Keweenaw Bay
Baraga, Michigan
Identifying the suitability of the subgrade materials.
We recently embarked to Keweenaw Bay, 12 miles southeast of Houghton in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to determine and characterize the subsurface conditions related to the strength, compressibility, and potential for failure of the subsurface materials at the breakwater structure location.
Field activities consisted of nine soil borings, including six performed over water from a barge plant and three on land. Vane shear tests were performed to collect in-situ shear strength data.
Laboratory testing included soil classifications and index property tests. From the field and laboratory testing, we performed engineering analysis and design recommendations on the suitability of the subgrade materials to support the design of the new breakwater structure.