ConneCtions - Earthquake Engineering Research Institute · 2013-09-03 · Connections series helps...

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LeRoy Crandall

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T h e E E R I O r a l H i s t o r y S e r i e s

ConneCtions

LeRoy Crandall


ConneCtions

LeRoy Crandall

Stanley Scott, Interviewer

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Editor: Gail Hynes Shea, Berkeley, California, www.gailshea.com

Cover and book design: Laura H. Moger, Moorpark, California, www.lauramoger.com

Copyright 2008 by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

The publication of this book was supported by FEMA/U.S. Department of Homeland Security under grant #EMW-2004-CA-0297.

All rights reserved. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the Bancroft Library of the University of California at Berkeley. No part may be reproduced, quoted, or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the executive director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute or the Director of the Bancroft Library of the University of California at Berkeley. Requests for per-mission to quote for publication should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the oral history subject and do not neces-sarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute or the University of California.

Published by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

499 14th Street, Suite 320 Oakland, CA 94612-1934 Tel: (510) 451-0905 Fax: (510) 451-5411 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.eeri.org

EERI Publication Number: OHS-15

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataCrandall, LeRoy, 1917- LeRoy Crandall / Stanley Scott, interviewer. p. cm. -- (Connections: the EERI oral history series ; 15) Includes index. “This oral history volume is the completion of the interview sessions Stanley Scott (1921-2002) conducted with LeRoy Crandall in 1989, 1990, and 1991, which provide most of the content of this book, and in a final interview between Scott and Crandall in 2000 that is included as the last chapter of this volume”--Forward. ISBN 978-1-932884-38-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Crandall, LeRoy, 1917---Interviews. 2. Civil engineers--California--Interviews. 3. Earthquake engineering--California--History. I. Scott, Stanley, 1921-2002. II. Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. III. Title. TA140.C74C73 2008 624.1’51092--dc22 [B] 2008034716 Printed in the United States of America

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table of Contents

The EERI Oral History Series vii

Foreword by Robert Reitherman xi

Personal Introduction by Marshall Lew xiii

Chapter 1 Early Years Through High School 1

Chapter 2 San Diego State 5

Chapter 3 University of California at Berkeley 9

Chapter 4 Working for Dames and Moore 15

Chapter 5 LeRoy Crandall and Associates 25

Chapter 6 Development of Soil Engineering 31

Chapter 7 Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering 39

Chapter 8 Soil Engineering and Earthquake Engineering 49

Chapter 9 Contributions of an Older Generation 83

Chapter 10 California Seismic Safety Commission 93

Chapter 11 Concluding Words in 2000 101

Photographs 105

Index 115

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the eeRi oral History seriesThis is the fifteenth volume in the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s series, Connections: The EERI Oral History Series. EERI began this series to preserve the recollections of some of those who have had pioneering careers in the field of earthquake engineering. Significant, even revolutionary, changes have occurred in earthquake engineering since individuals first began thinking in modern, scientific ways about how to protect construction and society from earthquakes. The Connections series helps document this important history.

Connections is a vehicle for transmitting the fascinating accounts of individuals who were present at the beginning of important developments in the field, documenting sometimes little-known facts about this history, and recording their impressions, judgments, and experiences from a personal standpoint. These reminiscences are themselves a vital contribution to our understanding of where our current state of knowledge came from and how the overall goal of reducing earthquake losses has been advanced. The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, incorporated in 1948 as a nonprofit organization to provide an institutional base for the then-young field of earthquake engineering, is proud to help tell the story of the development of earthquake engineering through the Connections series. EERI has grown from a few dozen individuals in a field that lacked any significant research funding to an organization with nearly 3,000 members. It is still devoted to its original goal of investigating the effects of destructive earthquakes and publishing the results through its reconnaissance report series. EERI brings researchers and practitioners together to exchange information at its annual meetings and, via a now-extensive calendar of conferences and workshops, provides a forum through which individuals and organizations of various disciplinary backgrounds can work together for increased seismic safety.

The EERI oral history program was initiated by Stanley Scott (1921-2002). The first nine volumes were published during his lifetime, and manuscripts and interview transcripts he left to EERI are resulting in the publication of other volumes for which he is being posthumously credited. In addition, the Oral

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History Committee is including further interviewees within the program’s scope, following the Committee’s charge to include subjects who: 1) have made an outstanding career-long contribution to earthquake engineering, 2) have valuable first-person accounts to offer concerning the history of earthquake engineering, and 3) whose backgrounds, considering the series as a whole, appropriately span the various disciplines that are included in the field of earthquake engineering.

Scott’s work, which he began in 1984, summed to hundreds of hours of taped interview sessions and thousands of pages of transcripts. Were it not for him, valu-able facts and recollections would already have been lost.

Scott was a research political scientist at the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He was active in developing seismic safety policy for many years, and was a member of the California Seismic Safety Com-mission from 1975 to 1993. Partly for that work, he received the Alfred E. Alquist Award from the Earthquake Safety Foundation in 1990.

Scott received assistance in formulating his oral history plans from Willa Baum, Director of the University of California at Berkeley Regional Oral History Office, a division of the Bancroft Library. Following his retirement from the University in 1989, Scott continued the oral history project. For a time, some expenses were paid from a small grant from the National Science Foundation, but Scott did most of the work pro bono. This work included not only the obvious effort of preparing for and conducting the interviews themselves, but also the more time-consuming tasks of reviewing transcripts and editing the manuscripts to flow smoothly.

The Connections oral history series presents a selection of senior individuals in earthquake engineering who were present at the beginning of the modern era of the field. The term “earthquake engineering” as used here has the same meaning as in the name of EERI—the broadly construed set of disciplines, including geosciences and social sciences as well as engineering itself, that together form a related body of knowledge and collection of individuals that revolve around the subject of earthquakes. The events described in these oral histories span many kinds of activities: research, design projects, public policy, broad social aspects, and education, as well as interesting personal aspects of the subjects’ lives.

ix

Published volumes in Connections: The EERI Oral History Series

Henry J. Degenkolb 1994John A. Blume 1994Michael V. Pregnoff and John E. Rinne 1996George W. Housner 1997William W. Moore 1998Robert E. Wallace 1999Nicholas F. Forell 2000Henry J. Brunnier and Charles De Maria 2001Egor P. Popov 2001Clarence R. Allen 2002Joseph Penzien 2004Robert Park and Thomas Paulay 2006Clarkson W. Pinkham 2006Joseph P. Nicoletti 2006LeRoy Crandall 2008

eeRi oral History Committee

Robert Reitherman, ChairWilliam AndersonRoger BorcherdtGregg BrandowRicardo DobryRobert HansonLoring A. Wyllie, Jr.

xi

This oral history volume is the culmination of interview sessions Stanley Scott (1921-2002) conducted with LeRoy Crandall in 1989, 1990, and 1991, which provide most of the content of this book, and in a final interview between Scott and Crandall in 2000 that is included as the last chapter in this volume. I edited and reorganized the manuscript to condense and place together discussions that occurred at different times and are related to the same topic. That editing did not change the substance of what was said, and in cases where it is important to know the date when the interview occurred, it is noted. Footnotes and photographs have also been added to complete the work. Two members of the Oral History Committee, Loring Wyllie and Ricardo Dobry, reviewed the manuscript. In addition to writing the personal introduction, Marshall Lew also reviewed a draft and provided comments and corrections.

Gail Shea, consulting editor to EERI, carefully reviewed the entire manuscript and prepared the index, as she has on previous Connections volumes, and Eloise Gilland, the Editorial and Publications Manager of EERI, also assisted in seeing this publication through to completion.

Robert ReithermanChair, EERI Oral History CommitteeJune 2008

Foreword

xiii

Personal introduction

I have had the privilege to know LeRoy Crandall for almost all of my professional career as a geotechnical and earthquake engineer. I interned at LeRoy Crandall and Associates in the early 1970s while a graduate student at UCLA, and later joined his firm on a full-time basis in 1977 after one year as an underpaid Assistant Professor at California State University, Long Beach.

LeRoy was the engineer’s engineer. He knew everyone and everyone knew him, or at least knew of him. He was connected with every big name architect and structural engineer in southern California. He was also known as the King of Downtown Los Angeles and Mr. High-rise, as LeRoy was the geotechnical engineer for almost every high-rise building in downtown Los Angeles and other areas in southern California during the heyday of tall buildings in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and into the 90s.

LeRoy was a great person to work for. He surrounded himself with talented associates that formed the nucleus of what was the most prominent geotechnical consulting firm in southern California for decades, LeRoy Crandall and Associates. His earliest associates were Fred Barnes, Leopold Hirschfeldt, and Russ Weber; together they were the “Big Four.” They were later joined by Jimmy Kirkgard, Jim McWee, Perry Maljian, Seymour Chiu, Robert Chieruzzi, and Jim van Beveren. Glenn Brown joined as an associate when LeRoy Crandall and Associates merged with Glenn A. Brown and Associates to add engineering geology expertise to the company. I was the last associate to join in 1979. LeRoy Crandall and Associates was supported by the most loyal employees, who worked long and hard to provide the best service to LeRoy’s clients. Working for LeRoy was like working for family, and he treated everyone with respect and concern for their well-being.

LeRoy was and still is hard working—since his retirement from Law/Crandall in 1999, LeRoy has enjoyed his “retirement” by not working Saturdays and Sundays. His business ethic is “Do the work right and don’t worry about the budget,” because in the end, LeRoy believes that everything will work out.

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LeRoy was not afraid to innovate. He pioneered the use of tied-back shoring in southern California, which made possible very deep excavations for the new high-rise buildings when Los Angeles eliminated the 13-story height limit in the 1950s. LeRoy was also involved with the planning and development of the first base-isolated building in the United States, the Foothill Communities Law and Justice Center in Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County, California, not far from the San Andreas fault.

He emphasized professionalism and instilled a sense of pride in our work. He also encouraged participation in professional societies and giving to the community. He served on the Board of the Los Angeles YMCA and had a remarkable attendance record for his fifty years in Rotary International. He was heavily involved with the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California and served on the Board of Directors of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers, and American Council of Engineering Companies. LeRoy encouraged his associates and employees to also serve in professional societies and contribute to the profession and the public. He was instrumental in the establishment of the ASCE Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering. He was an early supporter of the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program and was appointed to the California Seismic Safety Commission by Governor Jerry Brown and reappointed by Governor Ronald Reagan. His contributions to seismic safety and geotechnical engineering are generally unheralded, but are significant and visionary.

It is hard to not love LeRoy Crandall. He is not afraid to kick you in the rear end when you need it, but he is always encouraging and compassionate. His enthusiasm is contagious, and he is an inspiration.

Marshall LewMACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc.Los Angeles, CaliforniaNovember 2007


ConneCtions

LeRoy Crandall

Chapter 1

Early Years Through High School

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I am Lionel LeRoy Crandall, and with that

name I often thought my parents must

have anticipated I would be poet laureate

of the United States.

Crandall: IamLionelLeRoyCrandall,andwiththatnameIoftenthoughtmyparentsmusthaveanticipatedIwouldbepoetlaureateoftheUnitedStates.IwasbornonFebruary4,1917,inPortland,Oregon.IhaveabrothertwoandahalfyearsolderthanI,namedClif-ford.Unfortunately,mymotherpassedawayshortlyafterIwasborn.ThefamilymovedtoSanDiegowhenIwasafewmonthsold,somyentirechildhoodwasspentinSanDiego.Istillthinkitisoneofthegreatestplaceswhereonecangrowup.

Myfathermarriedagain,andmybrotherstayedwithhim.Iwasraisedbymypaternalgrandparents.Lateron,whenIwassix,mybrotheralsocametolivewithus.Somygrandparentsraisedbothmybrotherandme.

MyearlyrecollectionsweregoingtogrammarschoolinSanDiego.IattendedJeffersonGrammarSchool,then

Chapter 1 Connections: The EERI Oral History Series

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RooseveltJuniorHighSchoolandSanDiegoHighSchool.Iwasagoodstudentandenjoyedschool.Ididbetteringrammarschoolandjuniorhigh,particularlyinjuniorhigh,whereIwasoneofthetophonorstudents,andIwaspresidentofmyseventhgradeclass.Iwasheavilyintoactivitieswiththedramaticclub.

ThenIwenttoSanDiegoHigh.Otheractivi-tiesseemedtoenterintomylife,andIdidn’tputasmuchtimeintothescholarlywork.

Scott: Youspentmoretimeonyoursociallife?

Crandall: No,notreally.Iwasinthedramaticclubandwasinsomeplays,butthefamilywasn’twealthy,soIworked.Ihadapaperroute,anddidthingsofthatsort.OnSaturdaysIworkedinSafewaystores—calledHellerStoresinthosedaysinSanDiego—doingthingslikesackingpotatoesforadollaraday.

Iwasalsoapalofmyolderbrotherandothersinhisagegroup.Theyweren’tparticularlyinterestedinschool—especiallymybrother.Hegraduatedfromhighschool,butwasn’touttosetanyrecordsscholastically.

Soinshort,Ijustdidn’tdevotethetimetoschool.ButIdidgetoutofhighschoolwithaB+average.IjustdidnothaveallAs,asIhadinjuniorhigh.Ihadacoupleofstudentbodypositionsinhighschool,butmostlyIwasinthedramaticclub.

Asfarasinfluencesonmeinschool,twoteachersinSanDiegoHighSchoolwerethemostimportant.AMissCuppwastheEnglishteacher.Shewasahardtaskmaster,butwereallylearnedagreatdealaboutEnglishinthatclass.Theotherwasaphysicsteacher,Rex

Doughty,whomIadmired.Wegotalongfine,partlybecausehisnamewasRex,whichmeans“king”inLatin,andmyname,LeRoy,alsomeansking,inFrench.IwasveryinterestedinLatinclass.Ienjoyedphysicsverymuch.Iwasalsogoodinmathematics.

Afterhighschool,therewasnoreadilyavail-ableopportunityformetogodirectlytocol-lege.ItooktheexaminationforappointmenttoAnnapolis,whichwasgivenwhenIfinishedhighschool.Ididn’tfinishontop,sothatop-portunityslippedby.

InordertoaccumulatesufficientfundstogotocollegeafterIfinishedhighschool,Istayedoutandworked.Iworkedfull-timeforSafe-wayStores,whichwasquiteanordealinthosedays,inthe1930s.Yougot$12aweekandworkedsixdaysaweek.Saturdaynightwasinventorynightinthestore,soonSaturdaynightsyou’dfinishuparoundtenoreleven.Ithinkitwasaboutafifty-hourtosixty-hourworkweekatleast,whichwasn’tbad.Inevermindedwork.ThenIleftSafewayandgotajobdrivingadrycleaningdeliverytruck.Igot$14aweekthere,forsixdaysaweek.

Scott: Pickingupdrycleaning?

Crandall: That’sright.Pickingupanddeliv-eringandsoon.IgottoknoweverystreetinSanDiegobynameandlocation.

ThenIworkedforalittlelocaltheaterinmyneighborhood,intheNorthParkareaofSanDiego.Iwasraisedinthatonearea.Wemovedfrequently.Mygrandmotherfeltthatifyoustayedinahousemorethanayear,somethingwaswrong.I’dcomehomefromschoolandfindthatwehadmoved.Theyweren’ttrying

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Chapter 1LeRoy Crandall • Early Years Through High School

toabandonme,andalwaysleftinstructionsastowheretheyhadgone.Inanyevent,wemovedalot,butmostlyalwaysstayedinthesamegeneralarea.

Iworkedforthetheater,asmallmoviehouse,whichcostonlya35-cententrychargeinthosedays.Thisworkwasmuchclosertohome,hadbetterhoursandImade$14aweek.ButIworkedsevendaysaweekthere,doingevery-

thingfromcleaningupinthemorningtoclos-

ingtheshowatnight.TheonlythingIdidn’t

dowasruntheprojector.That,ofcourse,was

beyondakidofmyage.

Scott: Howoldwereyou?

Crandall: Abouteighteen.Ihadfinishedhigh

school,andforawhile,thatwasitforeducation.

Chapter 2

San Diego State

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Of the various science and math

opportunities, civil engineering struck me

as a good one, though I didn’t really know

much about that profession.

Crandall: Afterayearandahalfofworking,however,

IdecidedthatifIwasevergoingtocollege,I’dbet-

termakeabreak.Ihadsavedupabout$200,whichI

thoughtwouldhelpme.ButjustbeforeIsigneduptogo

tocollege,mygrandmotherhadtohaveanoperation,

andmy$200joinedthefamilyfundstohelppayforthat.

InFebruaryof1937Imadethedecisiontostartcollege

anyway,andIamcertainlygladIdidthen.

Scott:: Eventhoughyourgrandmotherhadtheopera-

tion,andthattookyoursavings,youstillmanagedtogo

aheadwithschool?

Crandall: Iwentonashoestring,andwenttoSan

DiegoStateCollege,nowSanDiegoStateUniver-

sity,whichwasnearby.Thefeeswereminimal.Idon’t

rememberexactly,butitprobablycost$15toenroll,

somethinglikethat.IalsoworkedSaturdays,whichgot

methroughallright,andIlivedathome.Weweren’t


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starving—Idonotmeantoimplythat.Buttherewasn’tagreatdealofmoney,either.

Choosing to Major in Civil EngineeringCrandall: IshouldsaysomethingabouthowIdecidedonmycareer.WhenImissedgettingintoAnnapolis,ItookstockofwhatIthoughtweremyattributesandinterests.Itkeptcom-ingoutthatscienceandmathematicswerethesubjectsthatIfeltIwouldliketobeinandwasgoodat.Ofthevariousscienceandmathopportunities,civilengineeringstruckmeasagoodone,thoughIdidn’treallyknowmuchaboutthatprofession.

Scott:: Youmean,havingsomeemploymentopportunity?

Crandall: Ididn’tthinkaboutajobsomuch,becauseatthatstageoflifeIwasn’tastuteenoughtocheckthatout.ButIdidfeelthatIwouldliketobeinvolvedinbuildingthings.Ihadnobasisforselectingcivilengineering,otherthanwhatIthoughtmyinterestsandaptitudeswere.

AtthattimeSanDiegoStateonlyhadatwo-yearprograminthelowerdivision,thefreshmanandsophomoreyears.Igotstartedasemesterearlyinthespring,whichwasveryfortunatebecauseImanagedtobuildupafewunits.Igotgoodgradesinthingslikefresh-manEnglishandthehistoryclasses,afewthingslikethatwhichwereavailable,becauseIcouldn’tstartanyoftheengineeringyet.AtthattimeyouhadtowaitfortheFallsemestertostarttheengineering.SoIgotaboutsixteenunitsofsupplementalmaterialundermybelt,

whichhelpedmelater,becausethenIcouldtakealesserworkloadofelectives.Italsogavemeachancetogetacademicallyorientedandbackintostudying.

IstartedwithengineeringclassesinSeptemberof1937.Ienrolledinengineering,whichwasageneralcourseatthattime,butyoutookmath-ematicsandcalculus,andsurveyingwasalsoarequirementforcivilengineeringthen.Itookthesurveyingclass,wasproficientinit,andlatergotanassistantshiphelpingthesurveyinginstructor,lookingaftertheequipmentandassistingwiththestudents.

SanDiegoStatehadsomeexcellentfaculty,whowereveryinterestedintheirstudents’welfare,especiallythemathteacher,JohnGleason,whoalsotaughtsurveying.Ihadsu-percoursesinchemistry,geology,andphysics.Thoseweregoodpreparatorycoursesforme.Inthesophomoreyear,youwouldbegintogetintosomeengineering,mostlymechanicalengi-neering,becausetheonefacultymemberwhotaughtengineeringsubjectswasamechanicalengineer.Sowegotsomebasicsubjectsoutofthewayatthatpoint.

Summer WorkCrandall: InthesummersIworkedattheSafewayStoresagain.Theywereverygoodtome.Theydidn’tpaywell,butatleastIcouldgetajobthere.Youwereneverexactlysurewhereyouweregoingtobeassigned.Forexample,IlivedinNorthPark,thenortheastportionofSanDiegocity,andtheysentmetoastoreinCoronado.SoIhadtotakethestreetcarfromhomedowntotheferryslip,transfertotheferry,crosstoCoronadoIsland,

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Chapter 2LeRoy Crandall • San Diego State

thentakethestreetcaragainforanothertwoorthreemilesintodowntownCoronadotowork.Thisisaboutanhourandahalftripeachway.Safewayworkeduslonghours,soIwasprettywelloccupiedjustgettingtoandfromworkanddoingthework.LaterIwasluckyandtheytransferredmetoastoreclosertohome.Igotprettygoodintheproducedepartment,workingasastockboyandthatkindofthing.Ienjoyedthatwork,andmeetingpeople.

Afterfinishingthesophomoreyear,IplannedtotransfertotheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley.Atthattime,theonlyschoolsinCaliforniathatgaveadegreeincivilengineer-ingwereBerkeley,Stanford,Caltech,andtheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia(USC).NotevenUCLAhadupperdivisionengineeringclassesasofthen.So,havingrathernominalfinancialresources,IchoseBerkeley.

Surveying Class in the SierrasCrandall: InordertograduatefromBerke-leyincivilengineering,youhadtohavetwosummerclassesinsurveying.TheCalschedulewasdifferentfromtheotherschools—theystartedinAugustandfinishedinMay.SinceIdidn’tgetoutofSanDiegoStateuntilJuneof1939,itwastoolatetoenrollintheBerkeleysummersurveyingclassthatyear.

Fortunately,FresnoStateCollegehadasur-veyingclass,calledtheSierrasummerschool.Wehadaboutasix-weekclassatHuntingtonLakeintheSierraNevadaupaboveFresno.MostofthestudentstherewerefromFresnoState,butthereweretwofromSanDiegoState,myselfandmyroommate,BillBrewer,wholaterwentontoCalwithme.AtHun-

tingtonLakewemadealifelongfriend,IrvanMendenhall,whoistheMendenhallinthearchitectural-engineeringfirmDaniel,Mann,Johnson,andMendenhall.Irvanwasalsotak-ingthatsurveyingclass.

Whenfinishingmysophomoreyear,Iwasse-lectedtoreceiveanawardfromtheSanDiegochapteroftheAmericanSocietyofCivilEn-gineers(ASCE).Itwasthefirststudentawardtheygave.Istillhavethepicturethatappearedinthenewspaperatthetime.Itwasfor$25,whichmadethedifferencebetweenmegoingornotgoingtothesummerschoolclass.IthinkoneofthepeoplewhowereinvolvedinsettingupthatawardwasPaulBeerman,presidentofthatchapteratthetime.Withouttheaward,Iwouldnothavehadthecashtopaythefeeforthissummerschool.

WehadsomeexcitingtimesdrivingtoandfromHuntingtonLake.BillBrewer,whomI’vementioned,hadaModelAFord,andwehookedupmyfather’slittleopentrailertocarryourstuff.WedrovefromSanDiegotoHuntingtonLakeandhadacoupleofnearmissesandcollisions.

Once,comingbackdown,Billwasdriving,andhewasunawarethatwewereonthissteepgrade,TollhouseGrade,Ithinkitwascalled.AndthispoorlittleModelAdidn’thavemuchinthewayofbrakes.Wegotstartedcomingdownthathill,andIthoughtitwascurtainsforus.Billputthefootbrakeon,andIpulledontheemergencybrake,andwegotitshiftedfromhightosecond,andeventuallydowntolow,andwefinallypulledovertothesideofthissteepcorkscrewroad.Webothchangedourshortsandcontinuedtodrivehome.

Chapter 3

University of California at Berkeley

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It was the New Deal student job

assignment that put me into the Berkeley

soil mechanics lab.

Crandall: BillBrewerandI,againusinghisModelA,droveuptoBerkeley.WerentedanapartmentwithtwootherSanDiegofellowsthatwejusthappenedtorunintothere.Itwasonthesouthsideofthecampus,andIrememberthatitwas$25amonthforthefourofus,inatwo-roomapartment.Ithadakitchen,whichweneverreallyusedbecausenoneofuscookedorcaredaboutcooking.Wedidn’tfindoutuntilafterwehadlocatedaplacetolivethattheengineeringschoolwasonthenorthsideofthecampus,andwewerelivingfourblockssouthofthecampus.Sowehadanicelittlehikebackandforth.

Iwasveryfortunateandwasgrantedascholarshipof$100peryear.ItwasascholarshipthataHolmesfamilyhadcreatedinmemoryoftheirdeceasedson.TheUCfeesatthattimeincludedtheregistrationfeeof$27.50,


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andalaboratoryfeeforengineeringandscien-tificcoursesof$17.50.Soatthattime,itcostme$45asemestertogotoBerkeley.

Ontopofthatyouhadtobuyyourbooksandthingsofthatsort.MostofthetimeIscroungedbooksfrommyroommates,orwenttothelibrary,buttherewereafewkeybooksthatIwasabletobuyused.Thatkeptmeprettybroke.Irememberhavingonlyanickelinmypocketfortwoorthreeweeksatatime.

Wedidn’tspendverymuch.Iwenttothethe-aterwiththeboysonetime.Imanagedtogettotwoofthefootballgames.OnewaswhenCalplayedMichigan,andTomHarmonwasthebigrageonthefootballfield.Thatwasthegamewhenhewasrunningawayforatouch-downandsomedrunkenpersoncameoutofthestandsandtriedtotacklehim.TomHar-monlethimhaveastraight-armandknockedthisguyforafewloops.

Ifoundajobwashingdishesinasmallrestau-rantrunbyaGreekfellow.Ididdishesformymeals,manyofwhichIdidn’teat,becausethiswasarealgreasyspoonrestaurant.

Scott: Youdidn’tlikethefoodallthatmuch?

Crandall: Thefoodwasn’tthatgood.Themostimportantthingonthemenuwasaribsteakforthirty-fivecents.Iworkedmylittlebuttoffdoingdishes.Itwasreallyahecticatmosphere.TheGreekownerwouldscreamandswearatthehelp,notatmesomuch,butatsomeoftheothers.OneboytherewasaJewishfellow,andtheGreekguywouldalwaysmalignhimsomethingawful.

Classeswereinteresting,andIdidwell.Inthefallof1939,IappliedforajobwiththeNYA,theNationalYouthAdministration,whichatthattimewastheNewDealgov-ernmentagencythathelpedpoorboysgothroughschool.Ithinkthepaywas40centsanhour,andIwasallowedtenhoursaweekmaximum.

Iguessitwasastrokeofluck,butthroughnoeffortofmyownIwasassignedbytheNYAtothesoilmechanicslaboratory,aswecalleditinthosedays,whichwasjustgettingunderway.IthinkBerkeleyhadstartedittheyearbefore,maybeinlate1938orinthespringsemesterof1939.

Scott: Sothefactthatyouwererandomlyassignedtoworkinthesoilmechanicslabiswhatgaveyouyourfirstexperiencewithwhatwouldlaterbeyourcareer?

Crandall: Yes.ItwastheNewDealstudentjobassignmentthatputmeintotheBerkeleysoilmechanicslab.

Professor Harmer DavisCrandall: HarmerDaviswastheprofessorofthegraduatesoilmechanicscourse.HarmerhadbeenanoutstandingstudentatCal,andwasthenaveryyoungprofessor.Whilehedidn’tlikeit,everybodybutmecalledhim“Stinky”Davis,afteracartooncharacteratthattime.Inordertolookolder,Harmersmokedapipeandappearedverygruff,formal,andformidable,buthewasreallyaniceguy.Igotassignedtohim.Harmerlaterspecializedintransportationengineeringandwaschairofthecivilengineeringdepartment.

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Chapter 3LeRoy Crandall • University of California at Berkeley

Isweptoutthesoillab,whichwasjustget-tingstarted.Thesoilmechanicslabhadacornerassignedtoitintheengineeringmaterialslaboratorybuilding,inwhichtherewassomeoldcabinetry.Ipaintedeverythinggrayanddidthingsofthatsort.Ihelpedoutoccasionallywithsomeofthestudentstakingthecourse.

Wealsohadanengineerthereworkinginthesoilmechanicslaboratory,notfortheuniver-sitybutfortheBureauofReclamation.AveryfinemannamedThomasLeps.TomLepswasvery,veryfriendlytomeandhelpful,andcon-tributedmuchtomyinterestinsoils.

Ialsomadegoodfriendswiththeotherstaffattheengineeringlaboratory.Theyhadamachineshopthere,andabunchofreallyfineguyswhowerealwaysplayingpracticaljokesandthings.AfellownamedJoeBan-ville,whowascalled“TheScoutmaster,”wastheheadofallthestaffintheengineeringlaboratory.UnderhimwasaveryfinemannamedEldonWhinier.Whit,astheycalledhim,kindoftookaninterestinme,tothepointwhere,whenIwasgraduatingandtheseniorballwasformal,Whinierloanedmethetuxedohehadwornwhenhewasmar-ried,becauseIdidn’tfeelthatIcouldaffordatuxforthat.Incidentally,myfiancéehadcomeupforthegraduation,soIwasgo-ingtotheball.Thesemenwerethepeoplewhobuilttheexperimentsforthegraduatestudentsandtookcareofthebigtestingmachine,thelargestoneintheUnitedStatesIthink.

Scott: Whatkindoftestingwasitusedfor?

Crandall: Materialstestingforsteelandconcrete.Itwasaboutthree-storieshigh.1RaymondE.Daviswasreallytheheadfacultypersoninthelaboratory,andDavisHallonthecampusisnamedafterthatDavis,notHarmer.

Inanyevent,backtothesoilmechanicslab.IworkedfortheNYAtenhoursaweek,Ithinkitwas.Wewerelimitedtothatbecausetheywantedyoutogetyourstudiesdone.DuringthefirstyearIsweptoutanddidmundanethings,butinthesecondyear,HarmerDaviswasdesigninganapparatusforcompactingsoils,andheputmeonthedrafting,whichIfranklywaslousyat.Notveryproductive.Itseemedtotakeforevertogetanythingdone,mostlybecauseI’dhavetopickitupandworkonitforonlytwoorthreehoursatatime,thenputitaway,thencomebackthenextdayandstartover.ButIdevelopedaninterestinsoilengineering,orsoilmechanics,whichwasthetermtheyusedthen.

1. Thetestingmachineiscapableoffourmillionpounds(18meganewtons)compressionandthreemillionpounds(13meganewtons)tension,andisstillinuse.AfewyearspriortothearrivalofCrandallatBerkeley,theUniversityacquiredtheapparatustotestlargeconcretecylinders,eighteeninchesindiameterandthreefeettall,withaggregatethesizeofbaseballs—samplesofmaterialbeingusedintheconstructionofHooverDam.AfterdecadesofserviceontheBerkeleycampus,themachinewasmovedtotheUniversity’snearbyRichmondFieldStationandbecamepartoftheEarthquakeEngineeringResearchCenterthere.Ithasbeenusedinseismictestingtoproviderealisticsimulationoflargegravityloadsonfull-scalecolumnswhilelateralforcesaresimultaneouslyexertedbyotherdevices.


12

Graduate Soil Mechanics CourseCrandall: WhenIfinishedmyjunioryearandgottobeasenior,IaskedifIcouldtakethegraduatesoilmechanicsclass.HarmerarrangeditsothatIcouldtakethecourseinmysenioryear,eventhoughitwasagraduatecourse.IdidwellatitandgotanA.

Inthosedays,wehadtodoathesistograduatewithourbachelor’sdegree.Theydon’tany-more,Ithink.TwootherfellowsandIdidourthesisoncompactingsoil.Itwasnothingearthshaking—anunintentionalpun—buttrodsomenewgroundinthefieldofcompactingsoilsinthelaboratory.Weputalotofhoursintotheproject.

HarmergavemeanAinthatclass.Itwastoughgoing,becauseabouttenortwelvestudentsweremilitarypeoplewhohadfinishedWestPointandweretakingengineering.TheyweregoingintotheCorpofEngineersfortheArmy,andhadcometoCalforagradu-atedegree.Theseguyswerebeingpaidtogotoschool.Also,mostofthemhadawifeathomewhocookedtheirmealsandeverything.Sotheywerereallyhittingthebookshard,atleastitseemedtome.Itwasatoughclass,andthegradingonthecurvewassevereonmosteverybodywhowasonlyaregularstudent.

Scott: SoyourAwasaprettygoodaccom-plishment.

Crandall: Yes.ThosewerethedayswhenanAwasanA.WhileatBerkeley,thefirstthingIdidwasjointheASCEstudentchapter,eventhoughitcost50cents.Imanagedtofindthatkindofmoneytojoin.Also,atthecompletionofmyjunioryearIwasinvitedtojoinTauBeta

Pi,theengineeringhonoraryfraternity,andChiEpsilon,thecivilengineeringhonoraryfraternity.Thosemembershipstogethercost$25.Iwenttotheadministrationofficeandlaidmyfinancialpositionbeforeoneoftheexecutives,andbeforeIknewit,theyhadcomeupwitha$25loanformetojointhesefrater-nities.Theythoughtitwouldbeagoodthingformetohaveonmyrecord.

Seeking EmploymentCrandall: Neartheendofmysenioryear,HarmerDavisarrangedforseveralofuswhohadtakenthesoilmechanicsclasstomeetwithaconsultingengineerfromsouthernCalifornianamedWilliamMoore,ofDamesandMoore.BillMoorecametoBerkeley,andaboutthreeofusandHarmermetwithhimforlunchattheFacultyClub.ItwasthefirsttimeIhadbeentotheFacultyClub,Imightsay.

BillsaidhewaslookingforsomeonepossiblytojointheirfirminLosAngeles.Ifwewereinterestedheaskedustosendanotetohimoutliningalittlebitaboutourselvesandwhatwewantedtodo.ThiswasprobablyearlyMay,1941,towardtheendofthesenioryear.Iwrotehimaletter.IstillhavetheletterIwrote,fromtheDamesandMoorefile.Buttimecrepton,andIhadn’theardfromDamesandMoore.Ithought,“Well,that’snotgoingtobeapossibility.”

SoBillBrewerandIandsomeothershoppedonthetrainforSacramentototalktotheStateDivisionofHighways,asitwascalledthen.NowitiscalledCaltrans.Theywerelookingforengineers.Thejobmarketwasstartingtoopenup.Priortothis,engineerswerehardly

13

Chapter 3LeRoy Crandall • University of California at Berkeley

abletofindanyworkatall.TherewasthewarinEurope,andtheUnitedStateswasbegin-ningtoseethatwehadtodosomething,espe-ciallylikesupplyingouralliesthroughLend-Lease,andothermattersthatwouldinvolveplantandfacilities.

TheDivisionofHighwayshadjustmadeachangeintheiropeningclassification.Origi-nally,youwouldstartupongraduationwithanengineeringdegreeasaseniorengineeringaide,whichpaid$140amonth.Thingshadim-provedintheconstructionindustrytothepointwheretheyweren’tgettinganyapplicantsforthat,andtheyupgradedthebeginningpositiontojuniorhighwayengineerat$170amonth.Well,thatmadeitalotmoreinteresting.

SoIwenttoSacramentoandtheyofferedmeajobinthelocationIhadaskedfor,myhometownofSanDiego.Ifeltitwouldgivemeachancetopayoffsomeofmydebtsattheuniversitywhilelivingathome.Besides,myfiancée,EileenExnicios,livedinSanDiego.SoIacceptedtheassignmentandtookthetrainbacktoBerkeley.

ThenextdayIgotaphonecall.Iwasliv-inginthetwo-storyapartmentbuildingonHasteStreetwithaboutsixteenunits.Thephonewasacommonphoneonthefirstfloor.Ourroomhadabuzzer.Thelandladywouldanswerthephone,andifitwasforyou,she’dgiveacertainbuzz.SoIgotbuzzedandwentdownstairs,anditwasBillMoorecalling.Hewantedtooffermeajob.

Well,Iwasgreatlyanxiousforthatjob.Iwasstillinschoolandhadn’tgraduatedyet,butIhadalreadysignedupforajobwiththeDivi-sionofHighways.Ihadtoldthem“Yes,”al-

thoughIhadn’tstartedworkatall.Billofferedmethejob,andIsaid,“Gee,I’dlovetohaveit,butI’vemadeacommitmenttotheDivisionofHighwaysandIhavetostaywiththem.”Hesaidthathewassorry.Sothatendedthat,atleastforthetimebeing.

California Division of HighwaysCrandall: May28,1941,wasgraduationday.WefinishedschoolandheadedbacktoSanDiego.Myfolkshadcomeupforthegradua-tion.Mygrandmother,whohadraisedme,hadpassedawaytheyearbefore,soshewasunabletoseethefirstmemberoftheCrandallfamilyfinishcollege.I’vealwaysregrettedthat,butmygrandfatherwasabletobethere.

