In August 2023, Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. conducted a comprehensive assessment for a major international distributor’s office and warehouse facility in the state of Texas. The project included preparation of:
The purpose of these evaluations was to assess the condition of the facility’s concrete pavement systems, identify deficiencies and deferred maintenance, and provide remediation recommendations with cost opinions to address the observed issues.
The facility features concrete tilt-up exterior walls with an interior steel framing system and concrete pavement surrounding the building for both passenger vehicles and tractor-trailer operations.
Partner performed multiple site visits to thoroughly evaluate the pavement systems and related structural components. The scope included:
- Document Review: Requested all available construction, as-built, and build-out documents for pre-assessment review.
- Field Observations: Conducted walk-through surveys of the truck court areas, vehicle parking, and drive lanes to document existing conditions and adjacent site drainage.
- Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey: Determined pavement thickness and reinforcement spacing.
- Concrete Coring and Testing: Extracted and tested concrete cores for compressive strength at a certified lab.
- Pavement Coring Measurements: Measured concrete depth at 20 random locations across all drive and truck court areas.
- Deficiency Documentation: Created a site plan identifying all areas of distress, including photographic documentation.
- Remediation Recommendations: Developed repair and replacement recommendations for structurally deficient pavement areas.
A drainage analysis was not included in this project scope.
Partner observed soil sediment accumulation at the west truck court, indicating that water infiltration was occurring through cold joints and existing cracks in the pavement. As heavy truck loads passed over these areas, the underlying soil sediment was displaced, likely creating voids beneath the concrete pavement. These voids reduce the pavement’s load-carrying capacity, contributing to premature failure over time.
The east and west truck court pavements were found to be in significantly deteriorated condition. The observed defects and test results suggested poor-quality construction and non-compliance with the original civil design specifications.
Based on the findings, Partner recommended the following actions:
- Remove and replace the truck court concrete pavement using the pavement specifications outlined in the Partner Geotechnical Report, which provides a more conservative design than the original civil plans.
- Remove and replace the passenger vehicle drive and parking areas as well, despite their relatively good appearance, since it was presumed that the same contractor constructed these areas using similar poor-quality methods.
Through Partner’s assessment, the Client gained a clear understanding of the root causes of pavement failure and received accurate cost estimates for the recommended repairs. Implementing these recommendations will:
- Prevent future structural failures caused by underlying soil voids and water intrusion.
- Extend the service life of the new pavement systems.
- Avoid greater long-term repair costs through early and informed action.
