Specialized Engineering provides geotechnical engineering and subsurface investigations for the design and construction of building and structure foundations. Our design of foundations incorporates all available site and structure conditions to allow for the most practical and cost effective design. Our designs include shallow and deep foundations. Our deep foundation designs include precast, steel, timber, auger-cast, and helical piles, as well as drilled piers. We also have the staff to provide construction inspection of complex foundation installation during construction.

Our geotechnical staff is also a valuable asset to our environmental consulting. The combination of these two disciplines allows Specialized Engineering to provide the client a complete understanding of the subsurface conditions. It also assures the client that we have the capability to address all aspects of an environmental problem, including potential hazards to existing structures, during an environmental remediation project.

The efficient use of engineered materials is constantly increasing. Efficient use allows the reduction of both cost and weight without sacrificing strength, but the potential for material failure has not stopped. We no longer see the practice of significance over design. Rather, the safety margins are based upon the known physical characteristics of the materials. Failures continue despite improvements and the introduction of new materials. Problems such as corrosion, fatigue, abrasion, overloading, shear tension and torsion are still occurring.

Specialized Engineering also provides the forensic engineering and material analysis services necessary to determine the cause and source of material failures. Our personnel have experience with a wide variety of material failures including concrete, reinforcing and structural steel, masonry, asphalt, wood, paint, soils and anchoring devices. Our staff can travel to the failure site to perform an initial testing and become familiar with the use of the material. In some instances, this field visit will enable our engineers to determine probable causes for failure, and even provide suggestions for alternative materials or techniques designed to reduce or eliminate future failure. Expert testimony may be provided by our professional staff in cases of litigation involving failure analysis.