WecamebacktoSanDiego,andIstartedwiththeDivisionofHighways.ThatwasthefirstofJuneof1941.EileenandIgotmarriedonSep-tember20,1941.Shortlyafterthat,IbecamedisenchantedwiththeCaliforniaDivisionofHighways.Theywereallnicepeople,very,veryfriendlyandkind,butIguessIwasn’tcutoutforcivilservice.Ihadinterestingassignments.Iparticipatedinthedesignofoneofthefirstcloverleaffreewayinterchanges.ThatshowsI’mgettingold,becausethatinterchangewastorndownabouttwentyyearsago.Atthetime,however,itwasalmostrevolutionaryforinterchanges.Theyalsoputmeinchargeoftheannualtrafficcount,whereIworkedunderRalphLuckenbach,whowasagreatmentor.

Ididthingsthatwereveryinterestingandenjoyable,butforonethingweonlyworked37.5hoursperweek.Youcouldn’tworkover-timeevenifyoudidn’tgetpaidforit,which


14

wedidn’t.Iwasn’tusedtojustturningofftheclocklikethat.

Theotherthingwasthatifyouweredesigninganything,theyhadamanual.Ifyouwerede-signingaculvert,youjustlookedinthemanualontherightpage,andpickedoutwhateveritwasyouweregoingtodesign.IfiguredIhadn’tspentfouryearsinschooltocopysome-thingoutofabook.

Moving to Dames and MooreCrandall: SoIdecidedtocheckwithDamesandMooreagain.EileenandIdroveuptoLosAngelesfromSanDiegoinourlittle1935Chevy.Thecarhadtroubleontheway,andIthinkwehadtogetanewclutch.Atthistime,therewastheLosAngelesofficeofDamesandMoore,andBillMoorewasjustbeginningto

starttheSanFranciscooffice.Itwaslate1941.ItwasAdmissionDay,andthestatepeoplegotaholiday,butotherpeoplehadtowork.IsawTrentDamesandBillMoorethereonthatday,andtheywerenice,buttheydidn’tfeeltheyhadanyopportunitiesatthemoment.Sowewentbackhome.

ThennotmorethanafewweekslaterBillMoorecalledmeoneeveningandsaidthatthey’dliketohireme.Isaid,“Whatarewetalkingaboutinpay?”Hesaid,“Howabout$170amonth?”Isaid,“That’swhatI’mmak-inghere.It’sgoingtocostmemoretomoveupandlivethere.”Hehemmedandhawedawhileandsaid,“Well,we’llmakeit$175.”Thatseemedliketheworldtome.Actually,Iwantedthejob.I’dprobablyhavegoneforlessthan$170.SoIaccepted.

Chapter 4

Working for Dames and Moore

15

We started out trying to sell the discipline of

soil mechanics to clients, and later had to

sell the idea that they should hire us rather

than all the other firms that started up.

Crandall: OnDecember17,1941,justtendaysafterPearlHarbor,IstartedmyemploymentwithDamesandMoore.Atthatpoint,nobodyknewwhatthedickenswasgoingtohappen.EileenandImoveduptoLosAngelesandfoundalittleapartmentaboutfourblocksawayfromtheoffice,whichwasatFifthStreetandFigueroaStreet,onthefifthflooroftheArchitectsBuilding,whichhassincebeentorndown.

BillMoorewasspendingmostofhistimeinSanFran-cisco.Idon’trememberifhehadmovedthereyetornot,buttheyhadplansforopeninganofficeinSanFrancisco,andBillwashandlingthatpart.IwasinLosAngeleswithDamesandMooreinsoilmechanicsandfoundationengineering,asitwascalledinthosedays.

WhenIstarted,inDecemberof1941,theyhadaleadengineerworkingthere,andIwasunderhim.Theyhad


16

acoupleofpeopleinthelaboratory,andaboutthreeorfouroutinthefieldtakingsamplesandcheckingcompaction.Ithinktherewasonesecretary,andTrentDames.Atmost,therewereabouteightortenpeopleintheofficeatthetime.

TheninaboutMarch1942,theleadengineerdecidedhewantedtodosomethingelse.Thewarwason.Hemovedintotheshipbuildingbusiness.Iwaspromotedtotheleadengineerinchargeofthelaboratoryandtheengineer-ingfunctions.Iwasnotchiefengineer—TrentDameswasthatatthetime.Iwasn’tregis-teredyet,ofcourse,soIguessyou’dsayIwasinchargeoftheofficeengineeringfunction.Gradually,Igotmoreandmoreresponsibility.In1944,Ibecameregisteredasacivilengi-neer,whichwasaboutasearlyasIcouldgetregistered,becauseyouhadtohaveacertainamountofexperiencetoqualifytotakethetest.Ipassedthetestandprettymuchrantheoffice.

Joining the Partnership

Crandall: In1947,TrentandBillofferedmeapartnershipinthefirm.Theyeachwere50-50partners,andeachgaveupsomeofit.Ihad14percentofthetotal,andlaterBillBrewer,whohadcometoworkforthecompanyinSanFranciscoandwasworkingwithBillMoore,becameapartner,alsoat14percent.

Iwastheresidentpartner,theycalledit,inchargeoftheLosAngelesofficefrom1947on.TheLosAngelesofficedidmorethanjustLosAngelesandsouthernCaliforniawork.Itwastheleadoffice,sowealsodidtheout-of-stateworkthroughthatoffice.

Scott: DidDamesandMoorealreadyhaveofficesaroundthecountry?

Crandall: No,therewereonlytwoofficesatthatpoint,andBillMoorehadn’treallybuiltuptoalargeofficeinSanFranciscoyet.Butwedidjobsallover,inotherstatessuchasHa-waiiandeveninothercountries,forexampleinHollandandIndia.

Wartime YearsScott: Beforeyougoon,couldIjustaskyoutotalkaboutthewartimeyears.WhatwastheimpactofWorldWarIIonDamesandMooreandontheworkyoudid—sayduringthepe-riodfromtheendof1941to1945,’46?

Crandall: Practicallyalltheworkdonewasinconnectionwiththemilitaryanddefense.Infact,thatwastrueofalmostallconstruction—therewasverylittlethatwasnotinfurtheranceofthewareffort.Forexample,weworkedontheairplanefactories,whichwereabigpartofourwork,andrunwaysandmilitaryencamp-ments.IrememberCampCook,forexample,upnearSantaBarbara.War-relatedworkintheSanDiegoareawasimportant.Wedidalotofpavingevaluationinthosedays.Theywerejustbeginningtocomeinwiththeheavierplanes,suchasthebombers,andtheoriginalairfieldpavingswerenotstandingup.Sowhatweweredoingthenweretheplateloadtests,bearingtests.We’dgetabigtruckwithsomeloadonit,andputajackbetweentheaxleandthegroundonaplateofacertainsize,andrunatest.TheCaliforniabearingratiotestwasdevisedjustaboutthen,too.Sotheevaluationofexistingrunwaysandofnewrunwayswasbecomingprominent.Untilthen,they’dbeendesignedby

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Chapter 4LeRoy Crandall • Working for Dames and Moore

theseatofthepants.Wedidthesoilconsult-ingengineeringfortheDouglasAircraftplantinLongBeach,whichwasbuiltatthattime.LockheedandNorthAmericanAviationweregoingstrong.Allofthosefacilitieswererequir-ingsoilengineering—fortunatelyforus,sincetherewasn’tanythingelsetodo.

OneofthethingsthatdisturbedmewasmyfeelingthatIneededtocontributesomethingmoretothewareffort.IappliedforandwaspromisedacommissionintheNavySeabees,togooverseas.Theywerebuildingairfields,workingwithheavyequipment,andsoon.IthoughtIwouldbeagoodadditionthere,andwouldgetsomegoodexperience.AfacultymemberoftheUniversityofMichiganIbelieveitwas,namedBillHousel,whowasacommanderorcaptainorsometypeofofficerintheSeabees,wasputtingtogetheragroup.

Icontactedhimtoseeifhecoulduseasoilmechanic.Hepulledafewstrings.Iapplied,andwhileIhadhopedformore,theyofferedmeanensigncommissionintheNavy,withtheunderstandingthatIwouldbeassignedtothiskindofwork,withHousel’sgroup.Itwaspracticallyconsummated.Ihaddoneeverythingbutsignontheline.

Prevented From Enlisting in the Navy

Crandall: ItoldTrentDameswhatIwasdo-ing,thatIthoughtIcouldbeofmorevaluetothewareffortintheservice.HecontactedthedraftboardandtoldthemwhatkindofworkweweredoingatDamesandMooreandhowimportantthatwas,andthedraftboardissuedatelegram.IgotacopyofthetelegramtheysenttotheNavysayingtheywouldn’tletme

go.TheyfeltIwasmorevaluableincivilianwork.SoIdidn’tgo.

AtthetimeIwasveryunhappyaboutit.Itturnedout,however,thatthiswasoneofthegreatestthingsthateverhappenedtome,thefactthatIdidn’tgointotheNavy.Itwasgettingneartheendofthewar,andtheguyswhohadbeeninthelongest,justifiablywerebeingreleasedtheearliest.Theyhadthepoints,youknow.Iwouldhavegoneinattheend,andwouldprobablyhavesatatadesksomewhereforseveralyearsafterWorldWarII.

Scott: DidTrentDamestakethesestepsonhisown?

Crandall: Yes,hedid.Hedidn’ttellmeaboutituntilthewordcamethrough.Ialmostquit,Iwassoupsetaboutit.Youcouldn’tleaveajobinthosedays,andyoucouldn’tgetanyraisesoranything.Thejobmarketwascompletelyfrozen.

Scott: IguessDamesfeltmorallyjustified,inthathebelievedhehadmoreimportantbusi-nessforyoutodo?

Crandall: Yes,andhedidn’twanttoloseme.IguessIwasprettygood.Youcouldhardlygetengineersatthattime.IftheygraduatedthroughtheV-12programs,2orwhateverelse

2. TheV-12NavyCollegeTrainingProgram,begunin1943,wasdesignedtoprovidecollege-educatedofficersforthewareffort,contendingwiththeproblemthatthedraftageformaleswas18andpreventedthemfromattendingorgraduatingfromcollege.V-12studentsweretechnicallyalreadyintheserviceandunderwentsomemilitarytrainingwhilestudyingyear-round.Upongraduation,V-12studentsweresenttoNavyorMarinetrainingprogramsandbecameofficers.


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theywerein,theywentrightintotheservice.IwasprettymuchresponsibleforrunningthewholedarnDamesandMooreshootingmatchinLosAngelesatthattime.Eventhen,Trenthadbigideasaboutstartinganinternationalorganization,andopeningofficesintherestoftheworld.

Scott: Andhedidn’twanthislocalorga-nizationfallingapartwhilehisattentionwasfocusedelsewhere?

Crandall: Hewantedtobefreetoplantheseotherthings.Itwasthewayheoperated.Iwasveryangryatfirst,butIsawthewarwaswind-ingdown.TheatomicbombsweredroppedonJapanaboutthattime,endingthewar.Soitturnedouttobeagoodthingforme,althoughIneverdidgettobeintheNavy.AsImen-tionedearlier,inhighschoolIhadaspirationsofgoingtoAnnapolis,sotheNavywasstillamatterofinteresttome.

Postwar WorkCrandall: NowImustrelateastorythathappenedafterthewar,whencivilianworkwasstartingupagain.DamesandMooresentmeonabusinessdevelopmenttriparoundquiteabitoftheUnitedStates.IremembergoingtoNewOrleans,Houston,St.Louis,Chicago,placeslikethat,tosoundouttheattitudeofpeopletowardsoilengineering.LaterthiswasfedintoTrentDames’smentalcomputerastowhetherornothewouldtrytoopenanofficeinsomeoftheseareas.

Inthosedayssoilmechanicswasbrandnew.DamesandMoorewassomethinglikethesecondorthethirdfirminsouthernCalifornia

todosoilwork.Mostengineersandarchitectsthoughtitwasalotofbaloney.Theyhadde-signedfoundationsforyearsbygoingoutandpushingtheirheelinthegroundandsaying,“That’sgoodfor4,000pounds”[4,000poundspersquarefoot]orgettinginformationfromabuildingnextdoorandapplyingthat.

Scott: Inthosedays,then,onlythepartofthestructurefromthegroundupwasconsid-eredimportant?

Crandall: Yes,fromthegroundup.Theat-titudewas:Whocaresaboutfoundations?Youjustpouredconcreteintothegroundanditusuallybehavedokay.

I’llneverforgetoneexperienceIhadinSeattle.Iwouldgothroughthephonebookandfindarchitects’namesandaddresses,andengineers,andstructuralpeople,andthenbeatontheirdoorsandtrytotellthemhowgreatsoilengi-neeringwas.Shouldn’ttheybeinterestedinasoilengineering,soilmechanicsfirm?

Well,thisoldarchitectlistenedtomystory,andfinallysaid,“Listen,son.Idon’tknowanythingaboutyourbusinessatall.ButIknowthis.NinetypercentofthebuildingsareheldupbyfrictionandthegraceofGod.”He’sprettyclosetoright,Ithink.Thatalwaysstuckwithme.

ButoneolderstructuralengineerinChicago,wholistenedtomepatientlyandwastryingtosweepmeundertherug,finallytoldmewhathedid.HehadtheRaymondConcretePileCompany,whichhadadrillingbusiness,goouttothesiteandtakesoilsamplesintheirlittlesampler.Theyputtheresults,whathecalled“ratturds”—theywereprettygood-sized

19


ratturds—inaglassbottle.TheRaymondCompanywouldsendthebottlestothisguy,toseewhathewantedtodesignhisfoundationsfor.Hehadaroomfulofthesecardboardboxeswiththeselittlebottlesofsoilsamples.

Hesaid,“Yes,IjusttakethesampleoutandsqueezethesoilandIdecidehowgooditis.”Thenhethoughtforaminuteandsaid,“Youknow,there’sonething,though,IguessI’mgettingweakerinmyoldage,becauseI’mgiv-inghighervaluesnowforthesamesoil.Some-thingthattenyearsagoIwouldgive10,000poundsto,nowI’mgiving20,000pounds.”Hethensaid,“Maybewedoneedsomethingalittlemorescientific.”Buthedidn’thiremeforanything.

Scott: Howoftendidyoudothesetours?

Crandall: Justperiodically.Itmusthavebeenabout1950.Thewarwasover,ofcourse,andIwasapartneratthattime.IleftDamesandMoorein1954,inmid-year1954.Soithadtobeprobablybetween1951or1952,somewhereinthere.

Selling the Discipline of Soil MechanicsCrandall: Atthattimetheproblemwastosellsoilmechanicsasbeinganimportantele-mentofdesignandbuilding.Nowadays,soilmechanicsisaccepted.Hardlyanythingisbuilt,atleastinsouthernCalifornia,withoutsoilmechanics.Westartedouttryingtosellthedisciplineofsoilmechanicstoclients,andlaterhadtoselltheideathattheyshouldhireusratherthanalltheotherfirmsthatstartedup.

Scott: Thereisnowanawarenessthatthingscanreallygowrongifdesignersdonotunder-standtheperformanceandtheweight-bearingcapacitiesofthesoil?

Crandall: Youhadtogetacrosstheideathatwecouldprovidesomeusefulinformation.Be-causemostpeople,whenyoucomealongandtrytosellanewconcept,theyfeeltheyhavegottenalongfinewithwhattheyhadbefore.Ineffect,you’retellingthem,“You’renotdoingthingsaswellasyoushouldhavebeendoingthem.”Ittookagoodmantostandupandsay,“OK,let’sseewhatyouhave.Maybeyoucanteachmesomething.”

Trent Dames and Bill MooreCrandall: Dameswasnotthesalesmantype.Hewastheadministrator.Agoodtechnicalman.Helovedmanagement.Alonewolf.Healienatedmoreclientsthanhegot,frankly.Ithinkherealizedthat,andhegotoutofthewayofclientrelations.IguessIwasbetterhandlingordealingwithpeoplethanhewas,soclientcontactsbecameoneofmyassignments.

Scott: OperatingoutofLosAngeles.

Crandall: Yes.

Scott: BillMoorealsodidalotmoreclientcontactwork,Iguess,buthewasoperatingmoreoutoftheSanFranciscoofficeaboutthattime?

Crandall: BillalsowentovertoSaudiArabiaforStandardOilofCaliforniaandAramco,theArabianAmericanOilCompany,andworkedatgettingthemunderwayonbuild-ingrefineriesthere.It’smentionedinBill’s


20

EERIoralhistory.3HeshippedthesamplesbacktoLosAngelesandwedidthetesting.WeworkedoutacodesystemforsendinghimdatafromLosAngeles.Whenhegottestingequipmentoverthere,Billranthetestsandbycodewouldsendtheresultsofthetest.We’ddrawupthelogsandotherthingsfromthedatathathesent.Itwasexpensiveanddifficulttogetmessagesbackandforth.Wetriedtokeepitshortandsweet.Aramco,Iguess,wasabletogetthecodeacrossbyradiotelegraph,orsomethinglikethat.Also,BillwasbusierthanabirddoginSanFranciscodoinghisownbusinessdevelopment.Uptherethearchitectsandengineerswerealotmorepro-vincialandlessprogressivethantheywereinLosAngeles.

In1947IbecamethefirstpartnerofDamesandMoore.Wewereapartnershipthen;itwasn’tacorporation.IhadresponsibilityforwhatwascalledtheLosAngelesregionalof-fice.AtthattimetherewasalsoanofficeinSanFrancisco,andBillMoorewasheadingthat.TrentDameswasinwhatwewouldnowrefertoasthecorporateoffice,butbackthenitwascalledthegeneraloffice.

Thegeneralofficetookcareofthetotalbusi-nesspicture,andwasworkingtowardestab-lishingotherofficesinotherareas.LaterthiswasdoneinNewYork,Seattle,Portland,andareaslikethat.Itwasthemainfunctionofthegeneraloffice.TheLosAngelesregionalofficewasresponsibleforallofsouthernCalifornia,

3. Connections: The EERI Oral History Series — William W. Moore: StanleyScott,interviewer.EarthquakeEngineeringResearchInstitute,Oakland,California,1998,p.35.

plusmuchoftheforeignworkthatwedid.ThatwasmyresponsibilityinLosAngeles.

Postwar Surge in Civilian ConstructionCrandall: Followingthewar,inabout1947,thebasicworkwascommercial,fillingademandforthebuildingsthatcouldnotbebuiltduringthewar.Therewasagreatsurgeofprivatework,ascomparedwiththepreviousdefenseandwar-relatedwork.Wewereveryfortunateinbeingabletomovealmostwithoutanyhitchesfromgovernmentdefenseworktoprivatework.Inotherwords,alloureggswerenotinonebasketanymore.

Scott: Youdidn’thavetoretooltheoffice?

Crandall: Right.Themaineffortwasonschoolsandmunicipalpublicbuildings,whoseconstructionhadbeencurtailedduringthewar.Then,ofcourse,therewasthegeneralprivatesector,suchasbuildingsforthetele-phonecompanyandgascompany.

Refineries

Crandall: Refinerieswerebeginningabigbuildingprogramaboutthattime.WeweredoingmuchworkwithgroupslikeUnionOil—andwhatwasthenRichfieldandlatercalledARCO—throughoutnotonlysouth-ernCalifornia,butthroughoutthesouthernUnitedStates.WedidworkinTexas,forexample,andalsoinKansasCity,Chicago,andotherareasoftheUnitedStates,forrefineriesdesignedandbuiltbyC.F.Braun,inparticular.HeadquarteredinAlhambra,CaliforniaintheLosAngelesarea,C.F.Braun&Co.wasone

21


oftheoutstandingpetrochemicaldesign-and-buildfirmsatthattime.

WehadafinerelationshipwithC.F.Braun,anddidthesoilengineeringworkforalloftheirprojectsthroughouttheUnitedStates.Wemusthavedonefifteenortwentymajorre-finerieswithC.F.Braun.Unfortunately,theyarenolongerthelead.Someyearsbacktheywereacquired,andthecharacteroftheirbusi-nesshaschanged.Nobody’sbuildingrefineriesnowadays,butatthattime,theywereamajorpartofourwork,involvinglargeprojectsaroundthecountry.

Coastal Facilities

Crandall: Therewerealsosomeinterestingoffshoreprojects.OneexampleistheHyper-ionsewerline,aninterestingproject.Wedidthesoilstudyforthefive-mileoutfallsewerthatextendsofftheLosAngelescoast.

Scott: Thatmusthavebeenamajorproject.

Crandall: Andamuch-neededdevelopment.Theeffluentwastakenfivemilesouttosea,andtheneverybodythoughtitwasfine.Nowa-days,however,theyhavefoundthatsludgeaccumulationiscausingproblems,andthey’redoingthingsalittledifferently.

Wedidseveraloffshoreprojectsofthattype.Anumberofpierswerebuilt,suchastheVenicepier.InSanDiego,therewasanoffshoreoutfall,andtwoorthreeotherpiers.Somarineworkwasgoingstrong,includingharbordepartmentworkinLosAngelesandLongBeach.Therewasabacklogofdevelopmenttobedonebecauseofthewar.

SanDiegobegantoboom,andweweretheprimesoilfirminconnectionwithmajorde-velopmentsinSanDiegofortheNavy.Manyoftheirshorefacilitieshadbeenlimitedduringthewar,andtheybegantoexpand.Thosearejustafewprojectsthatcometomindatthemomentasbeingrathernoteworthyinthatperiod.Theygaveusthechancetoexpandourtechniquesandknowledgeintootherareas.

Development of the Drilled Friction PileCrandall: Thedrilledpilewasonedevelop-mentinthoseearlydaysthatwasaveryimpor-tantfoundationtechnique.Aholewasdrilledintotheground,andthenfilledwithconcrete.

Scott: Thatwasdone,insteadofdrivingthepiledownintothesoilwithapile-driver?

Crandall: Yes,insteadofdrivingapileintothesoil,whichwasoneofthestandardpro-ceduresusedformany,manyyears.Insouth-ernCalifornia,adrilledpilewasoftenveryeconomical,andiftheconditionswereright,muchmoreeconomicalthanadrivenpile.Ofcourse,wheretherearesandysoilswithshal-lowwaterconditions,theholewon’tstayopen,makingadrilledpilehardtoinstall.Butwheretherearedryconditions,andthesurfacema-terialsarenotsuitableforconventionalspreadfootings,thedrilledpilewastheanswertoamaiden’sprayer.

ThisdevelopmentwasprettymuchpioneeredinsouthernCalifornia,usingwhatwasthencalledacesspoolrig.Itwasusedactuallyforthatpurpose,drillingcesspools.Theydrilledaholeinthegroundthattheylinedwithred-


22

wood.Forthedrilledpile,thatsamebucket-typedrillingequipment,asitwascalled,wasusedtodrillaholeintheground,andconcretewasputintothehole,andafrictionpiledevel-opedinthatfashion.

Ithadtobeproventopeoplethatyoucoulddevelopfrictiononthesideofaholethatwasmerelyfilledinwithconcrete.Theythoughtthattodevelopfriction,thepilehadtobebeatenintotheground.Soseveraltestsweremadeintheearlydays,someofwhichwerepriortomyevencomingtoLosAngeles.Theyputadrilledpileintheground,andthendrilledanotherholealongsideit,sayfiveorsixfeetaway,bothtothesametipelevation.Thentheytunneledunderthedrilledpiletoremovethesoilfrombeneathitstip.Thepilewasthenloadedtoprovethatthetipwasnotcarryingtheload—insteaditwasthefrictiononthesidesthatcarriedtheload.

Oncethatprinciplewasestablished,peoplebegantobelieveit.Mostengineershadfeltthattheloadwasgoingallthewaydowntothetip,andthatyoucanonlyloadthatpileuptowhatevertheeighteen-inchdiametertipareawouldsupport.Butthatwasnotthecase,andthedrilledpilewouldtakeconsiderablygreaterloadsthanthat.Thedevelopmentofthedrilled,cast-in-placeconcretepilewasapioneeringeffortinsouthernCalifornia.Wegotthattypeoffoundationpermittedinthebuildingcode,andinthisareaaverylargenumberofbuildingshavebeenputinthataresupportedonthiskindofpiling.

Parting with Dames and MooreCrandall: IhadaveryfinerelationshipwithbothBillMooreandTrentDames.Thingswentverywell,althoughthereweresomebusinessdifferences.TrentDameswasinter-nationallyminded,multi-officeoriented.Inthatregard,Ihadsomereservations,purelyfromabusinessstandpoint.Wehadseveraldiscussionsaboutwhatwasgoingtobedoneandhow.

Scott: Youhadreservationsabouttheopen-ingofotheroffices,orsolicitinglotsofworkawayfromhomebase?

Crandall: Iwasconcernedaboutpossibleef-fectsonthequalityofthework,ifofficeswereopenedwithoutsuitablytrainedpersonnel.Trenthaddifferentideasonthat.

Scott: Inotherwords,hethoughtthequalityproblemcouldbehandled,orhewaseagerforthebusiness,ormaybeboth?

Crandall: Expansionwashismiddlename.BillMoore,Ithink,waslessorientedthatway.Butatthattime,intheearly1950sasIrecall,therewasanexecutivecommitteeconsistingofmyself,BillMoore,andTrentDames.Thematterwasdiscussedinthecommittee,anditwasobviousthatIwasnotintunewithwhattheotherswantedtodo.

Scott: Youfeltitwouldbebettertostickwithtwoorthreeoffices.

Crandall: Oratleastincreaseinsizemoregradually.Thiswasapartnership,youwillrecall,andeachpartnerwasvulnerableforwhateverhappenedinanyotheroffice.Oneofmyconcernswasthat,ifweopenedanoffice

23


inanotherarea,wecouldallbeaffectedifthatofficedevelopedsomeliabilityproblems.Un-derapartnership,thoseproblemscouldaffectusall.

HereIwas,afairlysignificantpartnerinthelegalentityofDamesandMoore.Whilenotrichbyanystretchoftheimagination,any-thingIhadwouldbeexposedtowhateveractionsorclaimstheworkofthepeopleinotherDamesandMooreofficesmightgener-ate,evenbyunintentionalthings.SoIwaslessenthusiasticaboutbeing,shallIsay,inbedwithotherofficemanagersoverwhomIhadverylittlecontrol,andaboutwhoseabilitiesIhadlittleknowledge.

IrecognizedthatmythinkingrancontrarytowhatDamesandMoorewerecontemplating,andinfairnesstoboththemandmyself,Ifeltthetimehadcometoseparatefromthefirm.

Ialsosensedthattherewassomethingofacorporatebureaucracydeveloping,inwhichheadquartersstafftellsalltheworkerswhattodo.Thelinepersonnel,theprofessionals,canbecomesecondary.Thesethingsdidn’tfitmyideaofhowtorunacompany.Notthatthere’sanythingwrongwiththatmodel,andDamesandMoorewentontobecomeoneofthelargestfirmsofthistypeinthecountry,maybeevenintheworld.That’sfine—butitwasn’tforme.Ididn’tseethatapproachasbeingmycupoftea.Inearly1954IconcludedthatwhatIwasdoingwasnotgoodforeitherDamesandMooreorforme.Itwasn’trighttothem,tohavesomebodywhowasnotactivelypursuingthepoliciesthecompanywasinterestedin.

Thefinaldecisionwasmadein1954.Ihadanofferfromanotherfirm,primarilyatesting

laboratory,whichwantedtodosoilengineer-ing.ItwaslocatedinmyoldhometownofSanDiego,wheremywifeandIhadbeenraised,andwherewehadourfamily(mybrother,sis-ter,andparents).Sowethoughtaboutmovingthere.IregrettosayIhadpracticallyassuredtheotherpartyofourintent,tothepointwherehewaskindofcountingonmycomingdownthere.AtthistimeIhadadvisedDamesandMoorethatIwasplanningtoleave,andthatIhadbeenaskedtocometoworkfortheSanDiegofirm.

Meanwhile,someofthestructuralengineersintownwhoweregoodfriendsofmine,andwithwhomIhadworkedasaDamesandMoorepartner,convincedmethatIwouldbebetterofftostayinLosAngeleswhereIhadallthesecontacts.TheyallfeltthatmyserviceswouldbepreferredtowhoeverelsemightcomeandtakeoveratDamesandMoore.Ishallnotnamethem,butthereweretwoinparticular.

Scott: Twostructuralengineers,friendsofyoursinthisarea?

Crandall: Structuralengineers,yes,whoverystronglyurgedthatIshouldstayinthisarea.

Scott: Weretheyyourpeers,chronologically?

Crandall: Somewhatolder,butonlybyfourorfiveyears.Thentwoofourassociates,em-ployeesatDamesandMoore,LeoHirschfeldtandFredBarnes,approachedme,sayingtheywereinterestedinworkingwithmeifIstartedmyownfirm.Neitherofthemwasaregisteredcivilengineer,buttheyhadbeenwithDamesandMoorealmostaslongasIhad,andoneevenlonger.Theyofferedtojoinmeinform-ingourownofficeinLosAngeles.Weagreed


24

thatthismightbeagoodthingtodo.IhadtotelltheSanDiegocontactthatIhadchangedmymind.Hewasverygraciousaboutit,buthewasn’tverydamnhappy.I’vealwaysfeltIlefthimholdingthebag.

Financingwasobviouslyaprobleminstart-inganewbusiness.AllofmyassetsweretiedupinDamesandMoore,inownershipandinretainedearnings.InDamesandMooreweoperatedonadrawingaccount,which,Ithink,atthattimewas$600amonth.That’swhatyoulivedon.Thentheoreticallyattheendoftheyearafterthebookshadclosed,iftherewasaprofit,itwasdistributed.Initially,14percentwasmyshare,butlaterthiswaschanged.Wedecidedthatwecouldprobablylastforsixmonthsifwecouldcomeupwith$10,000.

Scott: Youmean$10,000cashtotal,forthethreeofyou?

Crandall: Yes.Weraisedthisnesteggfrom$5,000paidinbyme,and$2,500fromeachoftheothertwo.We’dseehowitwent.Ifwemadeit,wemadeit.Ifwedidn’t,itwasdownthetubesandwe’ddosomethingelse.Wewerekindofluckyinourtiming.BythenIhadad-visedDamesandMoorethatIwasresigning.IthinkIgavethemathree-monthperiodduringwhichIwouldstayon,andworkwithandtrainmyreplacement,averyfinefellownamedAlSmoots,whowasgoingtotakeovertheoffice.Ididstay,andleftaboutMay1,1954.

Priortomyfinishing,butafterthedecisionhadbeenmadethatIwouldgo,thesetwootherpartiesapproachedTrentDames,toldhimtheywereplanningtoleave,andgavehimamonth.Wefeltthefirmdeservedamonthnotice.Fortunatelyforus,Damesdecidedhedidn’twantthemaroundiftheyweregoingtoleave,soheterminatedthemrightthen.Thattimingturnedouttobethebestthingthateverhappened,becausewestartedgettingworkthedayweopenedourdoors.WithoutthemIwouldhavebeentheonlyonetodoallofthiswork.Sotheothertwocameaboardrightaway.Itworkedoutverywell.

Scott: WasyourpartingwithDamesandMooreamicable?

Crandall: Itwasn’treallyamicablewithTrentDames.Infactwehadafinancialdisputeoverthepayoutofmyshareinthefirmthatdraggedon.IcansaytothisdaythatmyfirmdidnotgoandsolicitajobfromsomeonewhohadbeenaclientofDamesandMoore.Wedid,ofcourse,sendoutannounce-mentsaboutourfirm,andwehaditputinthemagazinethatLeRoyCrandallandAssociateshadbeenformed,andthatsortofpromotion.Weendedupgettingabigjobinthemid-1950sforfurtherworkontheHyperionseweroutfall,butonlybecausethecityengineerhadstrainedrelationswithDamesandsoughtmeoutforourservices.

Chapter 5

LeRoy Crandall and Associates

25

We started the office with a card table, a desk,

a second-hand typewriter, one three-drawer

metal file cabinet, and a drafting table.

Crandall: Weopenedournewfirm’sdoorsin1954andhadworkbeforewewereevenready.Wedidn’thaveourtestingmachinesandotherequipment.Peoplecameinandcalledusandwantedustodowork.Weneverhadanyproblemswithobtainingwork.

Scott: YourstructuralengineeradvisorshadcalledtheshotsprettywellinrecommendingthatyoustayintheLosAngelesarea.

Crandall: Yes,theywereright.Manypeoplehelpedusverymuch.Onevery,veryfineengineer,JimMont-gomeryofJ.M.MontgomeryEngineers,calledearly-on.Oneofourfirstjobs,jobnumbereightitwas,wasareservoirintheLasVegasarea.Jimcalledandaskedifwewoulddothework.Isaid,“Gee,Jim,we’dloveto.Idon’tknowifwecanfinanceit,though.”Itwasaprettybigjobforus,about30boringsandthingslikethat,maybeitwasa$15,000project,whichwasabigfeefor


26

us.Isaid,“Financingmightbeaproblem.”Hesaid,“Look,LeRoy,don’tyouworryaboutthat.We’llpayyouinadvance.Wewantyoutodothejob.”Wehadsupportfrompeoplelikethat,whichreallymadeitworthwhile.

Scott: Heofferedtopayinadvance?

Crandall: Wedidn’tneeditifthingsworkedoutallright,butwehadonly$10,000total,andwehadtohiredrillingequipment,andpaythemtooperateit.

Scott: Youhadacashflowproblem.

Crandall: Check.OnethingthatIwasproudof,andI’dliketobeatmydrumabout,wasthatthefirstthingIdidwhenweopenedthedoorsandtookinsomehardcashwastojointheU.S.ChamberofCommerce,theCali-forniaStateChamber,andtheLosAngelesChamber.We’vebeensupportiveofthingslikethatrightfromthestart.Forwhateverthat’sworth,Ifeltwewereheretostay,andweweregoingtomakeabusinessanddoourshareoftryingtosupportprivateenterprise.

LikeIsay,thingswentwell.Ican’trecallanymajorproblems.Wegrewfromthethreeofusengineersandmywife,Eileen,thesecretary.Westartedtheofficewithacardtable,adesk,asecond-handtypewriter,onethree-drawermetalfilecabinet,andadraftingtable.WerentedalittleofficespaceonBeverlyBoule-vardinLosAngeles.

Scott: Youstartedalmostonashoestring.

Crandall: Oh,wehadsandalswithoutshoe-strings,Iguessyoucouldsay.Butthe$10,000wasadequate,alongwiththekindofsupportwegotfromourclients,whopaidquicklyandwell.

Hyperion Sewer System ExpansionCrandall: AsImentionedearlier,oneofthebigjobsournewfirmhadwastheexpansionoftheHyperionseweroutfallsystemforLosAngeles,aprojectonwhichDamesandMoorewereconsultantsduringitsfirstphase.Thecityengineer,amannamedAldrich,preferrednottousethemagain,andalthoughtheproj-ectwasastretchforoursmalloffice,wetookiton,todothesoilreportforthenewoutfallsewer.Ithinkthetotalfeewassomethinglike$75,000.That’snotsobigbytoday’sstandards,butbackthenitwasahellofabigjob.

Scott: IremembertheHyperionoutfalldebateandproject,whichwasnewsevenupintheSanFranciscoBayArea.ItgotintosomeoftheliteraturethatcameacrossmydeskinmyearlydaysattheInstituteofGovernmen-talStudies.AsIrecall,thatprojectwasaveryimportantissueatthetime.

Crandall: Theoutfallsewerwentoutsixmiles.Wealsohadtodrillsomeotherboringstocheckthesewerinstallationandfindoutthesoilconditions.Thentherewasabout15milesofonshoresewerlineatquiteadepth.Muchofitwasputinasatunnel,tunnelingundertheLosAngelesairportandthatwholeareainBaldwinHills.Itwasquiteajobandafeatherinourcap,believeme.Wediditwell.

Organization of the FirmScott: Howdidyouorganizethefirm?

Crandall: Theothertwopartners,LeoHirschfeldtandFredBarnes,hadaquarterinterest,andIhadhalf.Weselectedthename“LeRoyCrandallandAssociates,”which

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Chapter 5LeRoy Crandall • LeRoy Crandall and Associates

doesn’tshowmuchoriginality,Iguess,butitseemstohaveworked.Thatwasthebestsellingapproach,Ithink,becauseIwasbetterknownthantheothers.

Afewmonthsafterwehadopened,RussWeber,whoalsoworkedatDamesandMoore,cameby.Russhadapproachedmeearlieraboutstartingacompany,butatthattimeIhadalreadycommittedwithFredandLeo.ButRusswasnowreadytojoin,andwetookhiminasanequalpartnertoFredandLeo.Theyeachhadequalsharesandminewastwicetheirindividualshares.Thatcomesout40-20-20-20thatis,theyeachhad20andIhad40.Wetookoffonthatbasis.

