rockman 1

San Antonio retaining wall failure landslideA 20 to 30-ft high retaining wall in a subdivision in San Antonio Texas failed on Sunday causing an evacuation of 80 homes. After an initial inspection, some 55 home-owners were allowed to return.  The massive tension cracks that opened along the wall and behind it were 12-15-ft deep and 6-8-ft wide. Reportedly, the wall had problems even before the subdivision was even constructed. More after the break. (Photo by Jerry Lara – San Antonio Express-News)

[…]

Soledad Mountain Road is collapsed and several homes are damaged or destroyed by a landslide on Mount Soledad in La Jolla. JOHN GIBBINS / Union-Tribune
Failures

Judge Rules City of San Diego Not Responsible for Mt. Soledad Landslide in 2007

October 7, 2009 rockman Comments Off on Judge Rules City of San Diego Not Responsible for Mt. Soledad Landslide in 2007

Soledad Mountain Road is collapsed and several homes are damaged or destroyed by a landslide on Mount Soledad in La Jolla. JOHN GIBBINS / Union-TribuneThe Mt. Soledad Landslide in a La Jolla California neighborhood destroyed 3 houses and damaged others and it also shut down Mt. Soledad Road for an entire year after it occurred in October of 2007. Residents blamed the city of San Diego, and 65 homeowners filed suit, claiming that leaking pipes caused the landslide and the City should cover damages.

Last week, a superior court judge ruled in favor of the City of San Diego. So far I have not seen anything indicating if the residents plan to appeal the ruling.

One interesting note regarding the trial, the City released an 8-minute cell phone video taken by a geotechnical engineer or drilling contractor employed by the City that showed the road cracking and buckling just prior to failure. The homeowners used the video to try to make their own case. Click through for a portion of the video and a link to the full one.

[…]

cairo_sinkhole_swallows_car
Failures

Video of Car Swallowed by Sinkhole Related to Tunneling in Cairo, Egypt

September 29, 2009 rockman Comments Off on Video of Car Swallowed by Sinkhole Related to Tunneling in Cairo, Egypt

cairo_sinkhole_swallows_car

On September 3, a sinkhole opened up on a downtown Cairo street, swallowing the car pictured here. According to the description accompanying the video uploaded to YouTube by TheDailyNewsEgypt, the sinkhole was related to tunneling activities for the Cairo Metro line that is currently under construction. Click through for the video. […]