Iwouldsaywithinaboutthreeorfourmonthswehadincreasedourstafffromthefourofustoaboutsevenaltogether.OureffortswereintheLosAngelesarea,ofcourse,andpurelyinsoilengineering.Thatwasthewholethingatthattime.Thefieldenlargedinlateryears,butinitiallyitwasjustexploringandtestingthesoilforfoundationdesignpurposes.

CrandallandAssociatesgrewinsize.IalwayshadfeltthataboutsixteentotalpersonnelwouldbewhatIconsideredidealforasmallconsultingfirmthatbelievedinqualityservice.ThatwasaboutthesizeIhadintheLosAnge-lesofficeofDamesandMoore,aboutsixteenoreighteen.

Inthenewfirm,however,wegottothatlevelfairlyquickly.Idon’thavethenumbersinfrontofme,butIguesswithintwoyearswewereuptothatsizeoftotalpersonnel.Ithinkmytheorywasgood—Istillbelievethatisagoodsizeforaprincipaltooperateandconducta

businessuptothepointwhereyoustillknowalmosteverythingthat’sgoingon.

Scott: Beingintimatelyknowledgeableabouteveryjobyouaredoing?

Crandall: Yes,that’sit.AndthatwasthebasisformyleavingDamesandMoore,asIsaid.Alsoatthattimewewerebeginningtobeconsciousofliability,oflawsuitsagainstsoilengineers.Iwasnogeniusatmanagement,butIwassmartenoughtorecognizethatifyoudidn’thavegoodcontrols,youcouldeasilygetyourselfintoalegalsituationthatshouldoth-erwisehavebeenprevented,ifyouhadknownwhatwasgoingonintimetotakesomeactionbeforeproblemsdeveloped.

Well,thetheorywasgood,butwecouldn’tholdtoit.Thatwasnotbecausewewereoutsolicitingeveryjobthatcamealong.Butwehaddevelopedaclienteleof,Iwillsay,thebestarchitecturalandengineeringfirmsinsouthernCaliforniawhoreliedonusalmostautomati-callyfortheirsoilwork.TheygrewasLosAngelesgrew.AndwhenafirmsuchasDaniel,Mann,Johnson,andMendenhallgetsbiggerandhasmorework,andtheywantyoutodotheirworkagain,you’dbetterbepreparedtodoitproperly,orthey’regoingtolookforsomeoneelseandyouwon’thaveanywork.That’sexactlywhathappened,sowehadtokeepgrowing.

Scott: That’sinteresting.Thereispressureonyoubecauseofyoursuccessandyourclients’success.Igatheryoualmostcan’tescapeit.

Crandall: Thatwasexactlyright.Wewereveryslowinsolicitingnewclients,becausewehadthecreamofthecropandtheydeveloped


28

alltheworkweneededforasmall-sizefirm.Buttheywouldgrow,andthen,ofcourse,aspeopleleftthosefirmsandstartedtheirownfirms,youwouldthenhavetwoorthreeor-ganizationsthatstilllookeduponyouastheirconsultantinthisfield.

Incorporating in 1957Crandall: Whenwestarted,itwasapartner-ship.Thenafteraboutthreeyearsweincor-porated,andeachbecamestockholders.Thereweresomebenefitstothat.IfIremembercorrectly,LeoHirschfeldtsearchedaroundandfoundthatyoucouldoperateunderwhatwascalled“SubchapterS,”whichpermittedyoutodivideuptheprofitsasifyouwereapartnership,butgaveyoumanyofthebenefitsofincorporation.

Scott: Also,Igather,itfreedyoufromsomeofthevulnerabilityofapartnership.

Crandall: Thatisright.Atthattimeatleastwethought—lateritwasn’tquiteasimpor-tant—butacorporationwaslessvulnerablethen.Inacorporation,theindividualswerelessvulnerableintheeventofalawsuitorsomehorriblecatastrophe.Laterlitigationindicatedthattheycould“piercethecorporateveil”aslawyerslovetosay.Ifyou’reaprofes-sionalpersonandhadsigneddrawingsandstampedthedrawingswithyourregistrationyoucouldbeheldliableasanindividual.Soitdidn’thaveallofthatreducedvulnerabil-ityaspectforverylong,buttax-wiseitwasagoodmove.Later,wegotsobigthatwehadtodropSubchapterS.I’veforgottennow,butyoucouldonlyhaveXnumberofpartnersor

stockholdersorwhatever.Therewasalotoflegalmumbo-jumboaboutit.

Sowehadtoexpand.Expandingmeantlargerquarters.Werentedorleasedspaceforawhile,andhaditaddedonto.Then,Ithinkin1965,wedecidedtobuildourownbuilding.Iwasnotreallystronglyinfavorofthat,becauseIfeltthatwewerebetterofftokeepourmoneyinourownfieldandletsomebodyelseownthebuilding,butitturnedouttobeadamnedgoodinvestment.Ithinkitwas1965.Thatwouldhavebeen11yearsafterwestarted.

Scott: Inhindsight,thatwouldhavebeenagoodtimetobuildorbuy,seeingwhathap-penedtotherealestatemarket.Itreallytookoff,startinginabout1964or1965.

Crandall: Yes.Itwasdumbluck.LeoHirschfeldtwastheonewhomaneuveredusintothat.Leowasmoreofabusinessmanagerthanacivilengineer.Hewasagraduatecivilengineer,buthenevergothisregistration.Helovedthebusinessaspects.

Wehiredoneofourarchitecturalclients,afel-lowwhohadbeenwithabigfirmandleft,andhedesignedwhatIfeltwasavery,veryfinebuildingforustooperateoutof.

Scott: Wherewasitlocated?

Crandall: At711NorthAlvaradoStreetinLosAngeles,nearEchoParkLake.Theneigh-borhoodwasnotveryclassy,butwefeltitwasgoingtoimprove.Thatwastheonethingwewerewrongon.Itdidn’timprovemuchwhilewewerethere,althoughnowithas,afterwe’vesoldthebuilding.WebuiltthatbuildingattheintersectionofAlvaradoandKentStreets,sowecalledthecorporationAlvarado-Kent

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Chapter 5LeRoy Crandall • LeRoy Crandall and Associates

Corporation.Webuilta10,000-or12,000-square-footfacilitythatincludedstorageforourequipment,alaboratory,andourengineer-ingoffices.Itwasone-storyhigh,butwehaddesigneditforasecondstory,sowecouldexpandifwewantedto.

BythattimeIthinkwehadsixpartners.JimmyKirkgardandSeymourChiuweretheaddi-tionalpartnerswehadadded.Wecalledthemassociates.Bothofthemcamewithinroughlyayearafterwehadopenedthedooronthenewbuilding.SeymourwasfromHongKongandhadamaster’sdegreefromtheUniversityofTexas.JimmyKirkgardwasaUCLAgraduate,withamaster’sdegree.MartinDukesenthimovertous.

Eachofusinvestedinthebuildinginanamountequivalenttoourownership.WefeltJimmyandSeymourhadtheabilitiesandthetalentsandthequalitiesthatwewanted,soweofferedthemashareofthebusiness,whichtheyaccepted.Theyboughttheirownstock.Wedidn’tgiveanystockaway.Wepermittedthemtobuyintothebusiness.SowhenwebuiltAlvarado-Kent,sixofushadsharesinthebuildingme,FredBarnes,LeoHirschfeldt,RussWeber,JamesKirk-gard,andJamesMcWee.Lateron,SeymourChiu,whohadbeenwithusforaslongasanybody,wasmadetheseventhassociate,andafterthatPerryMaljianwasselectedastheeighth.

Ifeltverystronglythatweshouldmakethebusinessavailabletoourkeypersonnel,ifweexpectedtokeepthem.Ifyougetgoodtalent,unlesstheyare“partoftheaction,”they’regoingtoleaveafterarelativelyshortperiodof

time,afterthey’veachievedeverythingthey’regoingtoget.Ifthey’rejustworkingforasal-aryandabonus,itisn’tnearlyasinterestingashavingaportionofabusinessthattheycandevotetheirtimeto.

Scott: YoumentionC.MartinDuke.Hadheworkedwithyoubefore?

Crandall: Yes,hewasbythenaprofessoratUCLA,andwewereveryclose,andwecol-laboratedonacoupleofthings.I’llmentionhimseveraltimeshereinthisoralhistory.IhaveforgottenwhetherwehiredMartinandhegotpaid,orhewasworkingonaresearchgrant,buthedidearlyshearwavevelocitymeasurementswithus.

Iguesswemovedin1966.Wefinishedthebuildinginlessthanayear.Wehadatwenty-yearmortgage,andpaiditoffintenyears,sothenweownedthebuildingfreeandclear.CrandallandAssociatespaidrenttoAlvarado-Kent.Thatturnedouttobeafinancialbless-ingbecausewhenwefinallysoldthebuilding[in1986],wesolditforamilliondollars,andIthinkin1965wehadpaidacouplehundredthousand,somethinglikethat.

Scott: Whydidyousell?

Crandall: ItwasrelatedtothenextphaseintheCrandallfirm,whenwewereacquiredbyLawEngineering.

Acquired by Law EngineeringCrandall: LawEngineeringofAtlantaac-quiredCrandallandAssociatesin1982.Atthattime,ourfirmhadseventyoreightyemployees.Thename“Law”comesfromthefirm’sfound-


30

andwoulduseconsultantgeologistswhenweneededthattypeofinput.Forsometimewedidthat,usingtwofirmsforthegeologicwork,JamesSlosson,andGlennA.BrownandAssociates.

Thenitgottothepointwheremanyofourcompetitorshadin-houseengineeringgeolo-gists.Also,someofourclientsexpressedapreferenceforafirmthatdidn’tsubmittworeports,butwouldcombineboththegeologyandtheengineeringinonereport.Weusedtohaveareportwrittenbyourconsultant,let’ssay,GlennA.Brown,andwewouldappendthatgeologyreporttooursoilreport.We,ofcourse,usedtheinformationfromit,buttwoseparatereportsweresenttotheclient.

Soinordertomeetourclients’desires,LeRoyCrandallandAssociatesmergedwithGlennA.BrownandAssociates.GlennBrownandhisstaff,abouttenortwelvepeople,becamepartofLeRoyCrandallandAssociates.Ourfirmbeforethattimewasaboutfortyorfiftypeople.GlennBrownwasbroughtinasanassociateofthecompany.Thatwasinthemid1970s.Glennhadaveryfinereputation,andwewereveryfondofhimandhiswork.

WeworkedoutfinewithGlennBrown.Weacquiredhisfirm,hisequipmentandappa-ratus.HeacquiredstockinLeRoyCrandallandAssociates,andbecameanotherco-owner.Thefirmthenbecameanintegratedoperation,andweidentifiedourselvesas“GeotechnicalConsultants,”ratherthanjust“GeotechnicalEngineers.”ThisincludedthegeologythatBrownwasinchargeofunderthatbroaderdesignation.

er,ThomasLaw.Weweretoparticipateintheearningsorprofitsoverthreeyears,between1982and1985,withamaximumvalueequaltotheamounttheypaidforLeRoyCrandallandAssociates.LeRoyCrandallandAssociatesbecameasubsidiaryofLawEngineeringTest-ingCompanyin1982butretaineditsformernameuntil1991,whenthenamechangedtoLaw/Crandall.Lawdidn’tbuythebuilding,soAlvarado-Kentstillownedit.

In1985theearn-outperiodended.Lawhasagrowthpolicy.Theywantedtobebig.Soweoutgrewthebuilding,andAlvarado-Kentof-feredtoaddonthesecondstory.Buttheparentcompany,LawEngineering,decidedthatratherthanstayinthebuildingwhilethesecondstorywasbeingadded,theywouldmoveoutandleaselargerquarters.Thedecisiontoleaselarg-erquartersleftAlvarado-Kentwithabuildingtodisposeof,sincewedidn’tfeelliketryingtoleaseitout.Bythattime,LeoHirschfeldtandSeymourChiuhadpassedaway,FredBarneshadretired,andRussWeberwasjustabouttoretire.Soratherthantrytokeepthebuilding,wedecidedtosellitin1986.LeRoyCrandallandAssociatesthenfoundquartersinGlendalethatweremuchlargerthanwhatwehadbe-fore.ThemovetoGlendalewasmadein1986.Then,duetoaneedforevenmorespace,in1991anothermovewasmadetoanewlybuilttwo-storystructureintheCityofCommerce.

Geology and the Practice of Crandall and AssociatesCrandall: Thisbringsmetoapointabouttheevolutionofmyfirm.CrandallandAs-sociateslimitedourselvestosoilengineering,

Chapter 6

Development of Soil Engineering

31

The model grading ordinance of the

City of Los Angeles and the tie-back

anchor are widely used foundation and

soil engineering approaches that were

pioneered in southern California.

Convincing Them We Had Something UsefulCrandall: Ithinkmostbuildersanddesignprofession-alsthoughtwewereliketheguyswiththewaterwitchingtechniques.Itwasallmumbo-jumbo—whoneededallthatstuff?Itwasaquestionofconvincingpeoplethatbytakingsamplesandrunningtestsanddoingengineeringanalyses,youcoulddevelopgood,usefulinformation.

Atthetime,theNavy,AirForce,andArmyseemedtobeconvincedthattherewassomemeritinthissortofathing.Thenpeoplebegantofindoutthatwhenthingswentwrongwithfoundations,itwasconsideredthede-signer’sfault.Butnowherewasanotherlayerthatwouldstepinandassumeresponsibilityfortheuncertaintiesin


32

constructionthatareprimarilycausedbytheundergroundconditions.

Withresponsibilitywentrespect.Sowebegantogetrespect,atleastasrepresentingabuffer,separatingthedesignerfromsomeoftheprob-lemsofconstruction.Thedesignerthenhadthesoilengineertotakethebruntoftheattackifanythingwentwrongwiththesiteorfounda-tion.Basically,itwasjustaquestionoftheirchangingviews.Previouslytheyhadgottenalong,forthousandsofyears,withoutrunningsoiltests.Sotheattitudewas“Whathaveyougotthat’sgoingtobehelpfultome?”

Thatskepticismgraduallychanged,asbuild-ingdepartmentsbegantorelyonthesoilengineer’sfindings,andownersdiscoveredthattheycouldsaveconsiderablemoneybyknowingtheexactdesignproblemsonasite,ratherthanjustarbitrarilyapplyingthepre-scribeddesignvaluesinthebuildingcode.

Scott: Inotherwords,theycouldtailor-makewhattheydidintermsoffoundationandpre-paratorywork?

Crandall: That’sexactlyright.Youlearntheconditionsofthesite,andsincebuildingcodesareconservativedocuments,usuallyyoucansavemoney.Inotherwords,inmostcasestheactualsoilvaluedeterminedbytheconsultantisbetterthanwhatthebuildingcoderequiresifyoudon’thaveasite-specificstudy.

Youmightbeabletodesignthefoundationfor,say5,000poundspersquarefootbearingpres-sureinsteadofthe2,000poundsthatthecodemightotherwisesaywasthepresumedvalue.AgreatdealofthanksisowedtothebuildingdepartmentpeopleoftheCityofLosAngeles

forrealizingthatearly-on,andforwritingthecodeinsuchamannerthatdeviationsfromitwerepermittedonthebasisofaqualifiedsoilengineeringreport.

Manyofusinthesoilsfieldwereinstrumental,workingwiththeLosAngelesbuildingdepart-ment,ingettingtheinformationinthere.Soitbecamepossibletodeviatefromthebuildingcodeonthebasisofanacceptablesoilstudy.

Leadership by the City of Los Angeles Scott: Inthisrespect,theCityofLosAnge-leshastendedtobealittleaheadofthegame?

Crandall: Ithinkthereisdefinitelythatfactor notonlyinthequalityoftheirplan-checkingdepartmentandpersonnel,butalsointheiracceptanceofnewtechniquesandallow-ingforthosenotspecifiedinthebuildingcode.Then,ofcourse,they’vealsotightenedupmanythings,forexamplethegradingordinance,whichthelocalsoilpeoplealsohelpeddevelop.

Backinthe1950sandearly1960s,IthinktheCityofLosAngelescertainlyledtheUnitedStates,andmaybetheworld,inrequirementsforevaluatingsoilpropertiesbeforeconstruct-inghillsidedevelopments.Becauseofthepreviouslackofcontrolsoverthedevelopers,inourhillsthereweremanyproblemswithstability,landslides,anderosionfailures.

It’salwaysstruckmethatinotherpartsoftheworld,theverypoorpeopleliveonthehillsides.Buthere,insouthernCalifornia,ahillsidelotisadesirableplace.Sowehaveconcentratedagreatdealofexpensivedevelop-mentonhillsides,andasaresult,hillsidede-

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Chapter 6LeRoy Crandall • Development of Soil Engineering

velopmenttendstobecontrolledinwaysthatminimizegradingproblems.IcannowsaythatthehillsideareaoftheCityofLosAngeleshasfewerproblemsthanalmostanycomparableplaceIcanimagine.Theproportionoftroubleisvery,veryminimal.

Scott: Ithinkthisisaveryimportantpoint—thattheCityofLosAngelesoftenseemstobealittleaheadofmostoftherest.Doyouhaveanythoughtsastowhythiswasthecase?Isitdueprincipallytoprofessionalleadershipintheappropriatedepartments?DoyouhaveanygeneralideasastowhyLosAngelesisoftenabitaheadofthegame?

Crandall: Isuspectitisthatwehaveavocalcitizenry,whohavebuiltexpensivehomesinthehillsides.Whentroubledevelopedwhenheavyrainfalloccurredintheearly1950s,therewasagreatoutcry.“What’swrongwithourhillsidedevelopment?”Goodsoilengi-neersalreadyknewwhatshouldnotbedone,buttherewererelativelyfewcontrolsonthedevelopers.

The 1952 Los Angeles Grading OrdinanceCrandall: Itwasjustaquestionofsloperequirementsnotbeingappropriate.Onahill-sidedevelopment,forexample,aone-to-oneslope(45degrees)wasconsideredsafeforcutslopesandevenforsomefillslopes;aone-and-a-half-to-one(horizontaltovertical)slopewasconsideredsafeforatypicalfilledslope.Eventhoughmanyofusknewthatthesewerethingsthatshouldbeavoided,thoseminimalrequire-mentswereaboutalltherewasinthewayofstandardstobemet.

Scott: Andyouknewthatthoserequirementswerereallynotadequate?

Crandall: Oh,yes,obviously.Butdevelop-erswereabletofindpeoplewhowoulddothegrading—justinconformancewiththeminimumrequirementsatthetime—whichwasnotadequate.

Also,thedrainagecharacteristicsofsoilsondevelopmentsiteswerenotcontrolled,ordidnotfollowanyengineeringrequirements.Thecompactionwasconsiderednottooimportant,andhouseswerebuiltonpoorlycompactedsoil.Therewereallsortsofproblems.Many,manythingsweredonevery,verybadly.

Scott: Thatwasoneofthefirststepsinim-provingthecity’shillsidecoderegulations?

Crandall: Yes.Thenextstepwastosaythatfillsgiveustrouble,sowewillnotmakethemsteeperthanone-and-one-halftoone,aflatterangle.Thatwentalongforawhile.WehadsomeheavyrainsinLosAngelesintheearly1950s,andtherewasagreatdealoftrouble,muchsettlementoffillsandfailuresofthefillslopes.�ButwidespreadhillsidedevelopmenthadoccurredrightafterWorldWarII.With

4. RainfallindowntownLosAngelesoverthewinterof1951-1952was26inches(660mm),orabout1.75timesthelong-termaverage.Therehadnotbeenaseasonofsuchheavyrainfallsincethewinterof1940-1941,whichhadarainfalltotal2.2timestheaverage.TherewaslittlehillsidedevelopmentinLosAngelesasof1941,andwhattherewastendedtoinvolvesmall-scalecut-and-fillgradingonindividuallots.By1951,manymassivecut-and-fillprojectshadbeenaccomplishedfortracthousingthatwasdevelopedduringtheeconomicboomafterWorldWarII.


34

thoserains,itbecameveryapparentthatsome-thingneededtobedone.Therewasapublicoutcry,ofcourse.

Soagroupofuswerecalledinbythecity,andwetriedtocomeupwithagradingordinancethatwouldminimizethesekindsoffailures.Iwasoneofthoseselectedtoworkwiththecitybuildingandsafetypeople,toputsometeethintothepolicyandcomeupwithasensibleordinancethatwouldminimizetheseprob-lems.Oneofthethingswerequiredwasthatasoilengineeringfirmberetainedtodocertainthings.Theyhadtomakeaninvestigationandareportbeforethefact—beforetheystarteddoinggradingworkontheproperty—statingwhatweresafeanglesforthecutslopesandforthefillslopes.Thatreportwasthensubmittedtothebuildingdepartment,andtheywouldreviewit.Theywouldreviewthegradingplans,andtheyrequiredinadditionthatacivilengineeringfirmpreparegradingplansshow-ingwhatwastobedoneandwhere.

Muchofthepreviousdevelopmentwasdonealmostonthebackofanenvelope.Adeveloperwouldsay,“I’mgoingtocutthisandfillthat.We’lldoitinthismanner.”Thentheygotoutthereonthesiteandtheydidalmostanythingtheywanted.Therewasnospecificsetofplans.

SothenewLosAngelesgradingordinancerequiredthegradingplansandthesoilreportbeforethepermitwasgranted.Then,duringconstructiontherequirementwasthatthesoilengineeringfirmbepresentandmakesurethatthesitewasproperlyprepared,whichincludedremovinganytopsoilorbrushbeforetheystartedputtingfillontopofit.Inthepast,itwasnotunknownforthedeveloperand

hisearth-movertojustgoaheadandplacefillonanunpreparedsite.Thatisthecheapwaytodoit,noquestionaboutit.Itwasalsothesourceofsay90percentoftheproblemswiththefill—thefactthattheyhadnotcleanedouttheloosematerialbelow.Anotherfactorwastheyhadnotprovideddrainagecapability,sowiththenaturaldrainageblockedbyfill,waterjustbuildsupinthefill,causeshydrostaticpressures,andweakensthesoil.Thisledtoagreatmanyofthefailures.

Thingslikethatwerecoveredbythe1952gradingordinanceoftheCityofLosAngeles,whichwaswayaheadofitstime.Infact,LosAngeleswasthefirstareathatrequiredthis.Otheragenciesandgovernmentsfollowedsuitshortlyafter,particularlytheCountyofLosAngeles.Sothatbroughtthesoilengineerintotheact.

Failures on Dipping BedsCrandall: Theninthelate1950sorearly1960s,heavyrainscausedproblemswithexcavatedslopesintheSantaMonicaMoun-tains,particularlythenorthside.Thebedsdippedtothenorth,andthenorthsideoftheSantaMonicaMountainswaswheretheywerecuttingintothosedippingbeds.Thatresultedinwhatiscalleddaylightedbedding—inotherwords,theslopeintersectsthebeddingplanes,andthecutsthenhadnothingbuttressingthem,astheydidbefore.Residentialproper-tiesinthemountainshavefailedbecausethesoilengineerswhoworkedwiththedevelop-ershadn’trecognizedtheinclinedbeddingasaweaknessthatneededtobeconsideredinanalyzinghillsidestability.Mostofthesoil

35


openedupsomenewterritoryforsoilengi-neers.Diditresultinamuchwiderrealizationthatsoilengineersareneeded?

Crandall: Itdefinitelydid.Itstimulatedtheutilizationofsoilengineeringfirms.Therearedozensofthemnow,ofcourse.

Claims and Litigation, Tract HousingCrandall: Thepartofitthatreallyhurtthesoilengineeringpeoplewasthatformanyofthesedevelopmentsacorporationwassetuptodeveloptheproject,andthenaftertheprojectwasfinished,thecorporationwasdissolved.Sothepartieswhowereresponsibleforallthesedecisionsregardingqualityoftheworkwerenolongeravailablelegally.Sowhoisleft?Thepoorlittlesoilengineeringfirmwasstillaround,becausetheywereacontinuingbusi-ness,andtheybecamethepigeonofthelegalprofession,andwerebeingsuedgenerally.Soifanythingwentwrong,theonlyonereallyleftwasthesoilengineer,oralsooccasionallythegradingcontractor,thoughtheymanagedtoavoidtheexposurebysaying,“Wedidwhatthesoilengineertoldustodo.”Manysoilfirmsreallygothurtinlitigation,formattersthatwereactuallynottheirfault.Theywereanunfortunateparticipant,buthadnosayoverallthecriteria.

Nowadaystherestillcanbeproblems,ofcourse,andthesoilengineerhasanexposure,butthemagnitudeandthefrequencyofprob-lemsaremuchless,soit’salivablesituation.Somefirms,however,likemyown,avoidedhillsidetractworkcompletely.Evennow,LeRoyCrandallandAssociates,whichbecame

engineeringfirmsassumedthatbedrockwasjustwhatthetermimplies,anunyieldingfor-mationthatwouldn’tcreateanyproblems.It’sbedrock,sowhatcouldgowrong?

Scott: Butthat’snotnecessarilyso.

Crandall: Definitelynot,especiallywhenthestratifiedbedrockistilted,andsomeofthelay-ersofitcontainbentoniteclay,whichisveryslickwhenitgetswet.Ifwatergetsinbenton-ite,itbecomeslikegrease.Itislikeadeckofcardsthatyoutiltandthecardsstartsliding.Sotheengineeringgeologistscametotheforefront.Theywereaverypoliticallyastutegroup,believeitornot,sotheymanagedtopoundtheirdrumveryhard.

Sothecodewastightenedagain,andthistimeitincludedarequirementthatareportbyanengineeringgeologistcoverthebedrockcondi-tions.TheCityofLosAngelescameupwiththerequirementthathillsidepropertiesrequireareportbyanengineeringgeologistaswellasasoilengineer,beforethecitywouldgrantapermittobuild.

Itseemsridiculousthatcouldhavehappened.Anysoilengineerworthhissalt—whichIthinkwewere—recognizedthatissueandconsidereditintractwork.WeavoidedtractworkforseveralreasonsthatIwillenumerate.SoCran-dallandAssociatesweren’tdirectlyinvolvedintractsintheseareas.Butthosetractswerethebulkoftheworkofothersoilfirms.Manyofthemweredoingitonaslam-bangbasis,wherethecompactedfills,theexcavations,andsoon,weredonewithoutthekindofthoughtthattheworkreallyshouldhavehad.

Scott: Thatmajorchangeprobablyalso


36

Law/Crandall,doesnotsolicittractwork.Notthattractworkisbeneathourdignity,buttheoriginalstigmaisstillthere.

Asecondconcernisthefactthatthesoilengi-neeroftenwillnotgetsufficientfundstodothethoroughtypeofinvestigationthatmyfirmin-sistsuponforatract.Ifyoudidgetadeveloperwhopromisedadequatefunds,frequentlyyouwerenoteventuallypaidthefullamount.Manyofthedeveloperswererathershaky,financially.

Thethirdfactor,andthekeytomuchofthis,istheinspectionwork.Youhavetohavetrainedpeoplewatchingwhatisdone,tomakesureitisdoneproperly.

Scott: Areyousuggestingthatinspectionoftractworkismuchlesscarefuloradequatethanitisforothertypesofdevelopments?

Crandall: Essentially,yes.Thedeveloperisworkingatvariousdifferentplaces,andyouwillveryseldomgetenoughinspectors,paidforon-the-jobinspection,towatcheverypieceofearth-movingequipment.

Thefourthandfinalpointwithregardtoouravoidingtractsisthathomeowners,withalifeinvestmentinahome,arenotgoingtolosealawsuit,evenifthesoilengineerisnotatfault.Thehomeownerswin,andthelawsuitandjudgmentincludesanybodywhoisaround,andisfinanciallyabletoparticipateinthejudg-ment.Fortunately,mostsoilengineershaveliabilityinsurance.Buttheyarevulnerabletothesekindsofproblems.

Soitlookedliketherewasabetterfieldforourservicesinmajorconstruction,ratherthantracthousingwork;buttracthousingremainsabigfieldforsoilengineers.

Thestimulustosoilengineeringprovidedby

thegradingordinancewasn’tlimitedtotracts,

butaffectedanykindofbuildingwhereit

couldbeshownbyasite-specificstudythatthe

soilhadbettercharacteristicsthanthebuild-

ingcodeassumed.Also,ontheothersideof

thatcoin,thecodeisnotalwaysconservative

enough.Theremaybeaconditionorspecial

casewhere,ifthecodeminimumsarefollowed,

therewillbeproblemswiththebuilding.

Ineithercase,youneedtoknowaboutsite

conditions.Theproblemofexpansivesoils,

forexample,isveryacute,butitdoesn’tget

headlines.Thatisbecauseanaffectedbuild-

ingdoesn’tcollapse,itjustgetsallcracked

upandbecomesverydifficulttolivein.Itis

quiteexpensivetorepairthatkindofdam-

age.Wewereabletoconvincepeoplethatwe

couldprovidefactualinformationabouttheir

projects,andthatwhetherwhattheylearned

wasgoodorbad,ineithercasetheyneededto

know.Fortunately,mostofthetimewewere

abletoshowthatsavingsinconstructioncosts

basedonthefindingsofsoilinvestigationmore

thanoffsetthecostsoftheinvestigation.That’s

ahappypositiontobein,ofcourse,andthat’s

whatmadesoilengineeringnotonlypopular,

butalmostanecessity.

Scott: Itachievedthatlevelofacceptancein

thepostwarperiod,sayuptoabout1955.Is

thatmoreorlesswhathappened?

Crandall: Ithinkthatfitsverywell.

37


Development of the Tie-Back Anchor in Southern CaliforniaCrandall: Iwanttomentionthetie-backanchor,whichwasalsoessentiallyasouth-ernCaliforniadevelopment.5Itisatie-backforshoringexcavations.ThemodelgradingordinanceoftheCityofLosAngelesandthetie-backanchorarewidelyusedfoundationandsoilengineeringapproachesthatwerepioneeredinsouthernCalifornia.Probablysomewhereinthe1960s,amanherenamedJoeLipowdevelopedamachinefordrillingaslantedholeintothefaceofaverticalexcava-tion.Theholetypicallywouldangledown-ward,ratherthanbestraighthorizontal.Hedrilledthehole,removedthecuttings,andformedabell(anenlargement)attheendofthehole.Theholeitselfmightbethirtyfeetorfortyfeetlong.

Scott: Thebellwasanenlargementatthedeepend?

Crandall: Yes,thetie-backwasroughlya6-inchdiameterholedrilledtoabout40feetindepth,andthenalittlediamond-shapedbell-ingbucketwasusedtoenlargetheendofthehole.Asteelrodwasplacedinthehole,andtheholefilledwithgrout(essentiallyconcrete)toformananchorintheground,adead-mantypeanchor.That’stheterminologythatwasusedthen.Theanchorwasattachedtothefaceoftheverticalexcavation,withsomethinglikeanoversizednutandwasher.Ithelditselfbythebootstraps,withthesoilanchorproviding

5. LeRoyCrandallreceivedtheMartinS.KappFoundationEngineeringAwardin1982fromtheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineersforhisworkindevelopingthetie-backanchor.

alateralresistancetothefaceoftheverticalexcavation.Theverticalfaceoftheexcavationwastiedbackdeeplyintothesoilorrock,anditwascalledatie-back.Thustherewasnointeriorbracingintheexcavation.

Thetie-backanchorwasamarvelousbreak-throughinconstruction.Priortothat,holesinthegroundforthebasementsofbuildingsorsubterraneanparkinglevelsweresupportedbyinstallingstrutsacrossanexcavation,runningcompletelyfromonesidetotheother.Bystruttingacross,onesidepushedagainsttheother.Thestruttingisnotpracticalwithaverywidehole,ofcourse,inwhichcasetheywouldputinwhatarecalledrakers—bracesangledfromthebottomuptothesideoftheexcava-tion.Itisaverytoughjobforthecontractortoworkaroundallthoseimpedimentswithinthehole.Byengagingthesoilbeyondtheexcava-tion,andusingthatasthemethodofrestrain-ingtheexcavationface,thereisacompletelyopenhole,allowingthecontractortoworkalmostasthoughhewererightonthesurfaceoftheground.Thistechniquewaspioneeredhere,andI’mhappytosaythatmycompanyandIwereintimatelyinvolvedindevelopingthemethod,andusedthesystemonsomeverydeepexcavations.Now,insouthernCaliforniaanyway,almosteverysiteusestheearthanchortie-backsystemtoalloweconomicalconstruc-tionofsubterraneanprojects.

Scott: Fortherecord,whowasJoeLipow?DidhehaveaconnectionwithDamesandMoore?

Crandall: No.Hewasacontractorwhocameupwiththeideaforthedrillingequip-ment.Therehavebeengreatadvancesin


38

thesystemsince,buthehadthefirstdrillinthispartoftheworldthatwasdesignedtodojustthisjob.HegottogetherwithaMr.Webbandgotapatentontheirequipment.TheycalledittheWebb-Lipowsystemand

promotedit.Joewasthefirstinstallerofthistypeofdesign.Subsequently,othershoringcontractorsdevelopedequipmentthatwasactuallyevenbetter.Butthebasicideawasexactlythesame.

Chapter 7

Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering

39

In the 1950s, civil engineers who

specialized in soils began to work as a

team with geologists.

Crandall: WhentheCityofLosAngelespasseditsgrad-ingordinanceandsubsequentregulationsthatrequiredageologist’sinput,itchangedtherelationshipofthedisci-plines.Thegeologistisconcernedwithrockinplace,ornature’sformationsinplace,whereasthesoilengineercantakethenaturalmaterialandreworkitandcomeupwithanothermaterial.Theprovinceofthesoilengineerextendstodealingwithcompactionoffill,forexample,anddoingtheanalyticalwork.Thegeologisttendstostudythesitebylooking:lookingatgeologymapsandlookingatthegeologyinthefieldasitisorasitisexposedwithanexcavation.Thesoilengineertendstoworkbymeasur-ingsoilpropertieswithinstruments,inthefieldorbackinthelaboratory.WhenIenteredthefield,wehadthebasictests—statictestsofshearstrength,consolidation,perme-ability,andofcoursemoistureanddensity.Thoseare


40

stillthefundamentaltests.Therehavebeenrefinementsinequipmentandapparatus.Younowhavedynamictestingcapability.Youcantestlargerspecimensandreadtheresultsmoreaccurately.Youcanputthemthroughcyclesofloadinginvariousformatstoapproximatewhatyouthinktheactualconditionsmightbe.Obviously,wedidnothavethosekindsofrefinementsintheearlydays.Butwedidhavethebasictypesoftests.

Ageologistwillsaytothesoilengineer,“Youhavethebedrockandit’sdippinginacertainfashion.Youfigureoutwhetherit’ssafeornot,butI’vegivenyoutheseparametershere:thatthisgeologicmaterialisofthistypeandcouldbehaveinsuchandsuchawayundercertaincircumstances.”Inthe1950s,civilengineerswhospecializedinsoilsbegantoworkasateamwithgeologists.

Registration of Engineering Geologists by the City of Los AngelesCrandall: Atthattimeengineeringgeolo-gistsweren’tregisteredbythestate,orbyanybodyelseforthatmatter,sotheCityofLosAngelessetupitsownqualificationsboard.Geologistswhospecializeinpetroleumexplo-ration,ordevelopingwaterwells,forexample,areexpertsinotherareasofgeologyanddon’thavetheexpertisetoadviseonslopesandotherconditionsforaconstructionproject,buttherewasnodistinctioninthelicensing.TheCityofLosAngelesbuildingdepartmentdeservestremendouscreditforallofthis.Theysawtheproblem,andtheywentoutandbroughtinexpertstohelpthemcomeupwithways

andmeansofprovidingsafeguardsagainstthepracticeofwhatwas,ineffect,engineeringgeologybygeologistswhoweren’tqualifiedtodothat.

SoanEngineeringGeologistsQualificationsBoardwassetupinLosAngelesin1957.Iwasamemberofthat.Therewasanothersoilengi-neerontheboardandthenabouttwoorthreeengineeringgeologistsofnote,includingDr.ThomasClementsoftheUniversityofSouth-ernCalifornia(USC)andRichardJahnsofCaltech,wholatermovedtoStanford.IthinklaterJimSlossonwasanother.WewouldgiveanoralinterviewtothecandidateswhowantedtobequalifiedbytheCityofLosAngelesinorderfortheirreportstobeacceptedbythebuildingdepartment.

Sowewouldinterviewthecandidateswhowantedtogetthisqualification.Idon’tknowwhatpercentagegotthrough,butprobablywefeltabout50percentwhoappliedwerecapableand50percentwerenot.Oneoftherequire-mentsthatwemadewasthattheymustbefa-miliarwiththegeologyofthisarea,notjustbeapaleontologist,forexample,whoknewallaboutthebonesofdinosaursandformationstheywerefoundin,butwhomightnotbefamiliarwithwhatthegeologyintheCityofLosAngeleswas.

Scott: Thatprobablymeanthavingprevi-ouslypracticedinthearea.

Crandall: Eitherthat,orreallyhavingstudiedandreadalotofliteratureabouttheformations,whattheyare,howtheybehave,andthatsortofthing.Thiswouldbeaprac-ticingperson,whowouldgooutonajobandmaptheareaandcomeupwiththegeologicinformationthatthesoilengineerandthe

41

Chapter 7LeRoy Crandall • Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering

civilengineerneededtomakeasuitablegrad-ingplanandmakesurethatthecutsandfillsweresafe.

Scott: Fromwhatyou’resaying,Itakeitanengineeringgeologistismoreofageologistthananengineer.Wheredoestheengineeringcomein?

Crandall: Engineeringgeologistsaregeolo-gistswhospecializeinconstruction-typeprob-lems.Theyhavetobefamiliarwithwhattheengineersneedtoknowabouttheformationsandhowthey’regoingtofunction.

WhentheCityofLosAngelesbegantorequireandlicenseengineeringgeology,thatwasarealimpetusforthewholefield.Thoseuniversitiesthatonlyhadgeneralgeologybegantothinkintermsofthatspecialty.Schoolsthatdidn’thaveengineeringgeologybegantoputinthespecialty,becauseofthedesireforitonthepartoftheirstudents.OncetheCityofLosAngelesgotstarted,theCountyofLosAngelesstarteddoingthesamething,in1959.Itgottothepointwherethereweretoodoggonemanygovernmentalagencieswiththeirfingerinthatpie.IfyouwerequalifiedbytheCityofLosAn-geles,theCountyofLosAngelessaid,“That’sfine,butifyou’regoingtoworkoutsidethecitylimitsinthejurisdictionofthecounty,wewantyoutotalktoourownqualificationsboardandbelicensedbyus.ItgotsothattoworkinsouthernCaliforniaanengineeringgeologistwouldhavetogothroughfourorfiveexams.

State Registration and CertificationCrandall: Civilengineersalreadyhadastatelicensingcategory,buttherewasaneedtohave

abetterwaytoregulategeologists.In1968,thestatecreatedaregistrationforgeologistswithaspecialtycertificationforthosegeolo-gistsqualifiedtodoengineeringgeology.Ihavetobecarefulaboutterminology.Thereare“registeredgeologists,”andthereare“certifiedengineeringgeologists.”YoucanbearegisteredgeologistintheStateofCalifornia,whichisthebroadareaofpractice,butifyouwanttobeac-creditedasanengineeringgeologist,thenyouhavetogetcertifiedinadditiontobeingreg-istered.Priortothe1952LosAngelesgradingordinance,engineeringgeologywasaname-it-yourselfspecialtyinthegeologicalconsultingfield.Thenitbecamearestrictedfield,firstbylocalordinancesinLosAngelesandotherlocalgovernmentsinsouthernCalifornia,andeventually,asI’llexplain,bystatelaw.

Thingshavechangedmorerecently,butsoilengineeringwasoriginallyonlyregulatedasaprofessionbythebasiccivilengineeringlicense.Itwasleftuptotheindividualcivilengineertoexerciserestraintontheirownpartastowhetherornottheyhadtheexpertisetopracticeasasoilengineer.Theonlydisciplinewithincivilengineeringthatrequiredsupple-mentalregistrationwasstructuralengineering,andthatwasrequiredinordertoqualifytodesignCaliforniapublicschoolbuildings,andlater,Californiahospitals.Butacivilengi-neer—likeIam—theoreticallycanpracticeinanyareaofcivilengineering.Icandostructur-alengineering,aslongasit’snotaschoolorahospital,exceptthatthelawsays,“Youmustbeexperiencedorqualifiedinthatareatodothatspecialtyoranyspecialty.”Itwouldberidicu-lousformetotrytodesignamajorbuilding,orevenanot-so-majorbuilding,becauseI’ve


42

notdoneanyofthat.Ididthatinschoolandgotexposedtoit,andIthinkIknowenoughaboutittorealizethatI’mnotthatgoodatit.IsupposeIcoulddesignabuilding,butitwouldtakememanytimesaslongassomebodywhodoesitallthetime,becauseI’dhavetogobacktothebooksandcarvemywaythroughinordertodoanything.

Geotechnical Engineering RecognizedScott: Talkalittlebitaboutgeotechnicalengineeringasadiscipline.

Crandall: Thecivilengineeringspecialtydevotedtosoilsandfoundationswasfirstcalled“soilmechanics.”Thenitbecame“soilandfoundationengineering,”butthatgottobealittlemuchofamouthful.Besides,alotofpeopleweredoingthingsotherthanjustfoundations,sotheterm“geotechnicalengi-neer”wascoined.Thatiskindofredundant.Itreallyshouldbegeotechnician,buteverybodywantedittosoundmoreimpressivethanthat.

Scott: Geotechnicalengineerdoessoundbetterthangeotechnician.

Crandall: Right.ItcameaboutthroughtheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers,andwhileIhadaroleinthat,Ididn’tmakeallthesethingshappen.Ijusthappenedtobethere.Iwastheliaisonnationaldirectortothegeotechnicaldivision,orwhatatthattimewascalledthesoilandfoundationengineeringdivi-sion,ofASCE.Thepressurewasontocomeupwithastandardtermforthedisciplinethatwasshorterthan“soilandfoundationsengineer.”Wecalledforsuggestionsfromthe

membersandpeoplesentthemin.“Geotech-nicalengineer”wasthemostpopularandmostoftensubmittedterm.Theexecutivecom-mitteeofthatASCEdivisionrecommendedchangingthenameto“geotechnicaldivision.”ThiswasapprovedbytheASCEnationalboardofdirection.

Geotechnical Engineering and Structural EngineeringCrandall: Theworkofthegeotechnicalengi-neerisnotasprominentasthatofthestructur-alengineer.Isometimessaythatthedoorknobsgetmoreconsiderationthanthefoundationsofabuilding.Oncetheyarebuiltandintheground,nobodyknowsorcaresaboutthefoun-dations,unlesssomethinggoeswrong.

Withregardtoseismicconsiderations,howev-er,wecomebacktothefundamentalphenom-enon—theshakingabuildingundergoescomesfromtheground.Itisthegroundmovementthataffectsthebuilding,anduntilyouknowwhatthenatureofthegroundmovementcouldbe,youcan’treallymakeacredibledesignforabuilding.Now,priortogeotechni-calengineeringreachinganadvancedstateoftheart,thatgroundmovementwasestimatedusingsomebody’sguess,oritmightevenhavebeenthe1940ElCentrorecord,whichreceivedsomuchusageinthosedays.Wecantalkmorelateraboutthecollectionofmanymorestrongmotionrecordsinrecentyears.

Andnow,geotechnicalengineeringhasprogressedtowherewecancomeupwithreallysupportabledataongroundmotionforthegeologicalenvironmentofasiteandtheseismiccharacteristicsofthatarea.Inthat

43


cases,whatonedoesistrytogetallthepar-tiestogetherandmakeacompletefixthatiseconomical,withcostsdistributedsayoversixorsevenlots.

Scott: Thatisprobablywheretheassessmentdistrictideawouldcomein.

Crandall: Exactly.ButIhavebeensuccess-fulinaboutthreeoutofamultitudeofcasesofmulti-propertyproblems,tryingtorepairthem.Thereisalwayssomebodywhodoesn’tgoalongwithitorrefusestocarryhisorhershareoftheburden.SoIconsideritatremen-doussuccesstogetagroupofpeopletogethertofinancearepairthataffectsallofthem.Anditaffectsnotonlythepeopleinvolved,italsoaffectsthesurroundingarea.Anyareawithlandslidingproblemshasaneffectonadjoiningproperties.Whenthissortofthinghappenstoaneighborhood,thevalueofthepropertygoesdown,andtheabilitytosellanindividualpropertygoesdown.

Scott: Areyoutalkingprimarilyaboutsitu-ationswheretheyaretryingtoretrofitinanexistingdevelopmentthatgotintotrouble?Orareyoutalkingaboutnewterritorythattheywanttodevelop—anewdevelopment?

Crandall: Theproblemusuallyinvolvesexistingdevelopments,wherethepropertiesareownedbyindividuals.Havingbeenbuilton,thatmakesitmorecomplicatedtorepair.Withnewdevelopment,ofcourse,youhavetheopportunitytoidentifythepotentialland-slideareasandmakethefixatthattime.Ifthecorrectiveworkiseconomicallyexcessive,thenthedeveloperhastomakeadecision.Doesthedeveloperabandonthewholething,orsetasidethoselotsasspaceforaparkorsome-

sense,geotechnicalengineeringisnowaveryfundamentalpartoftheseismicdesignofabuilding.Itprovidestheneededinformationthatpermitsarealisticappraisalofthebuild-ing’sbehaviorinanearthquake.

Intheearlierdays,wetalkedaboutgeotechnicalengineeringmerelygivingsomebroadgeneralstatementsaboutthetypeofshakingthatmightoccur.Inotherwords,willtheshakinghaveahighfrequencyorlowfrequency?Istheampli-tudelikelytobelargeorsmallforagivensite?Wecouldusuallydeducethis,whetheritwasahardsoilorasoftsoil,sincealarge-amplitudeandalowfrequencygotogetheronsoftsoil,whereasonrockyougenerallygetasmalleram-plitudeandahigherfrequency.Inearlierdays,thatwasaboutasfaraswecouldgo.

Site SelectionCrandall: Ithinkmostengineershavethefeelingthatwecanbuildonalmostanythingifyouwillgiveusenoughmoneytodoit.ThoughIguessthereisapracticallimitonmanysites—wherethecostoffoundationconstructionismorethantheeconomicvaluethecompletedstructurewouldwarrant.Inthatsense,theremaybesitesthatonewouldsayarenotbuildable,butIliketothinkthatitisaneconomicdeterminationbaseduponapropersoilevaluation.

Youmightcomeupwithunbuildablesitesinaresidentialhillsideareawherealandslideorpotentiallandslideinvolvesamulti-lotprob-lem.Ifyouareconsideringbuildingononeofthoselotsbyyourself,itwouldcostyousomuchtoabatetheproblemsinglythatitwouldjustbeoutrageouslyexpensive.Inthose


44

thingofthatsort?ThereareareasinsouthernCaliforniawherethereareagreatmanyexist-inglandslidesinthenaturalterrain,andiftheyaretobedevelopedthatmustbecorrected.

Someofthegroundfailuresusceptibilitiesarenotapparentuntilyougoinanddotheexploratorywork.Thatisonereasonwhygeotechnicalandgeologicalstudiesaresoimportantinhillsideareas.Youcan’talwaystellbylookingthatanareaislandslide-prone,orhashadpastlandslides.

Scott: Especially,Isuppose,whentheyareoldorancientlandslides.

Crandall: Thatisright.Alotofproblemshaveoccurredjustbecauseanancientland-slidewasnotidentified.Itmayhavebeenessentiallystableundernaturalconditions.Butwhenyouputinaseriesofhomesites,youmaychangetheslopes,andyouintroducelotsofwatertoirrigategardens.TheirrigationcanbemorecriticalthanthenaturalrainfallinsouthernCaliforniaforslopestability.Youintroducewaterintothosesoilsandactivatetheoldslide.

Portuguese BendScott: IguessthePalosVerdessituationonthesouthernCaliforniacoastissomethinglikethat.

Crandall: PortugueseBendwasaknownancientlandslide—itwasongeologicmaps.Inmyopinionitprobablywouldhavebeenasuc-cessfuldevelopment,exceptthatitwasanareawheretheyusedindependentsewagedisposalsystems.Theyhadcesspoolsandseptictanks.

Scott: Thatwasabouttheworstpossiblethingtheycouldhavedone.

Crandall: Exactly.Itwas.Noteverybodyagreeswithme,dependinguponwhoseoxisbeinggoredhere,butIfeelthatitwastheintroductionofwaterintothesebentoniticclayseams,whichareverythin,likeaninchthick—Ithinkthatprecipitatedtheslippage.Andtheslippageisstillgoingon.

LosAngelesCountygotstuckwithfixingthat,whichwasamiscarriageofjustice,inmyopin-ion.Well,ithasn’tbeenfixed,butthecountypaidoffthosepeople.Someofthemarestilllivingthere.Aninterestingsidelightonthiswasthatthelandmovementwassogreatthattherehadtobeanagreementregardingthepropertylines,thesurveylines.Therehadtobeagree-mentthatthepropertylineswouldmovewiththeground.Otherwise,youmightfindyourhouseonyourdownhillneighbor’spieceofproperty.Asurvey,ofcourse,isbasedonfixedpointsinspace,unlessyouhavelegislationsay-ingthatthesurveypointsaremoving.

Thiswasworkedout,anditwasgoodexceptforthepoorownerswhoweredownatthebottom.Theirpropertyendedupintheocean.Dotheyhavetogotothebackofthelineatthetopofthehill,whichisnowagiganticfis-sure?Iamnotsureifthatwasdone,butIdoknowthatitwasagreedthatthepropertylinesmovedwithyourhouse.Thatwasquiteaseri-ouslegalproblemforawhile.

Environmental ContaminationCrandall: Sayyouestimateyourcostsbasedontheinformationfurnished,andthenyou

45


startconstructionandrunintosomethingdif-ferent.Thatcancreateaproblem.Onethingthatisnowaffectingprojectcostiscontami-natedsoil.Itreallyisahardthingtopredict.

InLosAngeles,theyusedtohaveagasstationoneverycorner.Nowitisasavingsandloan,andthegasstationsseemalmostnonexistent.Butthosegasolinestoragetankswouldleakovertheyearsandgoundetectedunlesstheoperatorbegantolosetoomuchgasandtriedtofindoutwhatwaswrong.Butpracticallyallofthemleaked,andtherewasdisposalofdrainedmotoroil,whichwasdroppedinaholeorapitintheground.Thesethingsallpenetratedthesoilandmanyofthemreachedoreventuallycouldreachthewatertable.

Wearenowawarethatthisisnotagoodthing.Infact,Ithinkthependulumhasnowswungtoofar,tothepointwhereweareget-tingridiculouslyconcernedaboutsomeoftheconditions.Butinanyevent,let’ssayyouareanownerorbuilderandyouacquireasite,andhavenotgivenanythoughttothepossibilityofcontaminatedmaterialonthesite.Youstartyoursitework,sayexcavatingforabasement,whichistypical,andrunintooldseepageinthesoilfromagasolineoroilstoragetank.

Intheolddaysthatwasconsiderednottoobad,andpeoplewouldusethatfillandputitoutintheparkinglotanduseitandnotgiveanotherthoughttoit.Thegasolineeventuallyevaporated,youknow.Butnow,ithasbecomeatoxicwasteproblem.Youusedtobeabletotakethesoilinyourexcavationanddisposeofitonalandfillformaybe$1or$2percubicyard,orsellittosomebodyelse.

Well,thatdoesnotworknow.Thatkindofsoilisconsideredtoxic,andyoucanonlydis-poseofitatcertaintypesoflandfills,andifyouhaveanykindofPCBmaterialorothertoxiccharacteristicsofthatsort,whichiscommon,youhavetohaulitupfromLosAngelestoSanLuisObispoCountyorsomewherelikethat,afewhundredmilesaway,anditwillcost$100to$200percubicyard.

Costslikethatcankillaproject,ofcourse.Andthereisthelitigationastowhoisatfaultandwhoshouldpay.TheEPAandthecountyhealthagenciesandotherpeopledon’tcareaboutcost,youjusthavetogetitoutofthereandtakeitaway.Socontaminatedsoilisarealproblem.

Nowadays,asoilengineerhastoconsidersoilcontamination,anddoalotofresearchonthepasthistoryofapieceofpropertytotrytofindoutiftherewasanypossiblesource.Environ-mentalassessmentisanewthingthatisdonealmostreligiouslyonanysiteinanurbanareatotrytofindoutitspastusage.Thisisdoneevenbeforeasiteispurchased.Andwoebefallsthesoilengineerwhomissessomethingthatdidexistbefore,andhewasunabletofindit.Itimmediatelybecomesyourfault—“youshouldhavedrilledmoreborings,youshouldhaveputaboringhere,youshouldhavecheckedtheserecords,”orsomethingelse.Theimpactisre-allytremendous.

WehadonesiteinMarinadelRey,whereitwasknownthatallofthesethingshadhap-pened—therewereundergroundtanks,therehadbeenweldingandmachineshops,andmanufacturing.Theywouldhaveacidpicklingbathsforthesteelthattheyused,anddumped


46

itoutonthegroundorinthepit.Theen-vironmentalassessmentstudyfoundthesethingsout,andnowthedeveloperhastocleanthatsiteup.Thismeantmillionsofdollars.Itwasabigsite.

Weusedbacteriaonthatjobthatwillcleanupthesoil.Theyhavetodigupthesoil,spreadthesoilout,addafoodforthebacteriathatissprayedintothesoil,andtheselittlerascalsgotoworkandinaboutacoupleofweeksthehydrocarbons,whichiswhatthecontaminantis,aregoneorgreatlyreduced.

Scott: Thatfast?Iguesstheydigestthehydrocarbons.

Crandall: Yes.Andyouturnthesoiloverandmixitupbit.Thenextworryis,“We’vecreatedthesebacteria,nowaretheygoingtotakeovertheworld?”Apparently,however,oncethefoodsourceisgone,theydisappear.Theydieorgointohibernationorsomething.Thismethodisnotcheap,butitisaheckofalotcheaperthaninthiscasepayingcloseto$1,000ayardtohaulthesoilaway.Itisprob-ablycostingabout$100ayardtogiveitthebiologicaltreatment.

Inaddition,thegroundwateronthesiteiscontaminated,asisthegroundwaterofthewholesurroundingarea.Youasownerofthesitearenotonlyresponsibleforcleaningitup,butifyoucontributeanypollutedgroundwatertoanadjacentsite,thenyouarealsorespon-sibleforthat.Sowhatdowedo?Weputabunchofmonitoringwellsaroundtheperiph-eryoftheproperty.Ifsomethingcomesintothissitefromoff-site,whichislikely,becausethegroundwaterisslowlymovingtowardstheharbor,youcansay,“Thiscamefromthat

guyoff-site,Ididnotcontributeittothewatersupply.”Notonlyistheclean-uprequired,butalsoamonitoringprogramthattheywillhavetomaintainforthelifeoftheproject.

Scott: Speakingasalayperson,theground-watercontaminationseemstomanyofusmorescarythanmanyoftheotherkindsofsitecontamination.Groundwaterisapreciousre-source,andifcontaminated,thecontaminantsdonotstayinoneplace,buttravel.

Crandall: ContaminationhasruinedmanywellsinsouthernCalifornia,intheSanGabrielValleyandSanFernandoValley.Theyhavenowsetacceptablelimitsforcontaminationsodoggonelowthatitisalmostimpossibletogetby.WehavetotreatwastewateralmosttoaqualitybetterthandrinkingwaterinLosAngeles.Therearealotofproblemsthere.Thereareno“absolutes”—youaredepen-dentoneachindividualagencyandindividualinspectorsintheagency,whokindofcalltheshotsonjobsintheirterritory.Youneverknowexactlywhatisexpectedofyou.

Asphaltic Sands at La BreaCrandall: IhadoneexperiencewithasiteattheLaBreaTarPit,whichhasbeentheresinceprehistorictimes.

Scott: Sincethetimeofthesaber-toothedtiger.

Crandall: Yes.Itisasphalticsand.ThesandcontainstheasphaltthatcomesupintheLaBreaTarPitandcausesamethanegasprob-leminthatarea.Itusedtobeconsideredverygoodfill.Youcouldalmostexcavateit,mixit

47


withsand,putitinaparkinglot,androllittoproducepaving.

Now,itisconsideredhazardous.WehadoneheckofatimetalkingthemoutofforcingthedevelopertotakethatsoilclearuptoaspecialdumpatCasmalia,acoupleofhundredmilesupthecoast,togetridofit.Thisparticularinspectorfromoneofthecityagenciesmadethestatementthatasphalticsandwastoxic,andnotonlythatbutalsoalltheasphaltpavingintheCityofLosAngeleswastoxic.Ifthisguyhadhiswayhewouldhaveallthatasphaltpav-ingtakenupanddisposedofsomeway.Thatishowfarsomeofthemcango.Ithinkthependulumhasgonetoofar.

Liquefaction, Settlement, Landslides, Soil Compaction

Crandall: Microzonationalsoconcernslique-faction,landslides,settlement,andsoilcompac-tion—notjustgroundshaking.Soildoesnotnecessarilyhavetoliquefy,itcansettlewithoutliquefactionifwaterisnotpresent,andthatcausesdamagetobuildingsandroadwaysandpipelinesandotherthingsthatwedependon.

Thedegreeofshakingexpectedatasitecanalsobeincludedinmicrozonation.Thatwaythelanduseplannersandthebuildersaremadeawareoftherisksinagivenarea.

Scott: Somicrozonationreallyistryingtospecifymorepreciselywhattoanticipateinanareathatisasmallerpartofamuchlargerseismiczone.

Crandall: That’sright.

Scott: Thisdiscussionhelpsmeunderstandbetterwhatmicrozonationisallabout.Ithasalwayssortofbaffledme.Ihaveheardpeopleusethetermindifferentways.

Crandall: Itsometimesdependsonthecon-text,dependsonwhatyourattentionisfocusedon.Itmightbemicrozonationofstrongearth-quakeshaking.Oritmightbeoneormoreofthegroundfailurehazards,likeliquefactionorlandslides.Itmightbesettlementofman-madefills.Mostanygeotechnicalphenomenonorriskcanbesubjecttomicrozonation.

IthinkthereareexcellentmicrozonationmapsoftheSanFranciscoarea,showingwheretheoldBayshorewasandwheretoday’sbuildingsare.Alsotheyshowtheharderrockareas,andtheareasthataregoodfromanearthquakestandpoint.Youareahellofalotbetterofftobuildonrockthan,astheBiblesays,tobuildonsand—particularlyinearthquakeconditions.Whenyouknowthat,ifyouareinterestedinsafety,itisausefulthingtobeabletocrankintoyourplanning.Ineverthoughtofitthatwaybefore,buteachcomprehensivegeotechni-calreportonasiteisineffectamicrozonationofthatspecificsite.Onethingthatyouhavetobecarefulofisthatyoudon’tfocustoosharplyononlyyourparticularpieceofproperty,becausethelotnexttoitmighthaveaneffectonyours.Forexampleonahillside,iftheslideoccursoffyoursitebutcomesontoyoursite,you’vegotaproblemeventhoughyouyourselfdidnotcontributetothatproblem.

Anyway,theneedforandtheavailabilityofthesemoredetailedmapshasreallygrowncon-siderably.IthinkthatfollowingtheLomaPrieta


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earthquake,therewillbemuchmoreofthatkindofthingavailableforthepublictoconsider.

Scott: Iguessthegrowthintheneedformicrozonationreflectsagreaterdemandforit,andawarenessofitsvalue.Clientsarebecomingmoreawarethat,ifyouknowmoreaboutanareaandknowitmoreprecisely,theinformationcanhelpyouavoidfuturedamage.Isthatbasicallywhatdrivesthedemand?

Crandall: Yes.Thegreatadvantage,ofcourse,isprimarilyfornewstructures.Byknowingwhathazardsthereareonabuild-ingsiteandwhatpotentiallycouldoccur,likeliquefaction,youcandesignafoundationthatcanresistthat.Soyoucanbuildastructureevenifyouareonapoorsite.Wedothatallthetime.

Chapter 8

Soil Engineering and Earthquake Engineering

49

An earthquake is a real, full-scale test of a

building, and unfortunately, we still need that

type of test to verify and advance our field.

Early Days of Strong Motion Study

Crandall: BillMoore,andRalphMcLeanwereamong

theearlypioneersintheprogramoftheU.S.Coastand

GeodeticSurveytodeployaccelerographs.Infact,the

CoastandGeodeticsurveygotareadingfromtheElCen-

troearthquakein1940,andthatreadingbecametheBible

forengineersinstudyingearthquakes.Whileknowledge-

ableengineersfeltthatitwasn’tnecessarilytypicalofevery

earthquake,itwasthebestrecordtheyhad.

Scott: IusedtowonderaboutthatwhenIwasfirstget-

tingintothefieldofearthquakehazard.HenryDegen-

kolbandJohnBlumeandothersusedtorefertothatEl

Centrorecordasifitweresomethingveryimportant,

sortofliketheHolyGrail.


50

Crandall: Itwas.Ifitistheonlycuparound,itisprettyholy,isn’tit?IrememberJohnBlumetalkingaboutgoingtothestatelegis-latureandaskingforfundingformoreinstru-mentation.Hetoldthem,“Wehaveonlyoneespeciallyusefulstrongmotionrecord,fromtheElCentroearthquakein1940.”Oneofthelegislatorsresponded,“Well,ifyouhaveone,whatdoyouneedanymorefor?”Butallearthquakesarenotalike.

Incidentally,thereisareasonforusingtheterm“strong”motion.Caltech,Berkeley,andotherplacesinCalifornia,haveobtainedandkepttheseismologicalrecordonthoselargedrumswithpaperaroundthem,ashaveseismologicallaboratoriesaroundtheworld.Theinstrumentsused,theseismographs,arevery,verysensitive.Theyareusedformeasur-ingearthquakesthatmaybeveryfaraway,sayinJapan,somewhereontheothersideoftheearthfromtherecordingstation.Iftheearth-quakeiscloseby,theseismographwilltrytotakeareading,butwilljumpoffscaleduetoitshighsensitivity.

Whatengineersneededwassomethingtotellthemtheaccelerationofthegroundandtheaccelerationofabuildingcausedbyarelativelynearbyearthquake.Soawholenewstableofinstrumentswasdeveloped,called“strongmo-tion”instruments.Theywouldstayonscale.Sostrongmotioninstruments—accelero-graphs—areusedinbuildingsandinfree-fieldinstallationssothatwegetafullrecordofwhatishappeningatthoseparticularlocations.Theseismographstheseismologistsoperatearere-allyintendedtotellyouwhattheearthscienceeventwasatitssource,perhapsthousandsofmilesaway.

Youdon’twantthestrongmotionrecordertobesetoffbyeverylittlemildshake.Theyhaveatriggeringmechanismthatdoesnotstarttherecordingunlesstheaccelerationreachingtheinstrumentisgreaterthan0.05g.Thatistheverticalmeasurement.Theverticalwavesarrivefirst,andiftheyexceedthisvalue,thatstartsthecameragoing.Thefilmbeginstomoveanditisrecordingwhenthemoredam-agingshearwavesarrive.Later,digitalinstru-mentswereinventedandhavelargelyreplacedtheonesthatrecordedoptically.

San Fernando EarthquakeCrandall: Inthe1971SanFernandoearth-quake,astrongmotioninstrumentattheabut-mentofPacoimaDamgavesomeveryhighreadings.Severalpeoplehavemadeacareeroutofstudyingthat.Theygotreadingsover1g.Thentherewasmuchstudyandinterestinquestionssuchaswhetherthatseveremotionwasduetoafocusedearthquakeeffectoveronesmalllocale,andwhatwastheeffectofasharpbedrockridgethatthisinstrumentwasmountedon.TheearthquakewastheboostneededtostartuptheCaliforniastatewidestrongmotionprogram,theStrongMotionInstrumentationProgram(SMIP),andthatdeservesmorediscussionlater.

Evenbeforethe1971SanFernandoearth-quake,mostengineerswereawarethatstrongmotionrecordsofearthquakeswereessen-tialtointelligentbuildingdesignforseismicresistance.ThentheSanFernandoearthquakeoccurred.Itwasaveryfrighteningevent.IexperiencedithereintheLosAngelesarea,onFebruary9th,1971.OurhomeinLaCañada

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Chapter 8LeRoy Crandall • Soil Engineering and Earthquake Engineering

wasonprettysolidmaterial,sowedidnotsufferanydamageatall,butwecertainlyknewitwasshakingat6:00a.m.thatmorning.Inanyevent,thatearthquakeprecipitatedagreatlyincreasedawarenessofthevalueofinstrumentation.

TheCityofLosAngeles,throughitsbuildingandsafetydepartment,hadalreadyadoptedarequirementin1965thatallstructuressixstoriesandtallerhadtohavestrongmotioninstrumentsinstalledatthebase,mid-height,andtop.Anumberofbuildingshadbeeninstrumentedintimetocollectrecordsfromthe1971earthquake.

Scott: HowwastheLosAngelesprogramfunded?Wasthatalevyonindividualbuildings?

Crandall: Yes.Theindividualownershadtodothis.Theywererequirednotonlytopro-videtheinstruments,butalsotoprovidesuit-ablelocationsfortherecordinginstruments.Theownerpaidthetabforthis,and—whatwasmoreofaproblemforthem—theyhadtoprovidespaceinaroomoraspeciallocationthatcouldbelockedoff,sothecitypersonnelcouldinspecttheresults.Ofcoursethiswasnottoopopularwiththebuildingowners,butitwasdone,andthecitywasabletoenforceit.

Theostensiblepurposeoftheordinancewastoprovideinformationthatwouldbeusefulinevaluatingthesafetyofabuildingafteranearthquake.Someofusfeltthathavingonlythreeinstrumentswasnotenoughforthatpurpose,butitsoldtheprogram,andthatwasveryimportant.

WeobtainedalargenumberofbeautifulrecordsfromtheSanFernandoearthquakethatwereagodsendtothestructuralengi-

neeringdesignpeople.6Theyhadachancetoseehowthebuildingshadbehavedwhenactuallyshaken.

Scott: Thiswasalsoademonstrationofthekindsofrecordsyoucouldgetthroughinstru-mentation,andoftheirpotentialvalue.

Crandall: Yes,itwasanexampleofwhattheseinstrumentscoulddo,anditprecipitatedreallystrongeffortstodosomethingmorestatewide.Whenyougetafewrecords,youhungerformore.Forexample,itturnedoutthatonlythreeinstrumentsperbuildinggaveusefuldata,butwasnotsufficienttoprovidealltheinformationneeded.

MuchworkwasdoneontheSanFernandoearthquake.IhadthegoodfortunetobeputinchargeofthefoundationstudyportionofthereportthatwasmadeontheSanFernandoearthquake.Thatworkcoverednotonlythegroundmotionrecord,butalsowhathappened,andwhatdidnothappen,duringthequake.

6. Thetotalnumberofstrongmotionrecordsfromthe1971SanFernandoearthquakewas241,ofwhich57wereobtainedfromthetoplevelsofbuildings.Afewinstrumentswerealsolocatedonotherstructures,suchasPacoimaDam,wherethemostsevereaccelerationrecordinthatearthquakewasrecorded.(R.P.MaleyandW.K.Cloud,Strong Motion Accelerograph Records, San Fernando, California Earthquake of February 9, 1971.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,1973,p.346.)Priortothisearthquake,therewereonlyapproximatelytenstrongmotionrecordsofgreatusefulnesstoearthquakeengineers,outofatotalofapproximately100thathadbeencollectedsincetheintroductionofaccelerographsbytheU.S.CoastandGeodeticSurveyin1932.


52

Scott: Forwhomwasthatreportdone?

Crandall: FortheNationalOceanographicandAtmosphericAssociation(NOAA).Theyappointedacommitteetoprepareareportontheearthquake.MartinDuke,nowde-ceased,wasthechairman.7Hehadanumberofsubcommittees,oneofwhichwasthesoilandfoundationssubcommittee.Ihadthehonorofbeingthechairmanofthatandofdirectingandworkingwiththepeoplewhowerestudyingwhathappenedconcerningthegroundmotionandfoundationbehaviorduringtheearth-quake.Thiswasaveryimportantexperience,notjustforme,butalsoforeverybodywhoparticipated—theengineeringprofession,andotherstoo,includingthesocialscientists,whowereverymuchinvolvedinfindingouthowpeoplebehavedandthingsofthatnature.

Scott: Saysomethingmoreaboutthereportonthatearthquake.

Crandall: VolumeIof San Fernando, Cali-fornia Earthquake of February 9, 1971dealswitheffectsonbuildingstructures,andisintwoparts,PartAandPartB.VolumeIIdealswithutilities,transportation,andsociologi-calaspects.VolumeIIIcoversgeologicalandgeophysicalstudies

ThereportwasdoneunderacooperativeagreementbetweenNOAAandtheEarth-quakeEngineeringResearchInstitute(EERI),andwaspublishedin1973.

7. Murphy,Leonard,editor,San Fernando, California Earthquake of February 9, 1971;threevolumes.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,1973.

Scott: Witha1973publicationdate,thatreportonaFebruary1971earthquakewasputoutprettyfast.

Crandall: Yes.TheintroductionwasbyLeon-ardMurphy,KarlSteinbrugge,andC.MartinDuke.Itreallywasaveryfinepieceofworkonthequakeanditseffects.Thereportcollectsaseriesofpapersbyvariousauthors.

Oneoftheimportanttopicsrelatedtosoilswasthedamagetodams,especiallytheLowerSanFernandoDamThatwasreportedonbybothH.Bolton(Harry)Seed,andKennethLee.Itcameveryclosetoarealcatastrophe,believeme.Thattoldusalotaboutsomeoftheseearlydamsthatwerebuiltbyhydraulicmethods.

Scott: ItalsopromptedthestateDivisionofSafetyofDamstotakenotice.

Crandall: Yes,thestateDivisionwasveryprominentininvestigatingtheperformanceofdamsintheearthquake,andfindingoutwhyandhow.Muchcameoutofthat.Thesafetyofdamswasoneofthebiggestseismicsafetyinfluencesfromthatearthquake,thegreatestintermsofpotentialhazardreduction.Thefailureofasingledamcancausedisastrouslosses.Iwasouttherethedayafterthequakeanditisjustincrediblehowclosethatdamwastothewaterovertoppingitaftertheembank-mentfailureoccurred.Itwasamatterofafewfeet,asthetopoftheearthfilldamsubsidedtensoffeet,andifthewaterhadevergoneover,itwouldhaveerodedthroughveryquicklyandwipedthedamout—almostinstantaneously.

Ifeltobligedtopointoutinmycontributionthatagreatmanystructureswentthroughtheearthquakewithoutsufferingdamage.Ithasal-

53


Ihadnothingtodowiththeestablishmentofthestate’sprogram,andItakenocreditforanyofthishappening.CertainlyIwasinfavorofit,butthoseengineerswhodidpursuethis,likeJohnBlume,KarlSteinbrugge,andothers,didaveryfinepieceofworkinconvincinglegisla-tors.IalsothinkSenatorAlfredAlquistwasprobablythemostsupportiveandinstrumentalCaliforniastatelegislatorinthis,andhereal-izedtheimportanceofcomingupwithlegisla-tionthatcreatedaprogramofinstrumentation.

Iwasluckyenoughtobeappointedtotheinitialsteeringcommittee,andoneoftheothersonthatcommitteewasMartinDuke.IrememberparticularlythatheandIusedtoridetheplanetoSacramentotogether,ortowhereverthemeetingwaslocated.Icantellyoulaterhowtheconversationswehadononeofthoseplaneridesledtotheformationofthelifelinesgroup,theTechnicalCouncilonLifelineEarthquakeEngineering(TCLEE),intheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers.

Scott: It’sinterestinghowadevelopmentalongonefrontintheefforttoextendseismicsafetycanleadtodevelopmentsinanother.

Crandall: Yes,itis.You’reright.SothisadvisorycommitteeofaboutadozenpeoplewassetuptoguidethenewSMIPprogram,tobrainstormwhatshouldbedoneandhow.

Scott: ThatcommitteereportedtoCDMG?

Crandall: Yes,totheCaliforniaDivisionofMinesandGeology.9Inmyrecollection,Harry

9. In2002,thecommonnameoftheagencywaschangedtoCaliforniaGeologicalSurvey,thoughthepreviousname,CaliforniaDivisionofMinesandGeology,isretainedinsomestatutes.

waysimpressedmethateverybodytakespicturesofthedamagedbuildings,andofthegroundrupture,andfromthatyoucangettheideathatanentirecityhasbeendemolished.Yetactuallyonlyrelativelyfewbuildingsweredamaged,par-ticularlywithregardtoresidentialwoodframestructures.Fewhadanysignificantdamage,andeventhosethatwereastraddlethefaultrupturedidnotcompletelycollapse,althoughthosethatwererightonthecrackwereunsalvageable.Thefaultroseaboutthreetosixfeetononeside,andtherewasalsosomelateralshift.Nobodywaskilledinthoseresidentialbuildings.

Moreover,thehomesthatwerenotonthefaultrupture,andwererecentlybuilt,camethroughverywell.Someoftheconcretefloorscracked,andafewmasonrywallsshiftedalittle.Somethingsdidhappen,ofcourse,particularlytothosethatdidnothaveadequatefoundationsorwell-builtfoundations.Someoftheolderhousesthatwerenotanchoredshiftedofftheirfoundations.Itwas,ofcourse,alreadyprettywellknownthatthiscouldhappen.Also,therewasdamageorcollapseofoldbrickchimneysthatwerenotreinforcedorbraced.

California Strong Motion Instrumentation ProgramCrandall: AsaresultoftheSanFernandoearthquake,theCalifornialegislaturepassedalawsettingupthestate’sStrongMotionInstrumentationProgram,SMIP.�Priortothis,therewastheCityofLosAngelesprogram,andin1970asimilarinstrumentationrequire-mentfortallerbuildingswasputintheUBC.

�. Chapter�,Division2,PublicResourcesCode,enacted1971.


54

Seedwasthefirstchairman,andifIamcor-rect,thispredatedtheSeismicSafetyCommis-sionbeginnings.

Scott: Yes,becausetheCommissiondidnotactuallybecomeactiveuntilaboutMayof1975.

Crandall: GordonOakeshott,withMinesandGeology,wasveryactive.Iworkedonasub-committeewithGordonregardingthedesirablelocationsofinstrumentstorecordthefree-fieldinformation.Theintentoftheprogramwas,andstillis,tohavesuchcoveragethatnomajorearthquakeinthewholestateofCaliforniawouldgounrecordedbysomerelativelynearbyinstrument.Priortothis,therewasnomasterplanorstrategy.Itwassimplyabuilding-by-buildingprocess—abuildingpermitrequire-menttriggeredwhenabuildingwassixstoriesortaller.That,ofcourse,meantmostoftheinstrumentswerebeingclusteredindowntowndistrictsofcitiesandweren’twelldistributed.

Scott: Sotheintentwastoblanketthestatewithstrongmotioninstruments?

Crandall: Right.Ourwholeintentwastogetinstrumentsouttorecordwhathappenedtotheground,toanswerthequestion,“Whatisthegroundmotionduringanearthquake?”Thecommitteeactedinanadvisorycapacityandassistedinselectinglocations.Wesetupprioritiesforthefirstplacestoputtheinstru-ments,whichwasnotnecessarilyinthemajorcities,butatanyspotwherewethoughtwewouldgetthemaximumamountofinforma-tionandassoonaspossible.

Wedidnotwanttomissanyquakes.Soonegroup,theseismologicalgroupofthecom-mittee,wouldtrytoestimatewhichfaults

weremostlikelytohaveanearthquake,andtosuggestsomekindofpriority.Ofcourse,theSanAndreasfaultandanumberofotherfaultswerewellknown,particularlyupnortharoundEureka.Wefeltweneededtogetinstrumentsouttherebecausethoseareaswerehighlyseis-mic.Myrecollectionisthatwedidnothavemuchmoney,butweredoingalotofplanning,whichwasessential.

Sometimeaftertheinitialcommitteework,thepermanentfundinglegislationwaspassed,underwhichasurchargewasplacedonbuild-ingpermitsthroughoutthestate.Thosecitieswereexceptedthathadalreadyadoptedaprogramofinstrumentingcertainbuildings,forexampletheCityofLosAngeles.Ithinkalltogethertherewereaboutfourteencitiesthathadprogramsconsideredadequatetoqualifyfortheexception.

Scott: Sowhenthestateprogramwassetup,therewerealreadyoveradozencitiesinCali-forniathatactuallyhadsomekindofongoingstrongmotionprogram?

Crandall: Yes.Mostofthemwereprettyminimal.Maybetheyrequiredoneinstrument,ortheyhadsomegoodintentions.AsIrecall,LosAngeleswasprettymuchtheonlycitythatwasdoinganythingreallysignificant.

Afterafewyears,theCityofLosAngelesreal-izedthattheirmaintenancecostswerereallyexceedingtheirabilitytolookafterallthebuild-ingsthathadhadthethreeinstrumentsinstalledundertheircode.AgroupofusmetwiththechiefofthebuildingdepartmentoftheCityofLosAngeles,WalterBrugger.Weapproachedthecityregardingtheircomingintothestateprogram.Theydecidedthatthiswasprudent

55


forthemfromaneconomicstandpoint,becauseoftheirmaintenancecosts.ThestatewouldmaintaintheinstrumentsinbuildingswithinthecityofLosAngelesthatweselected.

Thatwasaccomplished.Thiswasoneofthefewdiplomatichighlightsofmycareer,work-ingwiththeCityofLosAngelesDepartmentofBuildingandSafetytoarrangeforthismarriage,andtherelinquishmentoftheirprogramtothestateprogram.Itallworkedoutverywell,andthecitycouncilacceptedthechangeover.InournegotiationswithLosAngeles,thecitybecameveryinterested,andasamatteroffact,evenea-ger.Theyhadconcludedthatthethreeinstru-mentsperbuildingtheyhadinstalledwerere-allynotgivingallthekindsofinformationtheyneeded,whileconversely,theinstrumentswerealsorecordingmoredatathantheywereabletouse.Therewerealsosomerealconstraintsaboutusingtheinformationacquiredbythecityprogramaspublicinformation.Buildingownerssometimesputsomeconstraintsonthatsamedata.Fromourstandpoint,thatlimitationwasnotaverygoodthing.

Scott: Ownerscouldputonsucharestric-tionundertheLosAngelescityprogram?

Crandall: Well,theoreticallythecityhadac-cesstothedata,butwhetherornottheycoulddivulgeittotherestoftheworldwasoneoftheuncertainties.Ithadnotbeentestedinthecourts,andIthinktheywerereluctanttotryit,asamatteroffact.

Inanyevent,thatgaveaboosttothestate’sstrongmotionprogram,whenLosAngelesjoinedit,becausetheLosAngelescontributioninbuildingfeeswasverysignificant.Thestatealsoinheritedalotoftheinstrumentation,some

ofwhichwasnotused,andthatwassupplement-edbyotherinstruments,includingfree-fieldinstallations.Also,therewasabetterdistributionofadditionalsensorsthroughoutthebuildingsthatwereacceptedintothestate’sprogram.TherewaslatitudeinhowmanysensorsandwheretoinstallthemintheCDMGprogram,ascomparedtotherequirementofLosAngelestoinstallbottom-middle-topinstrumentationandonlyinthetallerbuildings.Asofthe1990s,statelegislationrequiredallcitiestocontributefunds.

Interestinglyenough,thestaffofthestate’sSMIPcontactedmostofthecitiesthathadsomesortofstrongmotionprogram.Whenaskedwhattheyhaddonewiththerecordstheyaresupposedtohavebeengetting,mostofthemwereunawarethattheyevenhadthepro-gram.Othercitiesdidnotrealizetheyhadbeenexempt,andsomeofthemhadbeencollectingthemoney,butdidnotknowwheretosendit.Sotheactionwasnotunpalatabletothem.

Ithadbeentwentyyearsorsosincesomeofthesecitiesstartedtheirprogramsinthelate1960sorearly1970s,andpersonnelhadchanged,cityadministratorsandheadsofbuildingdepartmentswerenolongerthesamepeoplethatweretherewhenallofthisbegan.So,manypeopledidnothaveanyideawhatitwasallabout.

Underthestateprogram,mostofthebuildingdepartmentsinthestatecollectedasurchargefee,arathernominalone,sevencentsperthousanddollars,somethinglikethat,0.007percent.ThesemonieswentintotheStrongMotionInstrumentationProgramfundforprovidinginstrumentsandmaintainingthosethatwereinstalled.


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Itwasnotverylongbeforewerealizedthattheformulalimitedthenumberofinstrumentswecouldputout,becausemaintenancecostsandthecostoftakingcareoftheinstrumentswasanongoingexpensethatkeptgrowingasmoreinstrumentswereinstalled,andmaintenancebegantotakealargepartofthetotalfee.

Wesuddenlywokeupandsaid,“Hey,wecannotjustputthousandsofinstrumentsout,becausewecannotaffordtoservicethem.”Sotherewasalimit,andwebegantoworkwiththatinmind.

Role of the Seismic Safety Commission in SMIPCrandall: ThefundingissuewasbroughtupbyBruceBoltwhenhewasontheSeismicSafetyCommission.Atsomepoint,betweenthestateprogram’scommencementandtheendofthe19�0s,theSeismicSafetyCommis-sionwasrequiredbylegislationtosupervisethestateStrongMotionInstrumentationPro-gram(SMIP),althoughtheoperationoftheprogramremainedunderMinesandGeology,andisstillthere.

Scott: Theprogram’soverallAdvisoryCom-mitteeanditssubcommitteesallwerebroughtundertheSeismicSafetyCommission?

Crandall: Yes.Iamnowalittlevagueastoexactlyhowthatworked,butatsomepointtherewasneworrevisedlegislation,andtheStrongMotionInstrumentationProgramwasbroughtundertheaegisoftheSeismicSafetyCommission,whichappointsandisrespon-siblefortheStrongMotionInstrumentationAdvisoryCommittee(SMIAC).

Ifyoureadthelegislationcarefully,youseethatthecommitteeonlyhasresponsibilityforadvice.ThelawdoesnotsaywhathappensifMinesandGeologydoesnotwanttotaketheadvice.Inpractice,however,thereisanex-tremelycloserelationshipbetweentheSeismicSafetyCommissionandtheSMIPprogram,andtheAdvisoryCommittee’sadviceissolic-itedandfollowedveryreligiously.

Thus,thevarioussubcommitteesoftheAdvi-soryCommitteeareinvolvedinselectingtheactualbuildingsandstructuresthatareinstru-mented,andtheysetprioritiesforthatprogram.Mypresentassociationwiththestrongmotionprogram[1991]isaschairmanoftheAdvisoryCommittee.IhavebeenonthecommitteesinceIbecameamemberoftheSeismicSafetyCommission,andinfactbecamechairmanofitshortlyafterIbecameaCommissioner.

Attheoutset,theAdvisoryCommitteewaschairedbyHarrySeed,whowasaCommis-sionerontheSeismicSafetyCommission.HewasfollowedbyBruceBolt,whowasalsoaCommissioner,andthenwhenBrucebecameSSCChairman,herelinquishedthepostofAdvisoryCommitteechair,andIwasappoint-edaschairmanofthatcommittee,andBrucestayedonasacommitteemember.

Scott: Irecallthatbythattime,youhadbeenontheCommissionabouttwoorthreeyears.Youbecamechairmanaround19�3or19�4?BrucebecamechairmanoftheCommis-sionaboutsixmonthsafterDickJahnsdied,inDecemberof19�3.IwasCommissionchairatthattime,andDickwastotakeoverinJanuary19�4.Brucehadcommitments,sohecouldnottakeoveraschairimmediately,soIcontinued

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toserveaschairforthreeorfourmonthsinto19�4,beforeBrucebecamechair.BrucetookoveraboutMayorJuneof19�4.

Crandall: Yes.WhenBrucebecameSSCchairman,hedidnotwanttokeepthejobaschairmanoftheAdvisoryCommittee,al-thoughhestayedonasacommitteemember.

Scott: TheAdvisoryCommitteechairman-shipwasafairlydemandingrole,wasitnot?ThatcertainlywasmyimpressionwhenIwasaCommissionmember.Overtheyears,theAd-visoryCommitteeandsubcommitteesseemedtobeabusybunch.

Crandall: TheAdvisoryCommitteemeetsatleasttwiceayear.Thentheexecutivegroup—formedbytheadvisorysubcommitteechairs—meetsintheinterimperiods,maybeonceortwiceayear.Therearefivesubcommitteesthatreallydothework.Forexample,thebuildingsubcommitteeinvolvesabouttenortwelvepeoplewhoallgettogether.Wealsohaveothersubcommitteesonlifelines,datautilization,groundmotion,andnowanewsubcommitteeondirectedresearch.Thenewcommitteeisseeingthatthestrongmotiondatawegetfromearthquakesarebeingusedtofurtherengineer-ingknowledge—andthatisarealsuccess.

Scott: Irememberalwaysbeingveryim-pressedwhenHarrySeed,andthenBruceBolt,andthenlateryou,reportedtotheCom-mission.Italwaysseemedtomethatyouhadalotgoingon.

Crandall: Yes.ItisamajorefforttooverseetheStrongMotionInstrumentationProgram.Inthoseyears,therewasprobablyabudgetofseventotenmilliondollarsayear.

Scott: Alongtheway,thetaxleviedonbuild-ingownerstosupporttheprogramincreased,didn’tit?

Crandall: Yes.Wegotadditionalfundingacoupleofyearsago.

Scott: Aftertheprogram’sfirsttenyearsorso,buildingowners’feeswereincreasedtoalmostdoubletheoriginalamount,Ibelieve.

Crandall: IrememberBruceBoltprepar-ingastudythatshoweditwouldbeatleasttwentyyearsbeforewecouldgetinalloftheinstrumentationthatwewanted,underthepreviousfeelevel.

Scott: DidBrucedothatwhenhechairedtheAdvisoryCommittee?Orwasitafteryoube-camechairmanofthestrongmotioncommittee?

Crandall: ItstartedwhenhewaschairmanoftheAdvisoryCommittee,becauseIre-memberhimmakingthestudy.Itshowedthemoneycominginatacertainrate,andwhatwewantedtospenditonandhowfast.Thatshowedthatitwouldbetwentyyearsbeforewecouldgettothepointwherewethoughtweshouldbe.Sowetriedtoscalethetimeperiodbacktofiveyears.That’swhentheadditionalfundingwassoughtandobtained,thanks,Ithink,mostlytoSenatorAlquistforhisstrongsupport.

ImustsayfortherecordthatthereallygreatadvancesintheStrongMotionInstrumenta-tionProgramweremadeunderthechairman-shipofHarrySeedandBruceBolt.Iamsortofacaretakerchairman,Iwouldsay,andtheimportantthingsweredonepreviously.


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Scott: Idonotthinkyouarejustifiedinminimizingyourcontribution,althoughIagreethatHarrySeedandBruceBoltdidalotofpioneerworkbecausealotneededtobedoneforthenewprogram.Theywerebreak-ingalotofnewground.

Crandall: Weshouldalsogivecredittotheprogram’sstaff.Theyaredoingveryfinework.TonyShakalisprogramdirector.Tony’sback-groundisingeophysics.

Scott: HeisamemberoftheCDMGstaff?

Crandall: Yes,that’sright,andheisassignedtoSMIP,which,however,isfundedseparatelyfromregularCDMGactivities.Itisalmostasifhehadacompletelyseparatebusiness.Theydotheirownfinancing,accounting,andallofthat.

Scott: Thefundingcomesoutofthefeesandcharges,soitisallkindofaself-contained?

Crandall: Well,wehadthoughtitwas.Butthen,justlastyear,wefoundouttoourshockthatweweresubjecttooverheadleviedbytheDepartmentofConservation.

Scott: ThegoodoldstatebureaucracyandDepartmentofFinancehavetheirowninsidi-ouswaysofdoingthingslikethat!

Crandall: Moreover,CDMGsuddenlywokeupandrealizedthattheyhadalittlegoldmineinthestrongmotionoperation.Sonowwegettappedwithabout20percentinoverheadcharges,whicharehardtofight.Previously,wethoughtwewereoperatingcompletelyindepen-dentlyoftherestoftheworld.Butwegotstuckwiththeoverheadcharge,muchaswehatedtoseethemoneysiphonedoffforthatpurpose.

ThetalentontheAdvisoryCommitteeisthebest—incrediblepeoplelikeGeorgeHousner,whostartedourdatautilizationsubcommit-tee.BillJoynerfromUSGSparticipated.RoyJohnstonandJerveJones,forexample,arealsohighlyinterestedmembers.JonesiswithamajorcontractingfirminsouthernCalifornia,andtakestimetocometothesemeetings.

Initially,itseemedthatonlyengineersandgeologistswereinvolved.OnethingIthinkIhelpedwastoexpandandbroadenthemem-bershipandoutlooktosomedegree.Thus,JerveJonesservesontheAdvisoryCommitteenow,andtwoorthreeotherslikethat.MaryHendersonwasoneoftheearlyonesontheoriginalcommittee.Shehasalwayshadaninterestinthiswork.

Scott: FortherecordIshouldmentionthatMaryHendersonwasveryactivefromthebeginningoftheSenatorAlquistlegislativecom-mitteeadvisorygroupsthatpredatethe1971SanFernandoearthquake.Shewasaveryactivememberoftheadvisorygroupongovernmentorganizationandperformance,alongwithLou-iseGiersch,andBobRigney,andme.HenryDegenkolbwasanobserveronthatadvisorygroup,representingtheengineeringadvisorygroup.SoMaryHendersonhasahistorythatgoesallthewaybackatleastto1969inthisfield.

Then,whenthestrongmotionprogramwassetup,shewasconsideredalogicalcandidate,withherdemonstratedinterestinearthquakesandwithherlocalgovernmentbackground.ShewasacouncilmemberfromRedwoodCityintheSanFranciscoBayArea.

Crandall: Herappointmentcameviarecom-mendationoftheLeagueofCaliforniaCities.I

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remembernowthatinourearlystrongmotioncommitteework,Marypushedfortheideaofputtingoutaninformativepamphletsayingwhattheprogramwasallabout,andexplainingwhatweweredoing,tohelppeopleunder-stand.Itwasalittlepublicityprogram.

Scott: Shewasveryawareoftheimportanceofbringingthepublicalongandexplainingthingsclearly.

Crandall: Yes.Shehasbeenatremendousas-set,andisstillinvolvedinoursubcommittees.

Extension of Strong Motion Instrumentation Program to Caltrans, Hospitals, and SchoolsCrandall: Asofnow[1991],CaltransandthehospitalsareorwillbeparticipatinginCalifornia’sStrongMotionInstrumentationProgram.CertainlyCaltransisparticipatingnow,whereasthelawpreviouslyexcludedthembecausetheywerenotcontributors.

Thelawsayssomethingtotheeffectthatifyoudonotcontributetothestate’sStrongMotionImplementationProgram,youdonotparticipate,andthateliminatedallofthoseactivitiesthatdidnotgetbuildingpermitsthroughlocalagencies,whichwasthebasisofthefunding.Statebridgesdon’tpayforlocalgovernmentbuildingpermits.Butnow,sincetheLomaPrietaearthquake,theyareabletodosomefunding,andthatwillenablethemtoinstrumentanumberoftheirbridges.

Itwasashockingthingtofindoutafterthe19�9LomaPrietaearthquakethattherewerenoinstrumentsontheBayBridgeortheGoldenGateBridgeormostoftheother

bridges.AnexceptionwasthesuspensionbridgehereinSanPedro,overpartofLosAngelesharbor.TheVincentThomasBridgehadbeeninstrumented.

Scott: Whywasthatbridgeinstrumentedandnottheothers?

Crandall: Itisthemostrecentlybuiltmajorbridge.Inanyevent,forourStrongMotionInstrumentationProgram,weconcludedthatweneededsomebridgesinstrumented.WiththeviaductcollapseinOakland,andthefind-ingthatthedesignofmanyofthosestructureshavedefectsthatshowupunderstrongshak-ing,Caltranshasreceivedawindfallinfund-ingtoenablethemtostudythesestructuresandcomeupwithretrofitwork.JimGateshasmanagedthatprogramatCaltrans,hasbeenonourAdvisoryCommittee,andisactiveasasubcommitteechairman.Jimhasbeenpushingforinstrumentingbridgesandtypicalstruc-turesintheCaltranssystem.

WenowhavethepleasureofknowingthatCaltransisabletoparticipateinourprogram.Previously,thelawpreventedthemfromparticipatinginSMIP,orratherSMIPwaspre-ventedbylawfrominstrumentingstructureswherewedidnotreceiveacontributionfromthefeesonlocalgovernmentbuildingpermits.

Wewerenotabletoinstrumentstructuresun-derthepurviewofnon-SMIP-fundingagenciesunlesstheCommissionitselfadoptedaspecialresolutionofurgency,sayingthatthisinstru-mentationwasimportant.ThelastexceptiongrantedwasfortheSouthToweroftheGoldenGateBridge.TheGoldenGateBridgeDistrict,whichcontrolsthatstructure,isplanningtocompletelyinstrumentthebridgeinthefuture.


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Butthat’salongandveryexpensiveprocess.Ittakesawhiletodevelop.

Soitwasdecidedthat,meanwhile,somein-formationshouldbeobtainedintheeventofanearbyearthquakebyputtingoutwhatwecalltemporaryinstrumentsontheSouthToweroftheGoldenGateBridge.Wecoulddothatinahurry,soincaseanearthquakeoccurred,thatinformationwouldbeavailable.ThatwasanurgencycasethattheSeismicSafetyCom-missionapproved,andtheinstrumentationisnow,asof1991,beinginstalledontheGoldenGateBridge.

Scott: DoestheStrongMotionInstrumenta-tionAdvisoryCommitteenowplayanadvisoryroletoCaltrans?

Crandall: Yes.Caltranswillsubmitagroupofbridgesthattheyfeelaretypical,andthattheybelievewouldbeworthyofinstrumenting.

Scott: Sotheyineffectsay,“Wethinkthesearetherightbridges?”

Crandall: Yes.Oneofthethingswedon’tliketodoisinstrumentauniquestructurethatwillneverbeduplicated.Whileitmaybenicetoknowwhatitisdoing,theinformationdoesnothelpinthedesignoffuturebridgesandstructures.

Instead,youwantdatayoucanapplytootherstructures.Sotheintentistogettomoretypi-calbridges.Theinformationobtainedwillbeusefulfordesigningbridgesofthesametypeinthefuture.Anyway,Caltranswillsubmitanumberofstructures,ourcommitteewillscreenthem,assignapriority,andinstructourSMIPpeoplewhattodointhewayofinstall-inginstruments.

ThehospitalsinCalifornia,becausetheygothroughastatepermitprocessratherthanlocalgovernment,werealsonotpartofSMIP,butwillnowbeabletoparticipatethroughsomefundingoutofwhattheycallaresearchfundfromtheirpermitcheckingfees.Wealsohavetheopportunityforsomeofthepublicschoolstoparticipatenow.BecauseinCalifor-niathepublicschoolsalsogothroughthestatebuildingpermitprocess,ratherthanlocalgov-ernment,theywerenotsubjecttotheSMIPtaxandweren’tintheprogram.

Ofcourse,seismicregulationsforschoolsandhospitalshavealonghistoryinCalifornia.Publicschoolswerebroughtunderstatewideearthquakedesignprovisionsbackin1933,aftertheLongBeachearthquake.Thestatearchitect’sofficethenfunctionedasthebuild-ingdepartmentfortheschools,ratherthanthelocaljurisdictions.ThentheSanFernandoearthquakepromptedthepassageoftheHos-pitalSeismicSafetyActof1972,whichalsomadethestate,ineffect,thebuildingdepart-mentforpermitsforthosekindsoffacilities,thoughitwasadifferentstateagency,theOfficeofStatewideHealthPlanningandDe-velopment.Yetherewewere,ignoringgettingstrongmotiondataonhospitalsandschools,andtheyweren’tincludedintheStrongMo-tionInstrumentationProgramrunbyCDMG.

AsacommitteememberontheStrongMotionInstrumentationAdvisoryCommittee,Ihavemixedemotionsaboutanearthquake.Nobodywantstoseeamajorearthquakehappen,butyetwewouldliketogetthevaluablekindsofinformationthatwillmakethisinvestmentininstrumentationreallypayoff.

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Scott: Thatistrue,eventhoughsofaronlyrelativelysmallearthquakeshaveoccurredininstrumentedareas.

Crandall: Well,therewasthe19�7WhittierNarrowsearthquake.Wehadsomeinstru-mentedbuildingsinthevicinity,andalsogotinformationabouthigh-risestructuresindowntownLosAngeles,wheretheinstrumentsmeasuredtheeffects.Earlier,in1979,theElCentropublicservicebuilding,theonewhosefailureattractedsomuchattention,wasinstru-mented.Thatgaveusmuchinformationaboutwhathappenedinthebuildingduringthatearthquake,whichwasarathermodestone.

Recording the Way Earthquake Waves TravelCrandall: Withmodernimprovements,thesestrongmotioninstrumentsareallinterconnect-ednow,andareallsettothesametime.Datacanalsobefedbacktothecollectingstationbyradiooroverphonelines,becauseit’sdigitalnow.Sonowif,forexample,thequakeisfirstrecordedat1:15.00atonestationandyoureaditseveralmilesawayat1:15.10seconds,youknowitactuallytookthemotiontensecondstogetfrompointAtopointB.

Scott: Youcanreadhowthemotiontravels,andlearnhowitmaychangeoverdistance?

Crandall: Thatisright.Andthatgivesusvery,veryvaluableinformationwhentheinstrumentsareinarrays.Theystringupasetofinstruments,itmaybeformiles,startingperhapsclosetoaknownfault.Thenaquarterofamileaway,halfamile,threequarters,five

milesandfarther,otherinstrumentswillbesetateachofthosepoints.

Byhavingtheclocktimesallthesame,theycandeterminehowlongittookfortheinitialshocktogetfromonestationtothenext,andthenext,andsoon,anddeterminehowfastthewaveistravelingthroughthesoil.Theycangetthatandotherinformationenablingustopredictwhatmighthappenatasitethatismaybetenmilesawayfromthesourceoftheearthquake.Theattenuationeffectiswhatwearelookingfor.AnumberofthosearrayshavebeensetoutthatwillprovidethissortofinformationinCalifornia.

ThereisaveryfamousarrayinTaiwan,SMART-1,ortheLotungArray,whichProfes-sorBruceBolthasbeenverymuchinvolvedin.Itisinaseriesofstrongmotioninstrumentssetinconcentriccircles.Theyaregettingsomesuperbinformationfromthat.

Ofcourse,onemustrememberthateachoftheselocationshasitsownspecificgeologiccharacteristics.WhilewearegettingvaluableinformationfromTaiwan,youhavetotranslatethatintothekindsofgeologicconditionsthatoccurintheareayouareinterestedin.Itissortofliketheoriginal[1940]ElCentrorecord.Youhadonerecordandyoumadeuseofit,butknewfullwellthatyoursitemightnotbeshak-inginexactlythatsamemanner.

Flow of Seismic Forces in Reality and in Building DesignScott: Letmeaskaquestionortworelat-ingtogroundmotionandbuildingresponse.Youhaveseveraltimesexplainedwhatseems


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thecommonsenseinterpretation—thatis,theforcesenterthebuildingfromthegroundup.ButIamawarethatstructuralengineerstendtotalkaboutdesigningfromthetopdown.Ihaveneverfullyunderstoodwhytheytalkthatway,sincecommonsensetellsyouthatforcesgotheotherdirection.

Crandall: Inthestructuralfield,wethinkofitinthereverse—thatis,youdesignabuildingfromthetopdown.Buttheactualeffectisthatthegroundmoves,andthebuilding,duetoitsinertia,triestoresistthemovement—goodoldNewton’sLawbeingwhatitis.Thenthegroundshakingcausesthebuildingtovibrate.Seismicforcesdostartatthebottom,yes.Thestructuralengineersdesignbycalculatinganoverallseismicloadorbaseshear,butthentheystartattheroofandcalculatehowmuchofthetotalbuildinglateralforceitrepresents,thentakethatloadandtransferittothestorybeneath,whichaddsitsownlateralload,andthatcumu-lativeloadtransferstothenextstorydownandsoon.Tallbuildingsthatvibrateinseveralmodesratherthaninasimplebackandforthmotionarealittlemorecomplicated,butbasicallythatistheexplanation.Inotherwords,youaredesign-ingitfromthetopdownasfarasthestructuralengineerisconcerned,withtheforcesincreasingasyoumovedownfromthetopofthebuilding.Themembersandconnectionsaredesignedtoadequatelycarrythoselateralforcesallthewaydownfromtheroofintothefoundation.

Scott: Isiteasiertothinkaboutortoworkwiththatway?

Crandall: Yes.Howcanyoudesignthebot-tomstoryifyoudon’tknowwhattheloadsarefromtheotherstories?Soyoustartatthe

topandaddupthelateralforcesasyougodown.Whenyougettothebottom,youhavethewholething.Thatisthetechniqueforthestructuraldesignofabuilding.

But,inreality,theearthquakeshakingtrans-mitsthroughthegroundandthroughthefoundationupintothebuilding.Thatsetsthebuildingtooscillating.Dependingontheperiodofthebuilding,youwilldevelopcertainadditionalforces.

OnethingIhavealwaystriedtotellpeopleisthatifthesoilissoweakthatthefullforcecan’tgetintothefoundation,thenthebuild-ingdoesnothavetoresistit.Letmerephraseit.Lookingatitasthoughthebuildingweretransmittingtheforcestothesoil,thereisalimitbecauseifthesoilcouldnottransmittheforcesinthefirstplace,thenthebuildingwillnotbesubjectedtomuchgreaterforces.Iwanttoemphasizethatthesoilwillyieldasittriestoforceloadintothebuilding,andifthesoilisplasticenough—sayabuildingisondrivenpilingsthatgoesthroughsoftsoilsintofirmsoilsorevenintorock—thentheearthquakeforcecomesfromtherockthroughthesoftsoiltothebuilding,imposingalateralforceonthepiling.Now,ifthosesoilsaresosoftthattheycannottransmitthatearthquakeloadintothepiling,thenyoudon’thavetodesignthepilingasthoughitwouldgetthefullforce.

An Unknown: The Seismic Behavior of BasementsCrandall: Theforcethathastogooutcannotexceedwhatcomesin,inmyopinion.Forlateralresistanceoffoundations,andalsoofbasementwalls,twobigunknownsarethe

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dynamicearthpressuresagainststructuresandtheseismicbehaviorofbasements.Therearewidedifferencesofopinionamongengineers—soilengineersinparticular—astowhatkindofincreasedloadingsyouwillgetonthebase-mentwallsofastructureduetoearthquake.

Manypeoplethinkthattheloadismuchgreat-erthanitisinthestaticcondition.AsfarasIamconcerned,however,Iamnotthatmuchabelieverinabigincreaseinloads,unlessinthecaseofanextremelylargestructure,hundredsoffeetindimensions.

Mytheoryisthatthesubterraneanpartofthebuildingmoveswiththeground,primarily,sothereisverylittleadditionalloadgenerated.Ifthebuildingisextremelystiffandresistant,however,thenyoucoulddevelopadditionalpressure.Essentially,though,formoststruc-tures,itismyopinionthatthebasementandtheeartharounditaremovingsimultaneously,together,andintunewitheachother.

Ihaven’tproofofthat,exceptthatIhavenotyetseenastructureinanearthquakeareawherethebasementhascollapsedorfailedasaresultoftheearthquake.Youmightsay,“Well,thatcouldbebecausebasementsarealwaysinherentlystrongerthanwegivethemcreditfor.”Ontheotherhand,ifthatisso,weshouldbetakingitintoaccountandnotjustsayingthatthesoilpressureismuchgreaterandusingthatinthedesign.Iamtalkingaboutsugges-tionstousetwicethelateralforce,oruptothreetimes,basedonsometheoriesofearth-quakedesignforbasements,ascomparedwithwhatyouwouldhaveunderstaticconditions.

NotonlyhaveInotseenevidencethatbase-mentshavesufferedduetoincreasedsoilpres-

sure,butalsomyfirmwasconductingtie-backanchortestloadingsinabasementshoringsitu-ationintheWestwoodareaatthetimeofthe1971SanFernandoearthquake.Itwasaforty-foot-deephole,andwehadloadcellsandstraingaugesonthesetie-backsthatweweretestingcontinuously,twenty-fourhoursaday.Althoughourpeopledowninthatholewereshakenbytheearthquakeandwerealittleconcerned,therewasnoevidencewhatsoeverofanychangeintheloadconditionofthetie-backanchors.

Thishappenedintwocases.Twicewehadatestunderwayatthetimeofanearthquake.Thatisratherlimiteddatatobasethetheoryon,butIincludethistoindicatethedifferencesofopin-ionamongengineersastothekindofloadinganearthquakewillgenerateinthefoundation.

Scott: Andthosearenotjustminordiffer-ences?

Crandall: No,itcanaddalottothecostofconstructionofabasementifyouincludethiskindofupper-boundearthquakeforce.Sowestillhavethingstolearnaboutthebehaviorofstructures.

Free-Field Motion and Soil-Structure InteractionCrandall: OneimportantthinglearnedintheSanFernandoearthquakewasthevalueofhavinganinstrumentremotefromaninstrumentedstructure—calledfree-fieldinstruments.Inotherwords,youalsoneedameasurementofthegroundvibrationwhereitisunaffectedbythebuildingitself,andfreeofanyotherencumbrance.


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PartlyasaresultoftheSanFernandoearth-quake,itwasrecognizedthattheinstrumentsinthebasementofabuildingwereaffectedbythebehaviorofthestructureitself.Sincethiswasamodifiedgroundmotion,thoseofusingeotechnicalworkinparticularsaid,“Weneedtoknowwhatthegroundisdoingbeforeitisinfluencedbyabuilding.”Withfree-fieldmotionrecords,youcouldtakethegroundmotionandapplyittoanybuildingandfeelconfidentthatyouknewwhatwasgoingtobetheinputsource.Thegroundshakes,thebuildingshakes,andasthebuildingshakesthemotionofitsfoundationinteractswiththemotionofthesoilaroundit.Wegeotechni-calpeopleconsideritvery,veryimportanttoknowwhatthegrounditselfisdoing.

Scott: Sothefree-fieldinstrumentgivesapurer,less“adulterated”typeofgroundre-sponsereading?

Crandall: Exactly.Fromfree-fieldread-ings,youknowwhatmotioncamefromtheearthquakeandarrivedatthesite,withoutanyinfluenceoftheparticularbuilding.Theearthquakecomesintothestructure,andthestructurestartsitsownvibrations,dependingonitsstructuralcharacteristics—height,mass,andsoon.Itfeedsthosemotionsbackintothesoilbecausethefoundationfeelsthatmotionofthebuildingandisincontactwiththesoil,andthereisasoil-structureinteractioneffect.Thebasementinstrumentationreadsthecom-binationofthoseeffects.

Initially,whenwefirsthadinstrumentalread-ingsthatwereonlyfromthebasementorlowestlevelofabuilding—inadditionofcoursetotheupper-floorinstruments—wewereutilizingthe

recordofthemotionatthebaseofthebuildingastheinput,asthesourcemechanismfortheshakingofthebuilding.Thingswerenotturn-ingoutthewaywethoughttheyshould.Thefeedbackofthesoilintothestructureandviceversawasgivingthesemodifieddynamicread-ings.Thenwestartedthefree-fieldprogram.Inalmosteveryinstallationnow,wehaveafree-fieldinstrumentinsomelocationwherewefeelitcanmeasurethepuregroundmotionatthatsite,withoutanyinfluencefromthestructure.

Hereisanotherimportantpoint.Inadditiontosurfacemeasurements,wehavenowreachedthepoint,andtheinstrumentationhasbeendeveloped,sothatwecanplacestrongmotioninstrumentsindeepholesinthegroundandleavethemtherepermanentlytomeasurewhatishappeningatdepth.Inadditiontoknowingwhatishappeningonthesurface,weareabletoinstallthesedownholearrays,astheyarecalled.Astrongmotioninstrumentisplacedinaboringasdeepas500feet—that’sthedeep-estI’mfamiliarwith—andanotheroneat,say,200feet,andoneatthesurface.Fromthat,youcanlearnhowthewavepropagatesthroughtheearthanduptothesurface.

Theoretically,the500-footdepthreceivesthewavefirst,thenthe200-footer,thentheoneatthesurface.Whenthathappens,wewillhavedataonthetransmissioneffectofgroundshak-ingvertically,aswellashorizontally.We’reveryeagertogetsomeofthatdatafromearthquakes.WehavesomedownholeinstrumentsattheParkfieldsite,whichwillhelpgiveusanideaofwhattheeffectiswhenthenextearthquakeoccursthere.USGShasheavilyinstrumentedthatareaofCaliforniainexpectationthatan-othermagnitudesixearthquakewillrecurthere,

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ashashappenedrelativelyregularlyinthepast.Weknowthattheearthquakewavechangesasitpassesthroughthestrataintheground,andasitgetstothesurfaceitsortofbreaksintosurfacewavesofdifferenttypes,withdiffer-entwavevelocities.Wedonotknowpreciselywhetherthat’sthesamemotionasiscomingthroughtheearthornot.Theonlythingwehaveisintuitive,orisbasedonknowingwhathappensatdepthintunnelsandmines.Minerssenselessshakingofthegroundattheirdepththanoccursatthesurface,forexample.

Predicting Ground Motion at a SiteCrandall: Allofthisinformationis,ofcourse,helpfulandincreasesourknowledgeandthestate-of-the-artinourabilitytopredictgroundmotionatanysite,basedonapossibleearthquakeevent.Thatisonethingthatgeo-technicalengineerscannowprovide,anditispartoftheservicemycompanyprovides—thepredictionofgroundmotionatagivensite.

Whatistheeffectoftheimmediatesubsurfaceconditionsontheearthquakewavesastheypassthroughtheground?Weknowthattheychangetheircharacterastheygofromrocktoasoilcondition,andthroughsoilofdifferenttypes,suchasfirmsoilascomparedtosoftsoil.Sowe,meaninggeotechnicalengineers,obtainmeasure-mentsoftheshearwavevelocityoftheseshallowsoilsthattheseismologistdoesnotevenconsider.

Seismologistsareconcernedwithdeepearthstructureandthesourceoftheearthquake,whereitactuallyrupturesandreleasesenergy,whichmaybetenmilesdeep.Butthatmo-tiontransmitsthroughtherockandeventuallyreachesthesurface.Whenitgetsupnearthe

surface,itcanchangeitswaveformandthecontentofitsmotion.We,asgeotechnicalengineers,trytodeterminewhatthatmotionwouldbebasedontheseseismic-typemeasure-mentsthataremade.

Thestructuralengineerscanthenutilizethisintheiranalysesofbuildings.Let’ssayinLosAngelesweconsidertheSanAndreasfaultandassumethatabig�.3magnitudeearth-quakemightoccurthere,butalsocritical—andmaybemorecritical,dependingonlocation—istheNewport-Inglewoodfault,onwhichthemaximumearthquakeisnotexpectedtoexceedabout7magnitude,ormaybealittlemore.Itisnotaslargeintotalenergy,butismuchclosertodowntownLosAngelesandthewestside.

Soyougetentirelydifferentshakingcharac-teristicsfromtheNewport-InglewoodfaultthanfromtheSanAndreasfault.Weattempttoevaluatebothforeachsitethatwestudyandprovidethestructuralengineerwiththesedata.Thestructuralengineerthenchecksbothoutandseesinaparticularbuildingdesignwhichisthemoresevere,andmusttakethemoreseveremotionintoconsideration.

Becauseofitsdistance,andthefilteringoutofthehigh-frequencywaves,anearthquakeontheSanAndreaswilltransmitmuchlonger-periodwavesinLosAngeles,andthatwillthenhavegreatereffectsonhigh-risebuild-ings—whichhavelongperiods.Whereas,withanearthquakenearerby,suchasontheNewport-Inglewoodfault,thehigherfrequen-ciesarenotasfilteredout,andyoutendtogetashort-periodmotionwithamoreseriouseffectonthesmallerbuildings—saybuildingsofthreeorfourstories.


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ThesamethinghappenedinMexicoCityin19�5—verydramatically.BecauseofthedistanceofthemainquakeandthecharacterofsoilinsomeareasofMexicoCity,along-periodmotionaffectedcertaincategoriesofbuildings,suchasthoseintherangeofeighttotwelvestories,whichtookaseriousbeating—pancakedandsoon.Whereastheverytallbuildingsoffortyorfiftystoriesandtheshort,stiffonesoftwoandthreestories,didremarkablywell.

Value of Dynamic StudiesCrandall: Thebuildingcodepermitsde-viationfromitsseismicprovisionsifthereisenoughsupportingdata.Thishasbeentrueinthecaseofsoilsstudies.Initssimplestform,thebuildingcodegivesbearingvaluesforcertaintypesofsoil,andyoucandesignyourfoundationsforthosevalues.Butthecodealsosaysthatifyouhaveanapprovedsoilengi-neeringreportthatgivesotherdata,youcanusethat.Thishasbeenabigstimulusforsoilengineeringinthatarea.

Thesamethingistrueofthedynamicstudies,whichsimulatehowmuchaparticularbuildingwillshake.Youcanusevaluesfortheshaking-inducedforcesfromtheformulasinthecodeforupto,Ithink,160feetinbuildingheight.Uptothatheight,youcanalsousedynamicanalysisifyouwant,butthecoderequiresdynamicanalysisforbuildingsover160feet,thoseofirregularshape,andafewotherex-ceptions.SocertainlyanybuildingoverfifteenstoriesorsointheCityofLosAngeleshastohaveadynamicanalysis.Ithinkasoftheearly1990s,theUBCandtheLosAngelescodehavebeensimilarinthatrespect.

InCalifornia,wecanassumeastructuralengi-neerisemployedforthedesignofmostofthebiggerbuildings—theonesbeyondthescaleofanindividualhouse.Thestructuralengineerswillmakeajudgmentonthelargerormoreimportantprojectsastowhetheradynamicanalysiswouldbebeneficial.Inotherwords,theydecidewhetherthesavingsfromthedy-namicanalysisislikelytobeenoughtowarrantthecostofdoingit.Thedynamicanalysisoftendemonstratesthatthebuildingneednotbeasresistantasthesimplercodeapproachassumes,whichmeanslesssteel,lessconcrete,lesscost.Thebuildingcodeusuallyisconservative.Soifyoudotheseotherthingsinlieuofjustusingthecode-prescribedformulasandvalues,youcanusuallyproducesomesavings.

Scott: Inshort,iftheengineercandemon-strate,withthehelpofaqualifiedsoilengineerorgeotechnicalfirm,thatitislegitimatetodoso,theycanshavetheconstructioncostsbynotdesigningasmuchstrengthintothebuilding?

Crandall: Yes,that’sbasicallyit—usingthegeotechnicalinformationasinput,andthenthestructuralengineeringdynamicanalyses,whichisnowdoneeasilyonthecomputer.Youneedboththegeotechnicalengineer’sinputandthestructuralengineer’sdynamicstudy.IthinkthatinsouthernCalifornia,mostanybuildingsofsignificancearegettingdynamicanalyses,becausetheprogramsforthissortofthingareavailablenow.Almostanypracticingstructuralofficehasaccesstothem.

Scott: Soitisnowreallypartofthestate-of-the-art,andanothereffectoftheadventofthemoderncomputer?

Crandall: Yes.

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Existing Buildings: A DilemmaCrandall: Thebigproblem,ofcourse,areindividuallyownedexistingstructures.Withanewpieceofpropertythatadeveloperissubdi-vidingandgettingreadyforconstruction,thereisachancetoworkwithdynamicconsiderationsforsoilanddesign,basedonsoilengineeringandgeologicalfactors.Thebigrubis—whatdoyoudowiththebuildingsthatarealreadybuilt?

Scott: SanFrancisco’sMarinaDistrictisaclassiccase.Whatcantheydowiththosebuildings?Someofthemarelovelylookingbuildings,butifanothershakercomes,thereisthat“jelly”downunderneath.

Crandall: Thegoodsideofitfortheguywhoownsoneofthosebuildingsisthatthepublicforgetsprettyquickly,andinafewyearstheirvaluewillbebackupandmaybeevenhigher.IrememberinLosAngeleswehadtheBelAirfirein1961,whichwasarealdisasterinavery,veryaffluentarea,burningalmost500homes.Forawhile,nobodywantedpropertyinBelAirbecauseofthat.Butintwoorthreeyears’timeyouwouldn’thaveknownthatanythinghadhappenedatalltheretotherealestatemarket.

Long Seismic Return PeriodsScott: Iwouldliketoaskaboutoneitemlistedintheprogramofthe1991SecondInternationalConferenceonRecentAdvancesinGeotechnicalEarthquakeEngineeringandSoilDynamics.Itis“Designforenvironmentswithlongseismicreturnperiods.”Iguessthatreferstoplaceswhereearthquakesareexpect-ed,butnotveryoften.

Crandall: Right.Maybeeverycoupleofthousandyears.TheaverageormeanperiodoftimebeforethereturnofthelargeearthquakeinaparticularmidwestoreasternUnitedStatesregionmaybealongtime.

Scott: Yes.Ithasalwaysbeenapuzzletomeastowhatoughttobedoneinsuchareas.Thenextearthquakemaynotcomeformanycen-turies.Ontheotherhand,itmaycomesooner,anditmaybealarge,full-fledgedearthquake.Whatdoyoudo?Doyouignorethepotentialthreat?Doyoudesignconservatively,asiftheremightbeadamagingearthquakesoon?Doyoudosomeseismicdesign,butwithlessconservativerequirements?Itseemslikeanawkwardmatter.

Crandall: Youareright,thoselong-rangeoccurrencesareupforgrabs,really.Thedog-goneearthquakecouldhappentomorrow.Thatiswheretheuncertaintycomesin.

ThatiswhyIthinkthebuildingsneedtobedesignedasiftheearthquakewasgoingtohappenthedayafterconstructionisfinished.Youmight,however,bewillingtotakealittlemoreriskinanenvironmentwheretheseismichazardhasalongreturnperiod.SanDiego,forexample,canbeexpectedtoexperiencemajorearthquakeslessoftenthanLosAngeles.AndthegeneralsoilcharacteristicsinSanDiegoarebetter.SeismologistsmaypointoutthatthereistheRoseCanyonfault,anditismoreactivethanwethought,anditcouldgenerateaboutamagnitude6.5.Butevenso,youcansaytheriskofstrongshakingissignificantlylessinSanDiegothanitisinLosAngeles.Andthenyoucansaytheriskisalittlelessinanotherlocale,andsoon.


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Inthemidwest,theNewMadridearthquakeshappenedin1�11and1�12,andshookthebejesusoutofthewholearea.Whatshouldtheydothere?Suchlargeearthquakesareestimatedbygeologistsandseismologistsashappeningonaverageeverycouplethousandyears,whichisthemeanoraveragereturnpe-riod.InmostofCalifornia,youcangetsevereshakingwithamuchshorteraveragereturnperiod,muchmorefrequently.That’sthesameassayingthereisahigherprobabilityofget-tingthatsevereshakingoverthenextsomanyyearsinCaliforniathaninthemidwest.Themidwestneedssomeprovisionsfordesign,however,andtheyarejustnowgettingaroundtobelievingthattheyoughttobedoingsome-thing.IntheMemphisandSt.Louisareas—asofnow,atthebeginningofthe1990s—forexample,theyhavebeenveryslowinpickinguponthis.

Base Isolation of Structures

Scott: Talkalittlebitaboutbaseisolation.

Crandall: Baseisolationisarapidlyemerg-ingtechnologyforprotectingstructuresfromthefullimpactofgroundmotion.Ithasbeendiscussedinconceptformanyyears,butonlyrelativelyrecentlyhasthetechnologybeendevelopedsufficientlytopermititsuseinactualstructures.

MyfirmwasfortunateenoughtobeoneofthoseinvolvedinthefirstmajorbuildingintheUnitedStatestousebaseisolation.ThatwasSanBernardinoCountyFoothillCommunities

LawandJusticeCenter,whichisthebrainchildofthelateRobertRigney.10

Rigneywasthecountychiefadministrativeofficeratthetime,andformerlyachairmanoftheSeismicSafetyCommission.IwasontheCommissionatthesametimeBobRigneywas,butwasnotonitunderhischairmanship.HehadcompletedhistermaschairbythetimeIcameontheCommission.Itwascer-tainlyanhonorandanachievementforBobRigneytohavethatstructurebuilttoabaseisolationdesign.

Scott: Iguesshewasalmostsingle-handedlyresponsibleforgettingitdonethatway.

Crandall: Yes.Thefundingwastheproblem.Beingthefirststructureofitstype,thecountybuildingdepartmentwasveryuncertainofthedesign.Thesavingsthatmightotherwisehavebeenrealizedwerenotpossiblebecausethebuildingwasrequiredtomeetthestandardbuildingcode,tobedesignedfortheusualhighforcelevelsinsteadofthelowerleveltheisola-tionsystemwouldprovide.Soinsteadoftherebeinganapproximateequivalenceofcost—ifisolationsystemshadbeentreatedthewaytheyarenow,witharealisticestimateofhowmuchlowertheforceswillbe—orperhapsevenanetsavings,thatdoublerequirement[ofmeetingbothcodestandardsandprovidingisolators]actuallyincreasedthecostsignificantly.Well,BobRigney,blesshisheart,heisnolongerwithus,managedtoconvincetheauthoritiesandothersinSanBernardinoCountythatthis

10. Thisbase-isolatedbuildingwasdesignatedasoneoftheTopSeismicProjectsoftheTwentiethCenturybytheAppliedTechnologyCouncilandAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineersin2006.

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wasagoodthingtodoanyway.Sothebuildingwasdesignedinthatmanner.

Foraframeofreference,myfirmprovidedthefoundationdesigninformationandthegroundmotiondesigncriteriabasedonthepotentialdamagefromanearthquakeontheSanAn-dreasfault,whichisverynear,abouttenmilesaway,Ithink.

Thebasementareaunderandaroundthebuildingisfifteeninchesoneachsidelargerthanthebuildingitself.Inotherwords,theassumptionwasthatthegroundcouldmovefifteeninches,andifbaseisolationworked,thebuildingwouldlagbehindthatmotionanditwouldreducetheforcesinittoarelativelysmallamount,butyouhadtohavetheclear-ance.Thefoundationofthebuildingitselfisexpectedtomovewiththeground,tomovefif-teenincheseachwayinamajorquake,butthemovementwouldbeabsorbedintheisolators,sothebuildingabovethoseisolatorsshouldmoveverylittle.That’stheprincipleofbaseisolation.Itisn’ttotalisolation,butinessence,thegroundmoves,andthebuildingstaysput.

Actually,ofcourse,thebuildingdoesmovesome,butmuchless,whichmeansthattheseismicforcesinthebuildingareverymuchreduced.Ifabuildingisdesignedinaccor-dancewiththatprinciple,itdoesnotneednearlyasmuchstrengthorductilityasitwouldwithoutabaseisolationsystem.Thatcansavemoney,andtheperformancecangoup.

Theisolationconcepthasbeenknownforalongtime,buttheydidnothavethetypeofdevicesortheconfidenceinthemthatwenowhave,whichpermitsustodothis.Earlierdesignersthoughtaboutputtingbuildingson

ballbearings.Thatwould,ofcourse,accom-plishsomethingsimilar,buttheproblemwaswhetherbearingsofthattypewouldfunctionandacceptsuchlargemovements.Also,howdoyoustopthebuildingifitstartsgoing?

Anyway,thisparticularstructurewasthefirstmajorbuildingofitstypeintheUnitedStates.Baseisolationhadalreadybeenusedonbridg-esandafewbuildingsinNewZealand,whereitoriginated.NowwehaveadditionalbaseisolatedbuildingsintheUSA.Forexample,thenewUniversityofSouthernCaliforniaHospitalisabaseisolationstructure.Thatshowsyouhowfarwehavecome,todothatwithahospital,whichissubjecttothemostintensiveseismiccoderequirementsbecauseitisintendedtoremainoperatingafteranearth-quake.Sothatisbeingdone,andthehospitalisexpectedtoperformproperly.CrandallandAssociateswasthegeotechnicalfirmforthathospitaldesign.

Thoseadvancesintheconstructionphaseofengineeringareveryimportantforearthquakeresistance.BythatImeanwehavedesignerswhohavelongdreamedofthingsofthiskind,butputtingthemintopracticalapplicationre-quirestheconstructionelementstobedefinedanddeveloped.TheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyplayedanimportantpartintestingtheseisolators,toshowhowtheycanfunctionandprovidegreatconfidence.

Scott: Yes.Berkeleycivilengineeringprofes-sorJamesKellywasoneofthoseinvolved.

Crandall: Yes.That’sright.Kellywasthekeyresearcher.OntheLawandJusticeCenterproj-ect,AlexTaricswasthekeystructuralengineer.


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Scott: Intryingtofollowthediscussionofbaseisolationoverthepasttenorfifteenyears,ItendedtolistenagooddealtoHenryDegen-kolb.Hetendedtobeabitskeptical,oratleastcautious,aboutbaseisolation.Areyouawareofthat?

Crandall: Yes,Iam.

Scott: DoyouwanttocommentalittleonHenryDegenkolb’sconcerns,asyouunder-stoodthem?Wasitpartlyjustcautiononhispart,becausebaseisolationwassuchanewthing?Maybehewantedtoseeittriedoutinanearthquakeortwobeforefinallymakinguphismind?

Crandall: Henrywasthekindofguywhocouldcutthroughallofthemalarkeyandmonkeybusinessandgetrighttothegutsofsomething.Andhewasanadvocateofredun-dantdesign—systemsthathadenoughpathsfortheforcestoflowalong,sothatifoneofthemturnedouttobeweakerthanyouexpect-ed,therewassomethingelsetohelpout.Andofcourse,baseisolationwasanewconcept.Ihadfeltthesamewayaboutit.

Youarereluctanttopromotesomethingofthatsortuntilyouhaveadegreeofconfidence,whichwenowhave.IthinkHenrywouldhaveacceptedthetypeofbehaviorthatwasexhib-itedinthetestthatKellyranasbeingindica-tivethatbaseisolationwoulddowhatpeoplehopeditwould,andwhatthepromotersofitwereconvincedthatitwould.Youknowhowpromotersare—everythingisrosytothemuntilsomethinggoeswrong.

IthinkHenryjustfeltthatgoodengineer-ingwasbasedongoodsolidconstruction

techniques.Hewasrightaboutthat,thereisnoquestioninmymind.Butonceyouhaveshownwhatthissystemiscapableofdoing,thenitgoesintothedesigner’stoolkit—oneofthosethingsthatyoucanuse.Youstilldesignasolid,earthquake-resistantstructure,butitwillbeexposedtolowerforces.

Scott: ThenmyrecollectiondatesbacktoanearlierperiodwhenHenrywasstillwantingtobeshownmoreproofthatthenewideaofisolationwouldwork,andwhenweprobablyhadnotyetquiteadvancedfarenoughindem-onstratingitsperformancetohissatisfaction.Isthatcorrect?

Crandall: Ithinkthat’sright.Hadhelivedlonger,hewouldhavebeenintheerawhenisolationtechnologybecamesomethingtheengineercouldroutinelytrust,ifit’sdoneright.

Site-Specific Ground Motion StudiesCrandall: TheUniformBuildingCodesaysthatmostofCaliforniaisinthehighestseismiczone,Zone4.Well,wedon’thavetobeearthscientiststoknowthatZone4,whichismostofCalifornia,hasconditionsthatvaryfromthegraniteoftheSierratothefillandBaymudconditionsoftheMarinaareainSanFrancisco.Itisobviousthatbuildingsofsimilarcharacteronsitesofthosetwoextremeconditionsaregoingtobehaveaheckofalotdifferently.

IftheexampleofZone4andtheotherUBCzonesareconsideredaszoning,thenmicrozon-ationismappingandstudyingexpectedgroundmotionatthescaleofdistrictsandindividualbuildingsites.Thatiswhatthesoilengineers

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dowhentheymakeaninvestigation.Theyaredoingmicrozonationforthespecificsitetheyareinvestigating.Asoilorgeotechnicalreportshouldincludethegeologiccharacteristicsofthesiteanditssubsurfaceconditions,suchaswhetheritisonman-madefilloronBaymud.Soinessence,whenyouasaclientretainasoilengineer,thatconsultantismicrozoningthatparticularsiteforyou.Oratleastthatconsul-tantshould,forabuildingofanyconsequence.

Butbeyondthat,microzonationmapsarebeingpreparedforwholeregions,andarebecomingmoreandmorerefined,identifyingsuchareasas—usingtheBayAreaasanex-ample—theyoungerBaymudsaroundtheBaywhereman-madefillsare,orwhereliquefac-tionisapossibility.

Scott: Whomakesthosemaps?TheU.S. GeologicalSurvey,USGS?

Crandall: Yes,theydo.ThemapsarealsodonebytheCaliforniaDivisionofMinesandGeology,oracityoracounty.TheseismicsafetyelementrequiredinlocalgovernmentplansinCaliforniahasencouragedthissortofthing.

Computers: The Biggest Influence on Earthquake EngineeringScott: Herein1991,anumberof“themesfordiscussion”arelistedintheadvancepro-gramoftheSecondInternationalConferenceonRecentAdvancesinGeotechnicalEarth-quakeEngineeringandSoilDynamics,tobeheldinMarch1991,tenyearsaftertheFirstInternationalConferencein19�1.Ithoughtitmightbehelpfulforyoutocommentonthesethemesindiscussingtherecentandcurrent

stateoftheartingeotechnicalengineering,andincomparingandcontrastingitwiththestateoftheartinearlierperiods.

Crandall: Thislistingintheadvancepro-gramisaverycomprehensivereviewofthefieldfromtheperspectiveofsomeonewhostartedoutinthesubjectin1940-1941.Therearethingsherethatwehadnotconsideredorthoughtofinthoseearlydays.Oneexampleistheextensivediscussionofcomputerprogramsattheseconferencesnow.

Ithinkthatmuchofwhatisbeingdonenowistheresultofcomputercapability.Whenyouaretryingtodothingsbysliderule,whichwedid,ofcourse,inthoseearlydays,youfindalimittotheextentofmathematicalanaly-sisthatyoucando.Whatwedidnotknowinthosedaysweapproximatedbyassumingboundaryconditions.Inotherwords,wetookalowvalueandanuppervaluefortheshearstrength,andcomputedwhatwouldhappen.

Supposewewereconsideringsettlementofastructure,orthemotionafoundationwouldundergoifsubjectedtotheloadofagenera-tororsomeotherpieceofrotatingequipment,orevenofanearthquake.Wehad,backthen,toestimatethelowestvalueandthehighestvalueoftheshearcharacteristicsthatmightbeanticipatedforthatparticularinstallation.Thenwewouldtrytodeterminewhatkindsofdeflectionswouldoccurundereachofthosevalues,andsomewhereinbetween,youhoped,wasthecorrectanswer.Ifthespreadwastoogreat,thenyoueitherhadtothrowoutyourwholeprocessandflybytheseatofyourpantsentirelyanduseyourjudgmentonly,ortrytorefinetheboundsandimproveonthefirst


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estimate.Methodsliketheresponsespectrumweremadefeasiblefortheconsultingengineerbythemoderncomputer.

Thelimitationsonanalysisbeforethenwerewhatyoucoulddoonahandcalculatororasliderule.Asaresult,youcouldnotmakemanyiterationsofallthecalculations.Youtookjustoneortwoshotsatit,andsaid,“Allright,wethinkitisgoingtobeone-halfaninch.”Now,ofcourse,theprocessisgreatlyrefined,althoughmaybeinsomecases,theanswersaren’tanybetter.Isometimeshavedoubts.Themerefactthatyouhaveacomput-erthatwillspitoutallofthesecalculationstotendecimalplacesdoesnotnecessarilymeanyougettherightanswer.OneofthetoughestthingsIfindinhiringyoungengineersjustoutofcollegeisteachingthemnottoaccepttheresultstheygetincomputeroutputonblindfaith.Theinputis,ofcourse,whatcontrolsthevalidityoftheresults.Itistooeasytolookatalotofsignificantfiguresandsay,“Ohboy,thismustberightbecausewearemeasuringittoathousandthofaninch.”Butmaybeyouarereallyonlymeasuringittooneinchwithac-curacy.Beforethecomputer,wecouldnotdoasmuchanalysisasnow,butwebenefitedfromthefactthatweknewhowimportantjudgmentandexperiencewere.

Scott: Whendidthattransformationreallybegin?Iguessittookawhiletoreallyinflu-encetheprofession.

Crandall: Iwouldsayitwasinthemid-1960sandthereaboutsthatthecomputerbegantobeausefultoolinengineeringoffices.

Scott: Ofcourse,thenthereweresucces-sivegenerationsofcomputersand,theygot

cheaperandcheaper,andtheirabilitiesgreaterandgreater.

Crandall: Yes,theycoulddomorethingsinashorterperiodoftime.Theexplosionofcomputerknowledgewasjusttremendous.Thedevelopmentofsoftware,forexample,aspeoplebegantoworkontheseproblems.Today,mygoodness,youcangetasoftwareprogramanaverageofficecanutilizewithacomputer,andputinthebasicknowledge,andevenmorethanthat—makealternativestudiesoftheeffectofdifferentconfigurations,ofdif-ferentconnectionsandbracingsystems.Thatway,onecanselectthemostadvantageoussystemandcomeupwithsomeeconomicfac-torstoindicatewhattheadditionalcostwouldbeofimprovingthedesign.

Intheearlydaysjustdoingthefundamentalsoilengineering,computingsettlementofabuild-ingfoundation,forexample,wasalaborioushandcalculationjob.Asaresult,wedidnotdotoomuchofit.Youmadetypicalfoundationsforabuilding,madeacalculation,andthenyouextrapolatedfromthattoothersizesoffounda-tion.Itwaswellknownatthattimethatthesizeofthefoundationandtheloadorthepressureonit,sayofaspreadfooting,wasverycriticalinthesettlementdetermination.Onceyouknewthesoilcharacteristics,then,ofcourse,youhadtomakesomeevaluationsofwhatsettlementwasgoingtooccur,andparticularlythedifferen-tialsettlementbetween,say,amajorfoundationelementinabuildingandthenearbylighterload-carryingfoundationelementofthebuild-ing.Thosethingswerebasedonalotofseat-of-the-pantstypeofjudgments.Notthattheywerewrong,butitrequiredmoreexperiencetodothat.Nowadays,itissomewhatdifferent.

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Scott: Didthecomputeraffectbothpro-fessions,bothstructuralengineersandsoilengineers?Andtheseeffectsintertwined?

Crandall: Yes.Ithinktheuseofcomputersfordynamicanalysisstartedwiththestructuralengineers.Theywereabletotakethelateralforcesandevaluatetheminaneconomicman-ner.Oncethathappened,theystartedaskingquestionsabouttheeffectofthegroundmo-tiononthestructure.

Thestructuralengineersays,“I’manalyzingthebehaviorofthestructureitselftoadegreethatIhadneverbeenabletodo,andnowI’dbetterfindoutsomethingaboutthegroundmo-tion,becausethataffectsit.”Thegeotechnicaltypes,thesoilengineers,wereinasenseforcedintodeterminingthebehavioroftheground,sothatthestructuralengineerswouldhavethatinformationtoutilizeintheirdesign.

Advent of Large Shaking TablesCrandall: Anotherdevelopmentthatstartedtocomeinaroundthetimewhencomputersbecameusefultoconsultingengineers,inthe1960sand1970s,wasthelargeshakingtabletestingcapability.Therearetheselarge-scaleandfull-scalecapabilitiesfortestingmostlystructures,butalsofortestingsoil.Wecannowdosoiltestsforverylargespecimensonshakingtables.Thatgivesyoumuchbetter,firmerresultsthanbefore.

Scott: Youmeaninsteadoftestingasmallsampleofsoil,youtestahugeamount?Givemeanideaofthesize,themagnitudeofthespecimensyouhaveinmindwhenyousay

“large-scale.”Doyoumeanasix-footcube,forexample?

Crandall: Yes,thatisintherealm.Thetypi-calsoilspecimenismaybetwoorthreeinchesindiameter,andmaybesixtoeightinchesinlength.Wecouldpreparelargerspecimens—“remolded”wesometimescalledthem,or“reconstituted”—insayaone-cubic-footbox,anddosometests.Butwecouldnotgiveitthekindofdynamictestingthatwecannowdowithashakingtable.

Scott: Whenyousay“shakingtable”areyoureferringtooneliketheonethattheUniver-sityofCaliforniaatBerkeleystartedtooperateatitsnearbyRichmondFieldStationin1972?

Crandall: Thatisavailableandhasbeenusedforsomesoiltests.Butusuallysmallertableswouldbeusedinsoilengineering.I’mthinkingoftablesmaybefourfeetsquaretosixfeetsquare.

Scott: Aretheremanyofthosearound?

Crandall: TheremustbeadozenorsoinCaliforniaatthevariousuniversities.Maybeevensomeprivatesoillaboratorieshaveequivalenttypesoffacilities.Minedoesn’t.Wehaven’tgottenintoittothatdegree,becauseofthecost.WewouldjusttakeoursamplesintoUCLAandcontractwiththemtomakecertainspecialtests.Itmakessense.Theycanstayupwiththestate-of-the-art,whereasaprivatefirmcouldnotaffordtochangethefacilityasimprovementscomealong.

Eventheshakingtableisnowafunctionofthecomputer,whichissetuptohavetwo-dimensionalmotion,twohorizontalaxes,ascontrolledbythecomputerprogram.Someofthemevenincludethethirdcomponent,the


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verticalshaking.Thesemotionsofthetableareallcontrolledbycomputerprogrammingnow.Youcanduplicateanearthquake—anyspecificrecordedearthquakemotion—intheshakingprogramandplayitbackonthetable.

Thathasbeenareallybigadvantageinhelpingunderstandthedynamicpropertiesofsoils.Sinceallbuildingsaresupportedonfounda-tions,understandingwhathappenstothesoilsortheunderlyingmaterialgivestheinputthataffectsthebuildingitself.Alotofpeoplehaveforgottenthattheeffectofanearthquakeactu-allycomesfromthegroundintothebuilding.

Scott: Doengineersstillneedrealearth-quakestoprovidethemwith“testresults”?

Crandall: Yes.Anearthquakeisareal,full-scaletestofabuilding,andunfortunately,westillneedthattypeoftesttoverifyandadvanceourfield.Shakingtablestestmodels.Eventhebiggestshakingtablescannottakeabig,full-sizedbuilding.Therearethingsthatgooninarealbuildingthatyoucannotreproduceinamodel.Forexample,theinteriorpartitions,thewalls,thefloors,thestairways,andthingsthatmakeitverycomplexintryingtomakeacal-culation.Thenthere’sthebehaviorofthesoilthatwehavediscussed.Theactualmeasure-mentthroughstrongmotioninstrumentationletsyouhaveagoodfeelfortheeffectofthesenonstructuralelements.

Measuring Shear Wave VelocityCrandall: OneofthethingsIshouldtalkaboutisearlystudiesofshearwavevelocity.Itisoneofthesimplestparametersinsoildynamics,butanimportantone.Enoughstud-

ieshavebeenmadeinearthquakeengineeringtoknowthatthebehaviorofaparticularsiteisafunctionoftheshearwavevelocityofthatmaterial,thedensityofthematerial,thedepthofbedrock,thevariationofthesoillayersbe-neaththesite,andsuchthingsasthedistancetothefocusofanearthquake.Also,ofcourse,themagnitudeoftheenergygeneratedinthewavesarrivingatthesiteisimportant.

Initially,shearwavevelocitywasestimatedfromlaboratorytestdata,butwesoonrealizedthatwasaverycrudeprocedure,andsowestartedmeasuringsitevibrationcharacteristicswithgeophones.Initially,thiswasdoneonthesurface,measuringthetimerequiredforanimpactatasourcetoreachaseriesofinstru-mentsthatwoulddetectthemotion.

Scott: Usingsensitivelisteninginstruments?

Crandall: Yes.Theywouldpickupthevibration,andthetimecouldbemeasuredtoafractionofasecond.

Scott: Howdidyouproducethevibration?

Crandall: Withasledgehammer.Youhitaplankthatwasweighteddownbythewheelsofatruck,sotheplankwasinintimatecon-tactwiththegroundandthevibrationfromthesledgehammerhittingwentonintotheground.Thetimethatthesledgehittheplankwastimezero.Thevariouswavestraveledthroughthegroundtothestringofgeophonesthatweresetoutatvaryingdistancesfromtheimpactsource.

Thegeophonesrecordedwithaprecisionthatwouldpermitustodeterminetoathousandthofasecond—amillisecond—thearrivaltimesatthevariousgeophones.Fromthat,wedeter-

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minedthevelocity,becauseweknewtheonlyothervariable,thedistance.BoththePwaveandtheSwavevelocitiesweremeasured.Thiswaslaterimprovedbymakingadownholemeasurement,inwhichthegeophonewasloweredintoaboringatdepth,andthesledge-hammerwasstruckonthesurface.

Scott: Howdeepwasthegeophoneplaced?

Crandall: Thegeophonewasloweredtovaryingdepths.Someoftheboringswouldbe200feetdeep.Youwouldstartbyputtingthereceiverdownatthebottomofthehole,hittheplankatthetop,andmeasurethetimeforthatgeophonetoreceivethatwave.Thenyouwouldraisethatgeophonetosay150feetdepth,anddoitagain.You’dkeepdoingthatsuccessivelyasyouwithdrewthegeophonefromthehole,get-tingatime-of-traveldeterminationfromwhichyoucoulddetermineboththecompressionwave(orPwave)andtheshearwave(orSwave),astheywerecalled.Knowingthat,youhadinfor-mationthatcouldbeusedtodeterminewhattheeffectsofadistantearthquakewouldbeonthatsite,intermsofthatvelocitymeasurement.

Itwasbackabout1965thatMartinDukeofUCLAworkedonthisgeophysicalprocedure.HegotitfromtheJapanese,andbroughtittotheUnitedStates.Hehadhisstudentswork-ingonit.CrandallandAssociatesprovidedtheboringsandtheothermaterial,andMartinhadtheexpertiseandcrewtodothetechnicalwork.

Scott: Weretheseexperimentsdoneonactualcommercialjobs?

Crandall: Yes.ThefirstoneIrememberwastheMusicCenterfortheCityofLosAngeles.TheMusicCenterwaslocatedonwhatwe

looselyrefertoas“rock”inLosAngelesthesiltstoneformationorshale,asit’sgenerallycalled,oftheBunkerHillareaofdowntownLosAngeles.ThoseexperimentswerethefirstobservationsthatIrecallbeingmadeusingthatprocedurewiththegeophonesandpound-ingontheplankwithasledgehammer.

Wecollectedthedata,knewtheshearwavevelocity,andmadesomefeebleattemptstopredicthowmuchthegroundmotionmightbe.Thefirstthingwedidwasdeterminethenaturalperiodoftheground.Thatiswhatwewereoriginallylookingfor.Theperiodofthegroundcouldthenberelatedtotheperiodofthestructure.

Thestructuralengineerswerenowcapableofdeterminingtheperiodofastructureratherprecisely,ratherthanusingthearbitraryformulasemployedbefore,whentheyjustestimateditfromthenumberofstoriesofthebuilding.We,geotechnicalengineers,werethenabletoprovidewhatwefeltwasgoodinformationofthenaturalfrequencyofthesoil.Thiswasoneoftheearlyfactorsrequiredinthedynamicanalysisofastructure.

Response Spectrum

Crandall: Computerdevelopmentspermit-tedgeotechnicalconsultantstocalculatetheearthquakespectrum,whichcombinesinfor-mationongroundshakingseverityascom-paredtoitsfrequency.Theresponsespectrumplotsthemaximumresponseofavarietyofdifferentstructures,eachofwhichhasitsownperiodofvibration.


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Sotheprocessusedthenwastoestimatehowbigtheearthquakemightbe,figureitsdistancefromthesite,andusethatinformationtogetherwiththeknowncharacteristicsoftheshearwavevelocityofthesite,thedepthtobedrockbeneaththesite,andthetypeofmaterial,andprepareaverysimpleresponsespectrumforthatparticularsite.Withthatinformation,thestructuralengi-neer,knowingtheperiodofhisorherbuilding,wouldhaveanestimateofwhatthepredominantperiodofthegroundmotionwouldbe,andtheacceleration,thevelocity,andthedisplacementofthegroundforagivenearthquake.

Thestructuralengineerscouldthenusethisintheircomputerprograms.Again,Igivemuchcredittothecomputer.Thestructuralengineerwasabletousetheresponsespectruminstudiesoftheeffectofthegroundmotiononaparticularbuilding.Sincethosedays,theprocesshasbeenrefinedconsiderably,butessentiallyit’sthesameinformationthatisdeterminedandprepared.

Defining the Design EarthquakeCrandall: Inadditiontothepropertiesofthesite,theotherkeyfactorwasthechoiceoftheearthquake.Therearevariouspossibilities,ofcourse.Actually,thepossibilitiesarevirtu-allyinnumerable.Nobodyknowsexactlywhatearthquakewilloccuronagivenfault.

Scott: Isthatwhensuchconceptsas“maxi-mumcredible”and“maximumprobable”camein?

Crandall: That’swhereallofthatterminol-ogybegantoenterthepicture.It’swellenoughtobeabletosaythatthegroundmotionwill

besomuch,andofsuchacharacterifthisearthquakeoccurs.Butthensomebodysays,“What’sreallylikelytooccur?Wewanttode-signthisbuildingforwhatmayactuallyoccur.”

Theearthquakeengineeringfraternity—whichconsistsofmorethanjuststructuralengineersandincludestheseismologists,geologists,engineeringgeologists,geotechnicalengi-neers—neededtocomeupwithaseriesofde-terminantsastowhatenergymightbereleasedinearthquakesonagivenfault.

Thisiswhere“maximumprobable,”“maximumcredible,”andeventhe“ultimatepossible,”and“maximumpossible”terminologycameup.Thefirsteffortcameupwiththe“maximumpossible”earthquakeactivity—itwasalmostaninfinite-magnitudesortofthing.Youhadnolimitation,really,sothatwasratherquicklydropped.

Scott: Youwouldn’tusethatconcept,unlesspossiblywithanuclearreactor.

Crandall: Right.They,ofcourse,werebeingdesignedforahigherdegreeofuncertaintythanthestructuralengineersofbuildingswerede-signingfor.Butforbuildingdesign,itwasfinallydecidedthatthe“maximumprobable”andthe“maximumcredible”weretwolevelsofpotentialactivitythatshouldbeconsidered.Asaresult,thegeotechnicalengineertypicallyignoresthe“maximumpossible,”anddevelopsgroundmotioncharacteristicsforvariousfaultsforthe“maximumprobableearthquake,”whichgivesalowernumberthanthe“maximumcredible.”

IntheLosAngelesarea,forexample,wealwaysconsidertheSanAndreasactivityonagivensitewithin,saytypically,fortymilesfromthefault.Sothebehavioratthatdistance

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ismuchdifferentthanifyou’reclosetothatfault.TheNewport-Inglewoodfault,whichisdirectlybelowalargepartofLosAngeles,istheotherfaultconsidered.Thendependingonthespecificlocationunderstudy,theSantaMonica-Hollywoodfaultorotherfaultsinthevicinityarealsoconsidered,andthegroundmotionduetothosefaultspredicted.11

Scott: Theyconsiderthesetwobigones,SanAndreasandNewport-Inglewood,andthentheotherswouldbeofmorelocalizedconcern?

Crandall: That’sright.LikeinPasadena,theRaymondfaultisusuallyconsidered.InCulverCity,theOverlandfaultisone.Soyouevaluatethegeologiccharacteristicsofagivenarea,anddecidewhichfaultsmighthaveaneffectonyoursite.Youthenattempttodeterminethegroundmotionunderthepossibleeventthatyouexpect—eitherthemaximumprobableorthemaximumcredible.Thosenumbershavebeenprettymuchdevelopedbyseismologistsnowasafunctionofthelengthoffault.

GeorgeHousnerhadmuchtodowiththatdetermination,inwhichthemagnitudeortheenergyreleasedonagivenfaultisrelatedtotheprobablelengthofrupture.Thelongerthe

11. EarthquakesthatoccurredlaterthanthedateofthisinterviewwithCrandall,suchasthe1994Northridge,Californiaearthquake,weretoalsobringattentiontothehazardsofblindthrustfaultsintheLosAngelesregion.UnlikefaultssuchastheSanAndreasorNewport-Inglewood,whichprovidegeologistswithevidenceatthegroundsurfaceoftheirpastdisplacement,“blind”orburiedfaultsthatdonotextendtothesurfacearenowknowntobeasignificanthazardintheLosAngelesregion.

rupture,ofcourse,thenthegreaterthetotalamountofenergy.

Scott: YousayGeorgeHousnerwasonekeypersoninthis?

Crandall: Yes.AsIremember,GeorgeHousnercameupwiththefirstrelationshipoflengthoffaulttothepotentialmagnitudeofanearthquakeonthatfault.Thingsareprettymuchinthatstateoftheartatthepresenttime,althoughwearerefiningmatters.Nowwe’reconsideringthedepthofthefocusofanearthquakeasimportant,withashallowquakeproducingacertainkindofgroundmotionthatisdifferentthanthatofanearthquakeatgreaterdepth,andthenitalsomatterswhetherit’sathrustfaultorastrike-slipfault.Thosearerefinementsthatarebeinggivenconsider-ationatthepresenttime.

Ifeelthatthestateoftheartnowissuchthatwehaveagooddegreeofconfidenceinthedatawe’redevelopingandarepresentingtothedesignprofession,namelythestructuralengineerandthecivilengineer,foruseinthedeterminingwhattheeffectsofthegroundmotionwillbeonaparticularstructure.Again,Idon’twanttosaythistoomanytimes,butthishasbecomepossibleonlybecauseoftheuseofcomputersinthedeterminationoftheseverycomplexfactors.

Scott: Iguessthedevelopmentisstillgoingon,althoughinsomewaysitmayhavemoreorlessreachedaplateau.

Crandall: Yes,Ithinkit’sflatteningout.Nowwehavetheabilitytomaketheseanalyses.It’sjustaquestionofobtainingtheinputdata,refiningthedata,andimprovingthedetermi-


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nationofthesevariousfactorsplus,particu-larly,ourunderstandingofthetotalamountofenergyreleased.

Next Breakthrough: Total Energy, Number of CyclesCrandall: Onethingnotyetroutinelyandexplicitlyconsideredasapartofseismicdesignisthedurationoftheshaking.Thathasalwaysstruckmeasvery,veryimportantandfundamental.Theinitialeffortsconcentratedonacceleration,andwe’vetalkedaboutpeakacceleration.Theresponsespectrumgivesyouonepeakvalueforastructureofagivenpe-riod.Butit’sawellknownfactthatoneortwocyclesof,say,50percentgacceleration,arenotgoingtocauseseriousproblemsinawell-constructedbuilding.Butifthat50percentgkeepsupforfive,ten,ortwentycycles,thenithasatremendouseffectonthebuilding.Itisaquestionofthetotalenergy,ratherthanasingleshock.It’srecognizedthatdurationisimportant,buttomyknowledgetherehasnotyetbeenanyspecificwayofincludingthedurationeffect,otherthanasajudgmentintheanalysisanddesignofstructures.

Ihavelongmaintainedthatwhatreallycountsisthetotalenergyimpartedtoabuilding,althoughthatisnoteasytofigure.Itisnotjustthesinglemaximumaccelerationeffect,butalsoinvolvesthedurationoftheaccelerations.Thisisrecognizedbyalmosteverybody,butisnotaneasythingtodealwith.Tomyknowledge,theengineershaveyettosucceedinthinkingofanearthquake’seffectintermsoftotalenergyreleaseanditsimpactonabuilding.

Wemeasureearthquakesthatway,ofcourse—theRichterscaleforexampleisreallyamea-sureoftheenergyreleaseofearthquakes.TheRichtermagnitudeisonalogarithmicscaleoften.Youalwaysreadthatinthenewspapers,butthefactoroftenappliestotheamplitudeofmotionasmeasuredonaseismograph.Thereisafactoroftenbetweentheamplitudeofamagnitude5andamagnitude6earthquake,asitreadsoutonaparticularkindofseismo-graph,withacorrectionforthedistanceoftheseismographfromtheearthquakeepicenter.

Intermsoftotalenergyreleased,however,theratiobetweenamagnitude5anda6ismorelikethirty-twotimes.Soamagnitude6involvesthirty-twotimestheenergythatamagnitude5has,andamagnitude7involvesroughly1,000timestheenergyofamagnitude5(322equalsalittleoverathousand).Thetotalenergyre-leasedgoesupveryfastasyougoupthemagni-tudescale.Andthatisrelatedtotheeffectonabuilding,aswellastheareaaffectedbyshaking.

MyfeelingisthatthenextbreakthroughwillbeinthemannerofconsideringwhatIwillcalltotalenergy.Thatis,thenumberofcyclesofagivenlevelofshaking,andhowtheyaffectthebuilding.Weknowverywellthatafterafewcycles,theperiodofabuildingchanges.And,ofcourse,thestrengthoftheconnectionsandsoonareaffected.Ithinkwhatthatdoestothebuild-ingisveryimportant,butatthemoment,atleasttomyknowledge,itcannotbeadequatelyandthoroughlyconsideredinthedesignprocedure.

Scott: Thatseemslikeaveryimportantpoint.Isn’tthatoneofthebigunknownsaboutpredictingfutureearthquakes—anticipatinghowlongtheywilllast?

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Crandall: Weknowempirically,basedonpastearthquakes,thatalow-magnitudeearth-quakeisgoingtoshakeforanestimatedlengthoftime.That’saboutasgoodaswehavedoneuptothepresenttime.Butthathasnotyetbeenworkedintothedesignanalysis.

Structuralengineershaveuseddifferentfac-tors,basedontheresponsespectraandthegroundmotioninterpretation.Ithinkthenextstepinengineeringanalysisofbuildingswillbethemethodsofincludingtheenergyconsid-eration,thenumberofcyclesofshakingofagivenlevel.

Scott: Whatwillittake?Moreactualob-servationsinearthquakesmadewithstrongmotioninstrumentsandotherkindsofinstru-ments?Shakingtableexperiments?Theoreti-calcomputations?

Crandall: Thoseareallimportant,andtheywillgiveabetterunderstandingofhowthisthinghappens.Ithink,however,that(hopeful-ly)computerprogramminginthenearfuturewillbecapableofanalyzingabuildingwithanassumednumberofcyclesofshaking.

Scott: Inotherwords,thedesignerswillsuc-cessivelypluginabunchofdifferentassumedearthquakes,andseewhathappens?

Crandall: Yes,that’sthebasicidea.

Lifeline Earthquake Engineering and TCLEECrandall: We’vetalkedaboutbuildingsandseismicdesign,butdams,bridges,powerplants,storagetanks,andothercivilengineer-ingworksarealsoimportant.AtthispointI

mightdiscussanotherelementofearthquakeengineeringthatIhadahandin,andthatwastheTechnicalCouncilonLifelineEarthquakeEngineering,TCLEE,whichisacounciloftheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers.

Scott: IrememberMartinDukeusingthatacronymatEERIconferences.AtfirstIdidn’tknowwhatitwasallabout.

Crandall: Martinisverycentraltothestory.ThewholethingstartedonaplaneridefromSacramentotoLosAngeles.Wewerereturn-ingfromaStrongMotionInstrumentationAdvisoryCommitteemeeting.MartinDukeandIwereseatmatesontheplanegoingbacktoLosAngeles.Heisnowdeparted,havingpassedawayin19��,andwemisshimgreatly.IwasontheboardofdirectionofASCEatthetime.Martinwastalkingaboutalltheseismiceffortputonbuildings,andyetthereweremanyotherimportantstructuresthatshouldbethoughtabout,namelydams,bridges,highways,communicationssystems,andsoon.ThesewereallmattersofthesortthatMar-tinlumpedundertheterm“lifelines.”Idon’tknowifheoriginatedthenameorgotitfromsomewhereelse,butIfirstheardofitthroughMartin.I’llgivehimthecreditforbeingthefirsttoatleastapplythatnameinourearth-quakeengineeringfield.

Scott: Itisalmostuniversallyusednow.

Crandall: Yes.Idon’tknowwhattheexactoriginis,butcertainlyMartinmadeitpopular.Anyway,wegottotalkingaboutthematterontheplanetrip,andMartinsaidhefelttherewasabigneedforinformationonthesecivilengineeringworksthataffectthesafetyandservicesofthepublic.Wetalkedforawhile,


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andthenthethoughtcametome,asMartinexpoundedonhisthinking,thatthecivilen-gineerswhodesignandoperatethesefacilitiesshouldbeconcernedwiththis.

ItoccurredtomethattheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineerswouldbealogicalplacetodevelopanorganizationwiththissubjectasitsprincipaltopicforconsideration.Martinthoughtthatwasanexcellentidea.HewasalsoactiveinASCE.MartinandItalkedaboutitandcametothejointconclusionthatitwouldbedesirabletosetupacommitteetoexplorethepossibilityofhavingadivisionofASCEtoconsiderlifelineproblemsinearthquakeengi-neering.Theideasjelled,andIpresentedtheconcepttoameetingoftheboardofdirectionheadingupASCE.Theproceduresetupforstartingnewactivitieswas,firsttohaveacom-mitteetostudythematter,seewhatitsscopewas,andestimatetheinterestofthesocietymembers.Iobtainedthego-aheadfromthenationalboardforthat.

Sowesetupastudygroup.MartinDuke,ifmymemoryiscorrect,wasaskedtoserveaschairman,andIwastheboardofdirectionmemberappointedtobetheliaisonbetweenthenewcommitteeandthenationalboardofdirectionofASCE.

Wehand-selectedanumberofpeoplewefelthadaninterest.Thesewerepeoplefromthepublicutilities—forexample,theEdisonCompanyofSouthernCaliforniaandtheLosAngelesDepartmentofWaterandPower.Well,thecommitteemetseveraltimesanddecidedthattherecertainlywasaneedforthis,especiallyamongcivilengineers.Asurveywasmadeofthesocietymemberstoseewhattheir

interestwas.Theresponsewasverygratifying.Thenextstep,then,afterthecommitteerec-ommendedthatASCEtakeactioninthisfield,wastoestablishatechnicalcouncil.

ItwascalledtheTechnicalCouncilonLifelineEarthquakeEngineering,TCLEE.Theformatofthisgroupwasset,andIwasprivilegedtobetheonetointroducethemotionandresolutiontotheASCEboardtogoaheadandestablishthecouncil.

Scott: Roughlywhenwasthetechnicalcoun-cilestablished?

Crandall: Itwasin1974,aftertheSanFer-nandoearthquake.MartinwasEERIPresidentfrom1970to1973andwasveryinvolvedinallthestudieslaunchedafterthatearthquake,includinghisinterestinlifelines.Atfirst,TCLEEwasundertheumbrellaofoneoftheASCEtechnicaldivisions.Later,becauseofthenumberofmembersinterested,itbecameafullformaltechnicalcouncil.Ithasbeenoperatingatthatleveleversince.Ithasitsownpubli-cation,andeveryyearortwoholdsitsownmeetingsinconjunctionwithnationalASCEconventions.TCLEEsponsorspartoftheconventionprogram.Verygoodworkhasbeendoneanddisseminatedbythatorganization.

MartinDukewastheparentofTCLEE—itwashisbasicidea.IparticipatedinthesensethatIcameupwiththeapproachofdoingitthroughASCE,andduetomybeingontheboardasanationaldirector,wasabletointro-duceitandbringthistoanearlyestablishment.

Scott: Lookingback,hasTCLEEaccom-plishedmostof,orevenmorethan,whatyoutwohadinmindwhenyoufirstdiscussedit?

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Crandall: Ithinkithasgrownwellbeyondanythingwethoughtpossible.Injustonefield,pipelines,andhowtodesignapipelinecrossingafault,forexample,therehavebeennumerousstudies,andNSFgrantstoresearchinstitutionsforevaluatingthevariousfactors.Shakingisnormallyofnoconsequencetopipelines,be-causethepipelineismovingwiththeground,andthedistanceoverwhichtheshakingtakesplaceislongenoughtoallowapipetobendandaccommodateanydifferentialsoilmotion.Thewavelengthofmostoftheearthquakewavesishundredsoffeet.Sofromonepointwherethegroundmotionisgoingonewaytothenextpointwhereitisgoingtheoppositeway,thereisusuallyasufficientdistancethatithasnoeffectonaburiedstructure.Thediffer-enceinthewaythesoilismovingisspreadoutoveralongdistanceofapipeline,forexample.

But,ofcourse,ifthereisasharpbreakintheground,thatisanotherstory.TheBayAreaRapidTransit(BART)tube,forex-ample,hasacomfortzonebuiltintoitsothatadisplacementofseveralfeetwherethefaultcrossesthelinecanbeabsorbedinthetunnel.Inotherwords,akindofajointwasbuiltatthatpoint.

WehavedonethesamethingonamajorsewerprojectinLosAngelesthathadtocrosstheNewport-Inglewoodfault,theNorthOutfallReplacementSewer(NORS)project.Wecon-sultedwithClarenceAllenabouttheamountofdisplacementthatonemightexpectintheeventofaruptureoftheNewport-Inglewoodfaultatthelocationofoursewerline.IfIre-membercorrectly,togetherClarenceAllenandwedecidedthatthreefeetofpossiblelateral

movement,andofcoursesomeupwardmove-ment,couldoccurthere.

Sowebuiltasoftzone,likeapipewithinapipe,acrossthatfault.Theouterpipeisexpendable.Theinneroneissupportedfreeandclearwithasufficientdistanceoneachsidesothatifthegroundmovedthesewerline,al-thoughitwouldstillhavetobend,wouldbendtoaccommodateafewfeetofbendingoveralengthof100feet,say.Theoutershellwouldbreak,becauseitwasatunnelthroughthesoilandwouldbeshearedoverashortlengthwhereitcrossedthefault.Theinnerpipelinecouldabsorbthedistortionoveralongdistance.

Youcannotdomuchforatrenchedpipelineincitystreetswherethereisgoingtobeliquefac-tion,withveryabruptchangeswherethepipegoesfromsolidgroundintosoftground.Thejointsofthoseoldpipelinesareverybrittle,soitwouldnottakeverymuchtodamageaburiedpipeundersuchconditionsofdiscon-tinuity.Ifthereisnosoildiscontinuity,thentheyarealmostinvulnerabletosuchproblems,inmyopinion,becausetheymovewiththesurroundingsoil.

Highwaysandbridgesareimportantlifelinesalso.WhathappenedtotheCypressViaductinOaklandintheLomaPrietaearthquakewasduetoamplifiedgroundmotion,primarilybe-causethestructurewasofanearlydesignthatitisnowrecognizedasincapableofresistingthiskindofshaking.Butthatdoesnotmeanthatallfreewaydesigns,especiallytheneweronesandthosebuiltfromthistimeon,aregoingtohavethesameexperience.Asimplebridgestructureisthesimplestthingthereistodesign.Youknowtheloadsbeautifully,thegeometryis


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elemental,supportedonacoupleofcolumnsateachend.Asfarasdesigngoes,itismuchlesscomplexthanamultistorybuilding.Wearecertainlyabletodesignandbuildthatkindofbridgestructure,whetheronedeckortwo,withanydegreeofsafetythatiswanted.

Scott: Sobanningtwo-levelstructuresislearningthewronglesson?Thereallessonistodoabetterjobofdesigningtwo-levelstruc-tures,nottoavoidthementirely.

Crandall: Yes.

Parkfield ExperimentCrandall: OneexampleistheexperimentalpipelineinstalledintheParkfield,CaliforniaareaalongtheSanAndreasfault,halfwaybetweenLosAngelesandSanFrancisco.Thepipelinecrossesthefaultandisinstrumented,awaitingthepredictedearthquakeinthePark-fieldarea.

Ishouldmentionthattheprincipalgeotechni-calengineeringfirmsinCalifornia—andIwaschairmanofthecommittee—havegottentogetherandmadeinstrumentalreadingsintheParkfieldareaataplacecalledTurkeyFlat.Explorationboringsweredrilledalongthissite.Variousfirmsparticipatedinthatundertheaus-picesofSMIP,theStrongMotionInstrumenta-tionProgramofthestateofCalifornia,andtheCaliforniaDivisionofMinesandGeology.

Wegottogether,andbasedonthedatapro-vided,eachfirmpredictedwhatthegroundmotionwouldbeatvariouspointsadjacentto

thefault.SMIPhasestablishedinstrumentsatthosepoints.Theideabehindthiswastohaveafull-scaletestofhowaccurateweareinourpredictions.

Scott: IfandwhenthepredictedParkfieldearthquakedoeshappen,you’rereadyforitwiththosevariousguesstimatesandpredictions.

Crandall: That’stheidea.Thesewerepre-dictedinadvanceandsubmitted,sonobodycansay,“Ididn’treallymeanthat.”Whenthatearthquakehappens,we’llseewhatproce-duresarebest,whatworkedthebest,andwhichfirmsaredoingajobthatgivesthebestanswers.Thisisaveryimportantstep,becauseyoudoallthesethingswiththecomputer—youdocalculationsbasedonmeasurementsandyouextrapolate.Hereisacasewherewewillgetwhatwethinkwillbeaboutamagni-tude5.5or6,somethinglikethat,inthenearfuture.Theinstrumentationisinplace.Thepredictionshavebeenmade.12

12. OnSeptember2�,2004,amagnitude6earthquakeoccurredontheParkfieldsegmentoftheSanAndreasfault.SeeReal,C.R.,Shakal,A.F.,andTucker,B.E.,“TurkeyFlat,U.S.A.SiteEffectsTestArea:AnatomyofaBlindGround-MotionPredictionTest,”ThirdInternationalSymposiumontheEffectsofSurfaceGeologyonSeismicMotion,Grenoble,France,2006.Inthiscontext,“blind”referstothefactthatthepeoplemakingpredictionsofthestronggroundmotioncouldnotseeanydatafromit,sincetheymadetheirpredictionsinadvanceoftheoccurrenceoftheearthquake.

Chapter 9

Contributions of an Older Generation

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When something goes wrong, the owner gets

the lawyers to put the noose around anyone

they can find, and with the developer long gone,

often the soil engineer is who they find. We’re in

a terrible business from that standpoint.

Clarence Derrick: A Unique Engineer

Crandall: I’dliketosayafewwordsaboutClarenceDerrick,whowasaverytalentedstructuralengineeroftheoldschoolhereinLosAngeles.Hewaskindofamentorofmine,andtookaninterestinmycareer.Hewasveryhelpfulingivingadvice,forwhichhewasquitefamous.Clarencewouldgiveadviceonalmostanything,whetheryouwanteditornot.

Irecallwithgreatpleasurehavingtheprivilegeofknow-ingClarenceDerrick.ClarencepracticedinLosAngelesandwasagraduateofNotreDame.Hewasauniqueengineerinthathehadaverybroadbackground,includ-ingliteratureandthearts.Hewasnotanartisthimself,buthewasfamiliarwiththem.Itmusthavebeendueto


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theeducationhereceivedatNotreDame.HemusthavegraduatedfromNotreDameaboutthetimeofWorldWarI.

Hewasextremelyliterate,andhefelttherewasnoschoollikeNotreDame.ClarencewasanIrishman.HewasveryculturedandwouldquotefromtheBibleandfromliterature.Hewasaveryarticulate,veryimpressiveguy.Hecouldalsogetdownonthefloorandshootcrapswithyou.Clarencecouldcharmyouveryreadily,buthewasalsoamanofsubstance,particularlyinengineering.

WhenIstartedmyownbusiness,Clarenceusedtosay,“Dothejob,don’tworryaboutthemoney,ifyoujustdothingsright,themoneywillcome.Butifyoujustsetyourgoalformakingmoney,youhavethewrongsightsandyouveryprobablywillbeafailure.”

Scott: Youthinkthatwasverygoodadvice?

Crandall: Iknowitwas.Ialreadyfeltthatwayanyway,buthereinforcedmythinking.Inmypracticewehavealwaysignoredthecontractamountanddonethejobthewaywethoughtitneededtobedone,andthewaytheclientexpectedusto.Ifwemadesomemoneyonit,thatwasfine,andifwelost,wellthatwasn’tfine,butweacceptedit.

Weneverevershortchangedajobbecausewehadmadeapoorcostestimateoriginally.Ican’tthinkofanycasewherewedidnotdeliverwhatwethoughtthejobneeded.Nowsometimesyouestimateajobtobeginwith,andmanyclientswantaflatfee.Butyougetoutthereandstartdrilling,andyouhitsomethingunexpected.Whatdoyoudo?Oftentimestheclientwouldbeunderstand-

ing,andwerewillingtoacceptanincreaseinfee.Butmanytimestheykindoffeltmaybeitwasourownfault,thatwehadnotresearchedthejobenough,orforwhatevercause.Anyway,Clarencewasagreatphi-losopher,andthatwasoneofthethingsheimpresseduponme.

Clarencehadknowledgeaboutalmostevery-thing,andwasatremendousengineerwhocutthroughalotofthemysteryofearlyseismicdesign.Hewroteacoupleofbooksthatwerenotwidelycirculated,butwereusedinacoursehetaughtattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia(USC),whichmusthavebeeninthelate1940sandearly1950s.Heusedaverysimplifiedprocedurefordescribingearth-quakemotioninthegroundandastransferredtoabuilding.

IalsowanttodiscussClarence’sresearchinterestinearthquakeeffects.Atthattimetheydesignedprettymuchbythecode,typicallywithanequivalentstaticlateralforcebasedon10per-centg,or20percentgifyoufeltyouhadareallycriticalbuilding.Therewasn’tmuchunderstand-ingofwhatwasactuallyhappening.Clarence,inhisownbasementlaboratoryathome,didsomeoutstandingmeasurementsofbuildingbehaviorusingmodels.Hedevelopedasmall,one-directionalshakingtable.Oneofhismodelswasafour-storyframemadeofaluminum,scaledataboutteninchesperfloor,aboutfortyincheshighinall,andperhapseightinchesinwidth.Anothermodelwasjustatwo-dimensionalframe.Hehadtwosteelstrips,maybethreefeethigh,andaninchwideandasixteenthofaninchthick.Thenhehadfloorsconnectedacrossatap-propriatelevels,sothemodelwasdividedupintomaybesixlevels.Thewholethingwassomething

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Chapter 9LeRoy Crandall • Contributions of an Older Generation

liketeninchesinwidth,andsomethirtyincheshigh.Withsixlevels,thatwouldmakeitfiveinchesbetweeneachlevel.

Theframewasmountedonaplatformthathecouldshakebackandforthwithasynchronousmotion.Theframewouldswayashemadethesemotions.Engineersusuallythoughtthebuildinghadjustonemodeshape—itbentover,anditbentback,itbentover,anditbentback.Clarencesaid,“No,thatisn’tright.Thereareotherwigglesthatcomeintoit.”Thatdependedonthedegreeofshakingandthecharacterofwhathehadbuilt.Hehaditsohecouldclipadditionalweighttoeachfloor,andmakechangesthatway,torepresentaheavierstructure,comparedtoalighterone.

Hewouldsubjectthemodeltoashakingmove-mentatthebase.Thiswasbeforewehadhigh-speedcameras,orhadreadyaccesstothem.Hewantedtoseehowthemodeldeformedatvariousintervals,insplitsecondsoftiming.Hesetuphisstillcamerawithaswitch.Theswitchwasactivatedbyaweightthatdroppedinaglasstube.YouknowfromNewton’slawshowlongittakestodropsaytwoinches,fiveinches,teninches,ortwentyinches.Derrickcameupwithatimingmechanismthatwasincredible.Theguywasagunenthusiast—ofthemuzzle-loadertype.Sohetookaleadbullet,andmountedayardstickverticallyalongsidetheshakingtable.Thebullethadasteeljacketonit,andamagnethelditupsaythreefeetabovethetable.Thebulletwasinaglasscylinder,andwouldfallwhenhereleasedthemagnet.

Atacertaindistancedowntheyardstickscale,saymaybeattheten-inchpoint,hewouldhaveawirethathecouldinsertintothecylinder,so

whenthebulletfellandhitthewire,theflashcamerawentoffandtookapictureatthatpre-cisemoment.Hedidaseriesofpictureslikethat.Hesetthebullet,droppeditsayfiveinch-es,tookapicture,thendroppeditteninches,tookanotherpicture,andcontinuedlikethatwithaveryaccuratetimingmechanismthatwassosimpleitwasincredible.

Scott: Itwouldtakeonepictureeachtimehedroppedthebullet?

Crandall: Yes.Thenhewouldadvancethefilm,gettheshakinggoing,anddoitagain.Hecameupwithaseriesofphotographsthatshowedthedeformation,theS-typewave.HeimpressedandamazedengineerslikeSteveBarnes,MurrayErick,whowasaliveatthetime,andOliverBowen.AlsoPaulJeffers,whowasasskepticalashellabouteverythingany-bodyelsedid.Clarenceusedthatshaketableandthephotographstotrainotherengineers,youngerpeople.Thiswasbeforewehadcom-puters,probablyin1948or1949.

Scott: Istheexperimentationwiththemodeldescribedinhiswriting?

Crandall: Yes.HewroteseveralthatIstillhave.Herearethetitles:Damage Potential of Earth Shocks (1954);Elements of Aseismic Design(1955);Aseismic Design by Distortion Analysis (1956and1957);Elements of Aseismic Design, Part II (1959).Theengineeringstu-dentsatUSCwereexposedtothosewritings.Whenyousawthesepicturesinsequenceandthedeformationoftheframeandhowitwasmoving,itreallygaveagraphicillustrationofwhathappenstoasimpleframebuildingdur-ingashakingperiod.


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Hedevelopedwhathecalledadistortionanalysissystem,basedonthatinformationandhissimplifiedgroundshaking.Itookhiscourseandreadpartsofhisbook,butithasbeenalongtime.Idon’twanttogointothistoofar,buthisgroundmotionwasinasemi-circle,ahalf-circle.Thenitwentinastraightlineforashortdistance,untilitturnedbackagain.Itwaskindoflikeanellipse.

Iguessithadcircularends,andwaslikecut-tingapieinhalfandseparatingthetwosemi-circularhalvesbymaybesixorseveninches.Thatwastheshapeofhisdescriptionofthepathofaparticleatthebaseofthebuilding.Itshowedthemovementthatwouldbetransmit-ted,andwasrathersimplysolvablemathemati-cally,whichwasthekeytothewholething,findingasimplebasisfordeterminingwhatistheeffectofthegroundmotion.

Derrickdeservesmorecreditthanhehasbeengiven.

Scott: Ihearyou.Youknow,fromJohnBlume,principally,andsomeotherswhoworkedwithhim,IhavegottenbackgroundonsomeoftheworkdoneupatStanford.Johnbuiltamodelofabuilding,theAlexanderBuilding,andatonepointheandafellowstudentdidapainstakinganalysis,usingMarchantcalculators,ofwhathap-pensinsuchabuildingunderearthquakeforces.

ThenfromGeorgeHousnerIgotbackgroundonsomeoftheactivitiesmainlycenteredaroundCaltech.ButnobodythatIrecallmentionedthisworkbyDerrick.IbelieveBillMooredidmentionDerrickassomebodyofconsequenceinearthquakeengineering.Butyouarereallythefirstpersonwhohastalkedmuchtomeaboutthenatureofhiswork.

Crandall: Derrickcameupwithformulasfortheeffectsofthevibration,theacceleration,andthevelocity,andcameupwithadisplacementformula.Hethentalkedwiththeheadofstruc-turalengineeringattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia,DavidWilson.Thatisanotherstory—IthinkDaveWilsonhadoneofthebig-gestimpactsoncivilandstructuralengineeringinsouthernCaliforniaatthattime,becauseofhisteachingabilityandtheinspirationhewasforhisstudentsatUSC.

Atanyrate,ClarenceDerrickgottogetherwithDaveWilson,whowassoentrancedbywhatClarencewasdoingthatheaskedhimtoteachthesubjectatUSC.SoasInotedearlier,ClarencetaughtatUSC.Foraboutthreeorfouryearshegaveacourseinaseismicdesign.Hewasasticklerforlanguage,andhesaiditshouldbe“aseismic,”not“seismic.”

Scott: Meaningnon-seismic.

Crandall: Non-seismic,yes.Hegotveryfewsupportersontheuseofthatterm,butstrictlyspeaking,Clarencewasright,youknow.Itisalittleliketheword“anti-seismic”thatStephenTobrinerusedwhenhegaveatalkforoneofourSeismicSafetyCommissionworkshops.

Anyway,ClarencetaughtatUSC.Itookoneoftheclasses,eventhoughIwasnotastructuralengineer,becauseithadsomuchinformationforasoils-typeperson.Hedidthatforafewyearsuntilhegotsometraineewhocarriedon,andhegaveuptheteachingbecausehehadotherinterests.

WhenIknewhim,Idonotrecallthatheeverdesignedabuildinghimselfasastructuralengineer.Hehaddonethatinthepast.Hewas

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Fritz Matthiesen and Strong Motion StudiesScott: You’vementionedFritzMatthiesentomeafewtimes.Sayafewwordsabouthim.AsIrecall,hewaswithUSGS.

Crandall: Yes.USGShadwhattheycalledtheearthquakegroup,andhewasinit.InitiallyitwasheadquarteredintheBayArea.Beforethat,hewasontheteachingstaffatUCLAwithMartinDuke.ThenheleftfortheCoastandGeodeticSurvey,andthenwentwiththeU.S.GeologicalSurveywhentheearthquakeprogramshiftedthere.FritzwasinchargeofalltheUSGSstrongmotionstations.Atthattime,USGSwaspracticallytheonlyonewhohadthemsetoutinfar-flungplacesinCalifornia,suchasintheElCentroareaintheImperialValley.

Fritzwasintheforefrontofgatheringthistypeofstrongmotionknowledge,andwasveryoutspokenandvehementaboutit.Fritzknewthatstrongmotiondatawereessentialtoun-derstandinganddesigningstructurestoresistearthquakes.Hehadsomeinterestingcharac-teristics.Onewas,heneverworeatietoanyoftheconferencesthatwewerealwaysgoingtointhosedays—meetingsoftheengineeringgroupsandEERIandthatsortofthing.Ire-calloneyearwhentheymadeaspecialsurprisepresentationtoFritz.Theycalledhimuptotheheadtableandpresentedhimwithatie,whichheonlyworethatoneevening.

Romeo R. Martel of CaltechScott: TakealookatthesecommentsbyBillMooreinhisEERIoralhistory.Hesaid“Martel’sworkonmomentdistributionand

inonsomeofthemajorstructuresinsouthernCalifornia,andIthinkheevenworkedontheLosAngelesCityHall,whichAlbertC.Martinwasinvolvedin.

Clarencewasindemandasareviewerandcon-sultantformanybuildings.IknowthedesignsofthecountybuildingsattheCivicCenterinLosAngeles,theHallofAdministrationandtheCountyCourtsbuilding,werereviewedandcritiquedbyClarenceforthearchitects.Bran-dowandJohnstonwasthestructuralengineerforthebuildings,butClarenceDerrickworkedwiththeminimprovingthedesignsandbring-ingintoactualpracticethetypeofthinghehadworkedupinhisstudies.RoyJohnstonknowsaboutDerrick.

Incidentally,ClarenceDerrickwasoneofthefoundersoftheStructuralEngineersAssocia-tionofSouthernCalifornia,oneofthe“dirtydozen”astheycalledthem.Theyweretheguyswhogottogetherandoriginatedthestructuralengineersassociation.ItbeganinsouthernCalifornia.13ThatallbeganwithClarence,PaulJeffers,SteveBarnes,guyslikethat.

13. TheStructuralEngineersAssociationofSouthernCalifornia(SEAOSC),wasestablishedin1929,followedbytheestablishmentofsimilarorganizationsinotherpartsofCalifornia:theStructuralEngineersAssociationofNorthernCalifornia(SEAONC),ofCentralCalifornia(SEAOCC),andofSanDiego(SEAOSD).ThechartermembersofSEAOSCwereRufusM.Beanfield,OliverG.Bowen,WendellButts,RalphA.DeLine,ClarenceJ.Derrick,MurrayErick,MarkFalk,PaulE.Jeffers,R.R.Martel,WilliamMellema,ClarenceE.Noerenberg,andBlaineNoice.See“History,”SEAOSCwebsite,http://www.seaosc.org/about_history.cfm.


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analysisshouldbementioned.”Doyouknowanythingaboutthat?

Crandall: IonlyoncehadthepleasureofhearingProfessorMartelspeakatameeting.Thenheleftthescene.HewasastructuralengineeringprofessoratCaltech,andtaughtbothBillMooreandTrentDames.

Scott: DoyourecallwhenyouheardMartel?

Crandall: Yes.IstartedwithDamesandMooreinDecember1941,andjoinedtheStructuralEngineersAssociationofSouthernCalifornia.Thecompanywasverysupportiveofmydoingthat.Theyencouragedmetobe-comeactiveinstructuralengineeringthroughSEAOSC,andincivilengineeringbymem-bershipinASCE.IwassecretaryoftheLosAngelessectionofASCEinabout1945.

TheLosAngeles,orsouthernCalifornia,sectionofthestatewideStructuralEngineersAssociationofCaliforniausedtomeetonceayearattheCaliforniaInstituteofTechnology,thenextyearatUCLA,andthenextyearatUSC.OntheyearswhenwemetatCaltech,Martelgavetheaddress.Ididnotknowhim,buthewasadistinguished-lookingguy,veryimpressive,withaboomingvoice,asIremem-ber.Notverymanypeoplewouldtakeissuewithhisthoughtsorexpressions,eveniftheydisagreedviolently,becausehewaskindofanoverwhelmingpersonality.

Scott: Hewasintimidating?

Crandall: Yes.Thatisonewordforit.Ithinkso.Ididnotseeanyonestandupanddisagreewithhim.Buthewasoneoftheprincipalsinearlyknowledgeofearthquakeandseismicconsiderationsforstructures.I

guessthosewhohadclassesfromhimkindofreveredtheguy.

Hardy Cross Crandall: YoumentionMoore’sreferencetomomentdistribution,whichheprobablylearnedasastudentofMartel’satCaltech.Thatbringsupthenameofanothergreatengineeringprofessor,HardyCross.14IremembertheHardyCrossmomentdistributionmethodthatIwastaughtwhileastudentatBerkeley.You’llrecallIgraduatedin1941,sothiswaswaybeforethemoderncomputersengineersnowuse.HardyCrosshaddevelopedanapproximatemethodthatmadeitpossibletosolvesomecomplexproblemswithsimplifyingassumptions.Sayyouhadallthesestructuralforcescominginonagirderandcolumn.Youputweightonacontinuousframing,frameswithrelativelyrigidcolumn-beamjoints,andthebendingmomentsflowallover.Whatisthedistributionofthemo-mentsandforces?Itwasaperplexingproblemtosolvewithaslideruleunlessyouhadanelegantconceptualapproach,whichCrossdeveloped.

Itwasaveryclevermethod.Ididn’tworkwithitthatmuch,sinceitwasmostlyforstructur-als.Itwasalsoapplicabletohydraulics,where

14. HardyCross(1885-1959),obtainedhismasterofcivilengineeringdegreeatHarvardin1911.AfterbeingaprofessoratBrownUniversityandbrieflyaconsultingengineer,hejoinedthefacultyoftheUniversityofIllinoisatUrbana-Champaignin1921,wherehedevelopedwhatbecameknownastheHardyCrossMomentDistributionMethod(“AnAnalysisofContinuousFramesbyDistributingFixed-EndMoments,”Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers,May,1930).

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youhadmultiplepipescomingtogetherandyouneededtofigurehowyoudistributedtheflowfromonepipetotheotherpipes.

Scott: Evidentlyitwasusedconsiderably,probablyfromtheearly1930suptowhenthecomputerscamein.

Crandall: Idon’tknowwhethersomethingelsereplaceditpriortotheageofthecom-puter,butitseemedtomethatitwastheonlywaystructuralengineerscouldgetareason-ableestimateofthedistributionofforcesinaframestructure.

Robert V. “Cap” LabarreScott: Whataboutthe[Cap]Labarreand[Fred]Converseconsultingfirm?

Crandall: InevergottomeetLabarre.HepassedonrightafterIcametoDamesandMoore.Heapparentlywasalegend.HisnamewasRobert,buteveryonecalledhim“Cap”Labarre.Heapparentlywasthefirstguytoac-tuallypracticesoilengineeringandfoundationengineeringinsouthernCalifornia.IthinkhecamefromLouisiana.

TheFieldActcamealong,andLabarregotin-volvedintheschoolprogram.Hesawanoppor-tunity,sayabout1935.Hewouldcomeupwithreportsforthefoundationdesign.Essentially,thereportconsistedoftheallowablebearingvalueforthesoilsupportingthefoundation.

Hediditbytheloadtestmethod.Thiswasanearlytechnique.Muchofthetimeyoutooka12"x12"-squarepost,setitonthegroundverticallyandstartedloadingit.Whenthepoststartedpunchingintheground,thatwasthe

ultimatebearingvalueofthatsoil.Youdividedthatbytwoorsomesuchsafetyfactornumber,andwroteareportsaying,“Thissoilisgoodfor1,250poundspersquarefoot,”orwhateveritwas.Thatwasthewaytheydiditoriginally.ThenIthinkLabarregotstartedwiththeexploratoryboringwork.BothTrentandBillworkedforhim,Ithink,whiletheywereinschool.Theygotinterestedinsoilengineeringandgotpart-timeorsummerjobswithCapLabarreandthengraduated.IthinkDamesworkedforLabarre,andBillMoorewenttoworkfortheCorpsofEngineers.ThenTrentstartedhisowncompany,andassoonashegotsomework,BilllefttheCorpsofEngineersanditbecameDamesandMoore.Ithinkthatwasin1938or1939.

Karl Terzaghi: Father of Soil MechanicsCrandall: IhavetodigresstodiscussKarlTerzaghibeforegoingontotalkaboutFredConverse,becauseFredgotinterestedinsoilengineeringandwentbacktoHarvardwhenKarlTerzaghi15—thefatherofsoilmechan-

15. KarlvonTerzaghi,(1883-1963)grewupinPragueandwenttocollegeattheTechnischeHochshcule(technicaluniversity)inGrasz,Austria,receivingadegreeinmechanicalengineering.Hisbook,Erdbaumechanik,orSoil MechanicsinEnglish,waspublishedin1925basedonresearchconductedasaprofessorinIstanbul.In1925hewashiredbyMIT,thenmovedbacktoAustria,thenimmigratedagaintotheUSAjustpriortotheoutbreakofWorldWarII,wherehewasonthefacultyofHarvardUniversitytillhisretirement.Healsoconsultedonanumberoflargedamsandotherprojects.


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ics—hadcometotheUnitedStates.Terzaghihadcomeupwithhistheoriesofconsolidationandotherthings,andwasreallythefirstonetoputsoilengineeringonascientificbasis.Uptothattime,ifanadjacentbuildingdidn’tfalldown,youdidwhattheydid,ormaybeyouaddedalittlegreatersoilpressure,untilsome-thinghappened,andthenyoubackedoff.

Terzaghihadcomeupwiththistheoryofconsolidationandsomesensibleapproachestosoilengineering.Hegavethesoilengineertheanalyticaltoolstounderstandhowsoilbehaved.

Hehadafewdisciples,oneofwhomwasnamedArthurCasagrande.CasagrandetookoveratHarvardwhenTerzaghileftthescene.

GoingbacktoLabarreandConverse,FredConversewasacivilengineeringprofessoratCaltech.HehadgonetoHarvardandab-sorbedtheinfluenceofTerzaghiandCasa-grandethere.ThenConversestartedteachingacourseinsoilmechanicsatCaltech.IthinkTrentDamesandBillMooretookthatcoursewhentheygottheirmastersdegreesthere.

FredConversewasdoingalittleconsult-ing,andheandLabarrejoinedforces.TheyformedLabarreandConverse,whichgavealittlemorescientificcredibilitytotheworkthatLabarrehadbeendoing.Atthistime,theystartedtakingso-calledundisturbedsamples.Theydroveacylinder—somethinglikeapipe,abouttwo-and-one-halfinchesindiameter—intothegroundandthenextractedit,andranlaboratorytestsonthesample.Thisiswhatwestilldotoday,althoughtherehasbeensomeimprovementinthesamplingdesignandprocedures.

Cyclicloadingwasdonewithastaticloadtest,whichdidnothavethecapabilityofveryquickonandoffloadingsorvibrationtests.Youdidthestatictestwithadeadweightframesupportingamassofconcreteorsteelorsomething togivetheresistance,thereaction andahydraulicjackpushingagainstthat,andtheotherendispushingonthisbear-ingplatethatisonthesoil.Youcouldcycletheloadingsasfastasyoucouldpumpthejackupandletitoff.Itwasmaybeaminutebetweencycles,ormaybetwominutes,nothinglikethesplit-secondloadingreversalswecandonow.

Warren and ConverseCrandall: Thoseweretheearlyyears.FredConversekepthisjobteachingatCaltech.AfterLabarreeitherdiedorretired,thefirmbecameWarrenandConverseforawhile.DonaldR.WarrenIthinkatonetimewasStateHighwayEngineer,andhaddonealotofbridgesandthingsforthestate.HewasdoingalotofdesigninginLosAngeles,andaddedthesoilengineeringcapabilitybyjoiningforceswithConverse.

WhenIjoinedDamesandMoore,ourcom-petitionwasWarrenandConverse.WarrenandConversecametosomedisagreementsandsplitup,andWarrenkeptoninthesoilbusiness,aswellashisstructuraldesignbusi-ness.Thatfirmwasoneoftheoneshithardbylawsuitsfromworkonthosehousingtractswediscussedearlier.

Long-Term Liability ExposureCrandall: WarrenandConversedidmostofthetractworkinLosAngelesataboutthat

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time,in1941,whenIstartedwithDamesandMooreandinthefollowingyears.Believeitornot,asrecentlyasthe1980s,whenthecompanywasstillactive,theywerestillgettinglawsuitsfromthatwork.Alandslidewouldcausedamageandthecrywouldgoout:“Gogetthesoilengineer.”

Scott: Thatwasafullfortyyearslater!

Crandall: Oh,yes.Projectscancomebacktohauntthesoilsengineerdecadeslater.Ofcoursethedeveloperisgone,orthatcor-porationhaschanged.Thedesignerofthebuilding,thearchitect,isprobablygone.Theearthmoverisoutofbusiness.Theonlyguyleftisthesoilsengineer,andthesepoorguysaregettinglawsuits.Well,ithashappenedtoDamesandMoore,andtome,forworkdonewayback.Nowofcoursetheyjudgeitbythecurrentcode.Youthinkthatthestatuteoflimitationsshouldprotectyou,butthatdoesnotdoyouanygooduntiltheproblemoccurs,andthentheystartmeasur-ingfromthattime.

Scott: Theystarttheclockwiththeoccur-renceoftheproblem,notfromthetimetheworkwasdone?

Crandall: Yes.Andusuallywhathappensisthatthehomeownerorpropertyownerchangedsomething,ordidnottakecareofthedrainagesystemorsomethinglikethat,andislookingforsomebodytohelppayforthecosts.

Scott: Buteveniftheownerisresponsible,youhavetofightitthroughincourttodemon-stratehisresponsibility?

Crandall: Right.IfeltsorryforWarrenandConversebecauseinatractofmaybeonehun-dredhomes,ninety-ninemightbeperfect,butonehasaproblem,andmaybethatproblemisnotevenofyourdoing.Buttotheoneguywhoownsthehome,itisthebiggestthingintheworld,beinghismaininvestment.Whensomethinggoeswrong,theownergetsthelaw-yerstoputthenoosearoundanyonetheycanfind,andwiththedeveloperlonggone,oftenthesoilengineeriswhotheyfind.We’reinaterriblebusinessfromthatstandpoint.

Chapter 10

California Seismic Safety Commission

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I consider the work of the Seismic Safety

Commission an extremely valuable and

important effort on behalf of the people

of the State of California.

Scott: We’vebothservedontheCaliforniaSeismicSafetyCommission.Sayafewwordsaboutyourexperi-enceonit.

Crandall: Well,Stan,it’syouwhoshouldbetalking,sinceyouwereonitfromtheverybeginning.IconsidertheworkoftheSeismicSafetyCommissionanextremelyvaluableandimportanteffortonbehalfofthepeopleoftheStateofCalifornia.TheCommissionhastakentheleadinemphasizingtheimportanceofearthquakepreparedness,properdesign,andeffectivebuildingcodesandtheirenforcement.

Mostofall—Ithinkanygoodpracticingengineerwouldtellyouthis—istheextremeimportanceofinspectionduringconstruction.Beautifulplans,computerprintouts,andstate-of-the-artseismicknowledgewillnotprotectyourstructureifitisnotbuiltinaccordancewiththose


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plansandcomputations.Sometimesitonlytakesoneweakpointtocauseacatastrophethatotherwisewouldonlyhavebeenaminorincidentinthelifeofabuilding.TheCommis-sionhashadsomesuccessinincreasingqualitycontrolinconstructionalso.

Mines and Geology Board, the Alquist-Priolo ActCrandall: PrecedingmyrelationshiptotheSeismicSafetyCommission,myfirstassign-mentinstategovernmentasanappointeeofanysignificancewastothestateMinesandGeol-ogyBoard.ThatappointmentwasmadeunderGovernorRonaldReaganin1973.Iservedthereatacrucialtimewithsomeveryfineandtalentedpeople likeDickJahnsandClarenceAllen,twooutstandinggeologists.Iservedasasoilengineer.TheMinesandGeologyBoardispartoftheCaliforniaDivisionofMinesandGeology.OneofitsroleswastoprovideadviceoncarryingouttheAlquist-PrioloSpecialStudiesZonesActof1972.16

TheAlquist-Priolobill—pushedbyAlfredAlquist(whomImentionedearlier)intheCaliforniaSenate,andPaulPriolo,intheotherlegislativebranch,theCaliforniaAssem-bly—cameaboutin1972.ItwaspassedinordertoidentifyactivefaultsintheStateofCaliforniathatposedasurfacerupturehazard,tomakethepublicawareoftheirlocation,andtorequirelocalgovernmentspriortoissuingbuildingpermitstohavegeologistspreparestudiesofsiteslocatedinzonesmappedbythestatewherethehazardmightexist.Afaultzone

16. Thelawwaslaterre-namedtheAlquist-PrioloEarthquakeFaultZoningAct.

designationinanareadoesnotmeanthatyoucannotbuildonthatarea,butitmeansthatageologistregisteredinCaliforniamuststudytheproblem.Ifyourproposeddevelopmentfallswithinthezonemappedbythestate,yourlocalbuildingagencyisrequiredtoreceivethisstudy,paidforbytheowner,todeterminewhetherthedevelopmentissafe.

Believeitornot,oneofthethingsthattrig-geredthatbillwastheknowledgethatsubdivi-sionsinSanBernardinowerebeingbuiltrightontheSanAndreasfaulttrace.Thatissortofastounding,becauseoneofthethingsyoulearninengineeringistoavoidbuildingacrossafault.Thedramaticsurfacefaultinginthe1971SanFernandoearthquakebroughtatten-tiontothiskindofhazard.

Theoretically,youcandesignastructuretoresistmostanylevelofgroundshakingfromanearthquake,butthereisverylittleyoucandotoresistruptureofthegroundbeneaththebuilding.Mostgeologists,fromatheoreticalsciencepointofview,wouldliketoidentifyanycrackintheearthasapotentiallyactivefault.Geologiststhinkintermsofgeologi-caltime millionsofyears andallkindsofthingscanhappeninsuchlongtimespans.Ifyoulookhardenough,youcanfindfaultsal-mostanywhereinCalifornia.Bydiggingdown,lookingatoilwellmapsandlogs,youcanfindfaultsofallsorts,mostofwhichdon’tgettothesurface,andhopefullyneverwill.How-ever,thatdoesn’tgiveyouapracticalbasisforestablishinghazardzonesforsurfacerupture.ClarenceAllen,DickJahns,andIdidmuchscreamingandhollering,andwereabletolimitthedelineationofthefaultstotheonesthatwereactiveinHolocenetime thatis,they

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Chapter 10LeRoy Crandall • California Seismic Safety Commission

haddisplacedduringthattime.TheHoloceneepochisroughlythelast11,000years.ThatpolicydefinedanactivefaultforpurposesoftheAlquist-PrioloAct.Thatwasforordinarybuildingdevelopments.Forcriticalfacilitieslikedams,thereisarationaleforextendingthatdefinitiontofaultswhosemostrecentrupturemayhavebeenalotfartherback.

Appointment to the Seismic Safety CommissionCrandall: IwasreappointedforanothertermontheMinesandGeologyBoardbyGovernorRonaldReagan.WhenHarrySeedresignedfromtheseatontheCaliforniaSeis-micSafetyCommissionthatwasdesignatedforsoilandfoundationengineering,nowcalledgeotechnicalengineering,Iwasappointed.Theseatisforacivilengineerspecializinginsoilsandfoundations.TheCommissionalsohasseatssetasideforageologistandaseis-mologistalongwithslotsforlocalgovernment,emergencyservices,andsoon.

Scott: HarrySeedhadoccupiedthatpostfromthetimeoftheoriginalformationoftheCommission,whenitwassetupbytheSeismicSafetyActof1975,upuntilheeitherresignedfromtheCommissionordeclinedtobereappointed.

Crandall: Yes.Iwasappointedin1982,whenEdmundG.Brown,Jr.(Jerry)wasGovernorofCalifornia.ThatwaswhenyouwerechairoftheCommission,Stan.

In additiontoattendingCommissionmeet-ings,whichIhavedoneprettyregularly,mymainparticipationinconnectionwiththe

CommissionhasbeenthroughtheStrongMotionInstrumentationAdvisoryCommittee,whichwediscussedearlier.ItookoveraschairafterBruceBoltin1984.

Scott: Fortherecord,inmyview,ofalltheCommission’scommittees,thatisbyfarthebiggestoperation,andisacontinuingopera-tion.Alltheothercommitteesaresetupandoperateforoneortwoyears,maybeforfiveyearsorso,andthengooutofexistence.

Crandall: Yes,theothercommitteeshaveanassignmenttowriteareport,orsomethinglikethat.Youarerightaboutthescopeanddura-tionofthestrongmotioncommitteework.ThebudgetofthestrongmotionprogramismanytimeswhattheCommission’sbudgetis.

Observations on the CommissionScott: Youhaveprovidedalotofbackgroundonthestrongmotionprogram.ButtellmeaboutyourgeneralobservationsandcommentsontheCommissionitself.

Crandall: Therehavebeenthreeexecu-tivedirectorsoftheCommissionthatIhaveknown.BobOlsonwasthefirst,thenDickAn-drews,andnowasof1991,TomTobin.Ihadsomeexperienceunderallthree.IthinkBobwasjustleavingorhadjustleftwhenIcameonboard,soitwouldwasmostlyDickAndrews,andTomTobin.

Scott: IthinkBobOlsonleftin1982.

Crandall: IrememberIwasappointedatthesametimethatBillIwanwas,aswellasthelovelyladywhohadapositionwiththeRedCrossandlatermovedtoWashington,Ann


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Boren.Thethreeofusmetatmyoffice,attherequestofBobOlsonandDickAndrews.Theygaveusalittlebackgroundandkindofabriefingsession,andsoBobOlsonparticipatedinthat.Perhapshehadrecentlylefttheexecutivedi-rectorjobtolaunchhisconsultingcareer,buthecametothemeetingwithDickAndrewsandthetwowerekindofinatransitionalperiod.TomTobinbecameexecutivedirectoralittlelater.

Icansaythiswithoutanyreservation:IthinktheywouldhavetosearchlongandfartofindsomeonethatisbettersuitedforthisjobthanTomTobinis,believeme.Ihavegreatadmira-tionforwhathehasdone.FrommyviewpointeverythingIhaveseenofTom’sworkhasjustbeenmostcommendable.

ThebriefingsessionparticipantswerethenewCommissioners,BillIwan,AnnBoren,andI,plusBobOlsonandRichardAndrews.Wesatintheconferenceroominmyoffice.BobandDickdidthetalking.MostlyitwasBob,ex-plainingalittleofthehistoryoftheCommis-sionanditspurpose,whatitwasdoing,whatitwastryingtodo,andwhatwouldbeexpectedofusasCommissioners.Hedidagoodjobofclueingusinonthenatureofthebeast.

Idon’tknowifthebriefingsarestillbeingdoneatthistime,butitwasaworthwhilethingtohavethatkindofanintroductionbeforeweactuallygotinvolvedinCommissionbusiness.

Scott: Iwouldthinkbriefingswouldbequitevaluable,butIreallydon’tknowexactlywhatisdonenow.

Crandall: Thisdidnothappenwhenyouwereanewcommissioner?Well,youwereoneofthefirstCommissioners,inattheinceptionofit.

Scott: Yes.Iwasonattheoutset,andtherewasnobriefingthatIrecall,beyondameetingwiththeGovernor,andthenwemettogetherasagroupforthefirsttimeandtalkedaboutwhatweoughttodo.

Crandall: RegardingthequalityoftheCommission,itisamazing,thetypeofpeoplethathavebeenappointedtothisCommission,whoinmyopinionareoutstanding.Bothascitizensandasprofessionals.Theywereabletogetreallytoptalenttoserveinthiscapacity.You,forexample,whohaveservedfromthebeginning theonlyonestillserving,Ibelieve.

Scott: OftheoriginalgroupofCommis-sioners,Iamtheonlyoneleft,althoughBruceBolthasalsobeentherealongtime.HemusthavecomealongthreeorfouryearsaftertheCommissionstartedup.SoBrucehasbeenontwelveorfifteenyears,andtheremaybeanotheronewhohasbeenaroundalongtime.

Crandall: Itisagreatpublicservice,Ithink.ThatiswhyIaminterestedinit Ibelievethatthethingstheydoarejustincrediblyimportant.Iamamazedattheamountofoutput,andthequalityofthereportsandtheworkthat’sdone.Iamnotgoodattheworkshops,althoughIrealizethatthoseareveryimportantthings.WhileIhaveattendedeveryone,Ithinkmycontributionshavebeenreallylimited.

Scott: Youaretalkingabouttheannualtwo-dayorday-and-a-halfworkshop?

Crandall: Yes,wherewebrainstorm,ordiscusswhatweshouldbedoing.Idon’tseemtobecreativeinthatkindofthinking.MaybeIrepresenttheordinarycitizeninthatre-gard,whoneedstobeshown,andonceyou

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mentsthatestablishedtheinitialmembershipoftheCommission,theregularprocessthenwentintoeffect,definingdesignatedseatsforpeoplefromvariousbackgrounds,andtherewasnoslotforme.

Oftheveryfirstgroupofappointments,halfwerebasicallychosenbySenatorAlquistonbehalfoftheJointCommittee butreallytheywereselectedbyKarlSteinbruggeandSenatorAlquistfollowedhissuggestions.TheotherhalfwerechosenonbehalfoftheGovernorbyJimSteams,theGovernor’sSecretaryofConservation.TheydidnothavetofitpreciselyinthedisciplinaryappointmentslotsthathaveappliedsincethosefirstCom-missionerswerechoseninlate1974orearly1975.Anyway,halfthefirstCommissionerswereappointedonSenator’sAlquist’sside,withKarlSteinbruggecallingtheshots,andtheotherhalfwereselectedbytheadminis-tration’sside.IwasoneoftheSteinbrugge/Alquistappointments.

Thatwashowtheinitialsetofappointmentswasmade.Butlater,whenreappointmentsorreplacementscameup,thebill’sregularlegalformulatookover.TherebeingnoseatwithqualificationsIpossessed,BobOlsonandtheCommissionchair,probablyeitherKarlStein-bruggeorBobRigneyatthattime,arrangedfortheLeagueofCaliforniaCitiestorecom-mendmyappointmentasacitygovernmentrepresentative.

Crandall: Ihavenotreallyevaluatedtheoth-ermembersoftheCommission.IknowthatIhavegreatrespectforseveral,technically.ThoseIhaveknownorknowwellinthefieldincludeBruceBolt,AlBlaylock,whowasa

seewhatthepathis,maybeyouareabletoprovidealittlelightalongtheway,asfaraspickingoutthepath.

Scott: Areyousayingthatyouplaymoreofalisteningorreactingroleintheworkshops?

Crandall: Iguess,inasense,yes.

Scott: Idon’thavethatimpression.AtleastIdon’tthinkofyouasplayingashrinkingvioletrole.

Crandall: Well,ifIgetsteppedon,Iholler.

Scott: AstoyourcommentsaboutthequalityoftheCommissioners,canIaskyoualeadingquestion?Ithasbeenmyimpres-sion,andIhavegottensimilarfeedbackfromsomeotherCommissionmembers,thatwedidnotuniversallygetthebesttalent.Ihaveheardcomplaints,particularlyduringtheJerryBrownadministration,thatsomeappointmentswerenotnecessarilythebestthestatecouldhavegotten.Doyouhavethatfeeling?

Crandall: Mycommentandknowledgehasbeenlimitedtothetechnicaltypepersonnel,likeBruceBolt,LloydCluff,BillKockleman,BillIwan.Allofthoseareoutstandingtechni-calpeople.PerhapsIshouldhavequalifiedmystatement,becauseIamnotthatfamiliarwiththeothertypeofappointees.Iknowyourwork,andIcannotthinkofanyonethatIhavehigherregardforintheworkoftheCommission.Bytheway,whatslotwereyouappointedtofill?

Scott: Surprisinglyenough,Iamrepresent-inglocalgovernment,atleasttheoretically.ThereisaninterestingstoryonthatwhichI’llsumuphere.Afterthefirstroundofappoint-


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memberandthenresignedtobecomeamem-berofthestatelicensingboardforengineers.AlsoPaulFratessa—hewasastrongmember.TherewasBillWaste,frominsurance—Ididnotknowhimbefore,butBillWastewasanimpressiveguy.

Ithinkitisagood,well-balancedSeismicSafetyCommission.Youneedviewpointsandvariousperspectives,ofcourse.Iper-sonallythinkinatechnicalwaymostofthetime,butthereareotheraspectsofproblems.SomethingsIdidnotrealizeuntilIgotinvolvedintheCommission—includingthesocialimpact,suchaswiththeunreinforcedmasonrybuildingsandtheirretrofits.AsanengineerIwouldsay,“Hey,thoseoldbrickbuildingsshouldcomedown demolishtheunreinforcedmasonrystructures,getthemoutofhere.”Butthen,aswelearnedbyvisitstoChinatowninSanFranciscoandinotherways,thosebuildingshouselow-incomepeople,andwhatdoyouwiththosepeople?Maybeyoumakeitworseforthem.Oneoftheintervieweestoldus,“Thesedispossessedpeoplearegoingtodiefrompneumoniaonthestreetsfasterthantheywillfromanearth-quakecollapse.”Soyougetabroaderview.Youseethatyoucannottearthingsdownjustbecausetheyarelesssafethansomethingelse,withouthavingimpactsinotherareas.IthinkIhavebroadenedmyunderstandingandtemperedmypositions.

Inmyyearsasanengineer,mostofthetimeIthought,“Hey,engineerscansolvealltheseproblems.”Letusbuildbuildingsthatwillnotcollapse,andgetridoftheoldunreinforcedmasonrybuildingsthatwillcollapse.Thensuddenlyyoustartthinking,“Maybewecannot

dothatovernight.Thereareotherconcernsthatarealsoimportant.”

Scott: DoyouhaveotherimpressionsoftheCommissionoritsactivities,orthingsthatyouhavebeeninvolvedinorthatyouhavewatched,orthatyouthinktheCommissionoughttobeinvolvedin?

“California at Risk”: The Rippleis SpreadingCrandall: YoubringupthingsIhaveneverthoughtabout.Ontheotherhand,IthinktheCommissionisdoingmanythings.Forex-ample,takethe“CaliforniaatRisk”program.Atremendousamountofthinkingisgoingintothat.

Scott: Yes,anditisactivatingallkindsofgroupsandagenciesoutthere,maybeslowlyandgraduallyinsomecases,butneverthelessactivatingthem.

Crandall: Therippleisreallyspreadingnow,believeme.IamtalkingnowaboutthingsIamreasonablyfamiliarwith,andthiscouldbehappeninginothercommitteesanddisciplinesaswell.Forexample,thepeerreviewprocesswaspartofwhatwasdecidedwouldbeagoodthinginthestudyofthestate’sprisonconstructionprogram.Butthepeerreviewprocessnotonlywasadoptedbytheprisoncommittee,buthasalsofounditswayintootherareasoftheStateArchitect’soffice,andtheUniversitysystemhasrealizedtheimportanceofsuchreview.

OnethingthatimpressesmeisthehighregardthattheCommissionmustbegiven,thehighesteeminwhichtheCommissionisheldbythe

99


legislatureandothersinthestategovernment.TobeanadvisorygrouptothesevariousstateoperationsisaverynoteworthyrecognitionoftheCommission.

WithrespecttothepurposeoftheCommis-sionandthetalentsofitsmembership,IamcompletelyimpressedbythepeoplewhoareservingasCommissioners,andbythecompe-tenceandabilitiesofthesepeople,andtheirwillingnesstocooperate.

Scott: Whydon’twetalkmoreabouttheappointmentprocessforchoosingCommissionmembers?Whatdoyouknowabouthowyourownappointmentwasmade?IthinkinsomecasessomepotentialmembersactivelysoughtmembershipontheCommission,whereasinothercasestheyprobablydidnotadvancetheircandidaciesatall,butotherpeoplewereactiveontheirbehalf.Thereareprobablyallkindsofcombinationsandvariations.

Crandall: Iamprettynaiveaboutallofthis.I’llbedarnedifIknowforsurehowthathap-penedinmycase.TheCommission’sexecutivedirectorprobablyseeksadvicefromorganiza-tionsthatarerepresentativeofthepositioninquestion,andthoseorganizationsputforwardanameortwoaspossibleappointees.Thisprobablyhappenedinmycase,butIdon’tre-memberbeingawarethatIwasunderconsid-erationfortheassignment.

BeforeIwasappointed,ofcourse,IwasaskedifIwouldaccept,andIthinkImighthaveansweredaquestionnaireandwasinformedabouttheethicsandtheconflict-of-interestmattersthatareimportantinsuchapublicposition.ButmyguessisthatBobOlsonorpossiblyDickAndrewsdidalittlesolicitation

forsuggestions,probablyfromtheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers.Thestructuralengineersmayalsohavebeenasked,andtheConsultingEngineersAssociationofCali-fornia,andalsotheGeotechnicalEngineersAssociation.Mynameprobablygotproposedthatway,butIamnotsure.MaybesomebodyalreadyontheCommissionwasawareofmybackgroundtothepointthatmynamewassubmitted.

Scott: ThesuggestionswereprobablythensenttotheGovernor’sappointmentsecretary.ThatwasduringtheJerryBrownadministra-tion,wasitnot?JerryBrownhadthereputa-tionofbeingslowonappointments.

Crandall: Ithinkhedidnotbelieveincom-missions,andasaresultdidnotpayattention.Thatwasaterriblethingforthestategovern-ment,Ithink.Manyoftheboardsandcom-missionscouldnotfunctionwithoutaquorum,andifhedidnotappointsomebody,maybeaquorumdidnotexist.

Inanyevent,IguessIwasappointedfirstbyGovernorJerryBrownandreappointedbyGovernorReagan.Idon’tknowexactlyhowitworked,butofcoursebeforeyouareactuallyappointedyoumustsubmitfinancialdisclosureinformation,andbeawareofconflict-of-inter-estregulationsandmattersofthatsort.Iwasneverquestionedaboutmypartyaffiliationorpoliticalviews.

Scott: YoucansayinJerryBrown’sfavorthatwhenhefinallygotaroundtoappointingsomebody,apparentlyhedidnotletthedeci-sionbeinfluencedalotbypoliticalregistra-tion,atleastinmycase.


100

Crandall: Somebodydidagoodjobingettingacross-sectionofbothtechnicalandsocialconcernsontheCommission.Itisverywell-balanced.BarbaraRiordan,thecurrent

chairperson,forexample,isacountygovern-mentrepresentative,andyourepresentcitygovernment.

Chapter 11

Concluding Words in 2000

101

…while the computer can do many things, it

must have reliable data with which to work.

Such data are now available from strong

motion records…

Scott: It’sbeenafewyearssincewerecordedourinter-viewsbackin1991.Thisisachancetobringthestoryuptodate,asofearly2000.Whatwouldyouliketoaddtocompletetheinterviewseries?

Crandall: First,letmesayIgreatlyappreciatethetimeandeffortthatyouhaveputintothis,Stan.IhaveseenthefinalproductforseveralofyourotheroralhistorypublicationsintheEERIConnections series,andtheyareindeedsuperb.Ijusthopethatthisonewilldevelopatleastpartoftheinterestthattheothershavegenerated.

Ithinkitwouldbeworthreviewingsomeoftheimpor-tantseismiceventsthathaveoccurredsincewelastspokein1991.ProbablythemaineventwastheNorthridge,CaliforniaearthquakeinJanuaryof1994.Ibelievethatmoreusefulrecordswereobtainedofgroundmotionandbuildingbehaviorfromthatearthquakethaneverbefore.


102

TheinstrumentsoperatedbySMIP—thestate’sStrongMotionInstrumentationProgram—andalsothoseinstalledbyotheragencies,providedthekindofinformationforwhichstructuralen-gineershavelongyearned.Ifeelmorethaneverthatthestrongmotionprogramwillcontinuetoprovidegreatbenefitstothepublicinthebetterunderstandingoftheperformanceofourbuild-ingsunderearthquakeconditions.Notonlywillthebuildingsbesafer,butalsowewillbeabletodesignfortheactualforcesinamoreeco-nomicalmanner.ThoseresultshavebeenverygratifyingtothoseofuswhoworkedformanyyearstoseethestateestablishacomprehensiveStrongMotionInstrumentationProgram.Ihavenot,however,beendirectlyinvolvedintheSMIPNorthridgeearthquakedatautilization,asmymembershipontheSMIPAdvisoryCom-mitteeterminatedshortlybeforetheNorthridgeearthquake,whenmyserviceontheSeismicSafetyCommissionendedin1993.

Scott: YouhadbeenassociatedwiththeSMIPprogramsince1972,andyoualsoservedontheCommissionatotalof11years.Thosepioneeringeffortshavecertainlypaidoffinusefulresultsthathaveservedtheprofessionverywell.Whatothercommentswouldyouliketomakeaboutsomeofthemainseismicdevelopmentssinceourlastinterview?

Crandall: YouandItalkedadecadeagoabouthowtheadventofthecomputerhasprovideddesignengineerswithaverystrongtool,anopinionthathasbeenmorethanjustifiedbysubsequentdevelopments.Computerusageandprogramshavefarexceededwhatappearedtobeonthehorizonbackatthetimeofourlastinter-view.Again,however,whilethecomputercandomanythings,itmusthavereliabledatawith

whichtowork.Suchdataarenowavailablefromstrongmotionrecordsthatshowthedetailedbehaviorpatternsofvarioustypesofstructures.Giventhestructuralbehaviorasrecordedbythestrongmotioninstruments,thecomputercannowbeusedtoperformincrediblydetailedanal-ysesofsuchbehavior.Thisisdefinitelyleadingtomuchbetterdesign,andimprovedconstruc-tiontechniquesforfuturebuildingperformanceunderearthquakeconditions.

Injustmyownfieldofgeotechnicalengineer-ing,thepotentialforpredictingthegroundmotionconditionsatindividualsiteshasbeengreatlyenhanced.TheanticipatedearthquakeintheParkfieldareahasfailedtooccur,pre-ventingusfromobtainingresultsoftheseveralexperimentsprogrammedforthatexpectedearthquake.Withluck,valuableinformationmaystillbedevelopedwhenandiftheParkfieldeventdoestakeplace.Irealizeitmaysoundalittlestrangetoappeartobehopingforanearthquaketooccur.Wehadgreatexpectations,however,forthekindsofinformationthatthevariousParkfieldtestinstallationswillprovidewheneverthenextearthquakedoesoccur.Nev-ertheless,asIsuggestedabove,thedatawedidgetfromactualstructuresinstrumentedintheSMIPhavebeenverybeneficial.

Scott: BobWallacediscussedtheParkfieldearthquakepredictionexperimentinhisEERIoralhistory,publishedinlate1999.17Accord-ingtoBob,muchhasbeenlearnedfromthatexperimentaleffort,despitetheearthquake’s

17. Connections: The EERI Oral History Series — Robert E. Wallace,StanleyScott,interviewer.EarthquakeEngineeringResearchInstitute,Oakland,CA,1999.

103

Chapter 11LeRoy Crandall • Concluding Words in 2000

failuretohappen.Butofcourse,themostim-portantkindsofthingsstructuralandgeotech-nicalengineershopedtolearnaboutdodependonearthquakeshaking,whichhasnotoccurred.

Sincewelastspoke,anumberofmajorearth-quakeshaveoccurredindifferentareas,amongtherecentonesbeingthe1999earthquakesinTurkeyandinTaiwan.Doyouhaveanycom-mentsonthose?

Crandall: Ihavenotbeentoocloselyin-volvedinthosemajorrecentearthquakes.Theycertainlyweredevastatingintheareaswheretheyoccurred.FromwhatIhavereadinreportsbytheinvestigatorsfromtheUnitedStateswhovisitedthosesites,muchofthedestructionwasduetothenatureofthestructuresinvolved.Thatkindofstructuraldestructionissimilartowhatwehaveobservedinothercountrieswheretheconstructionmethodsused,especiallyintheolderbuildings,donotprovidemuchearth-quakeresistance.Still,theteamsthatvisitedthesesiteslearnedusefulinformationthatwillbeapplicabletosomeoftheconditionsinourownarea.Also,whathasbeenlearnedfromtheliquefactionandgrounddisplacementthatoccurredduringthoseearthquakesisapplicabletoallareashavingsimilarcharacteristics.Asaresult,thegeotechnicalinvestigatorswereabletoobtainimportantinformationthatwillbedirectlyapplicabletositesinCalifornia.

Scott: Talkalittleaboutwhathashappenedtoyoupersonallyintheyearssincewelasttalked.

Crandall: Whenwelastspokein1991IwasanemployeeofLaw/Crandall.Youwillrecallthatthecompanyincreasedthescopeofitsservicestoincludeenvironmentaland

constructionmaterialsservices,amongotherfeatures.Asaresult,itseemeddesirabletochangetheoriginalcompanynamefromLe-RoyCrandallandAssociatestoLaw/Crandall.Thistookplacein1991.

Ihavefunctionedindependentlyofthemaincompanysince1987.Mydirectofficewasconcernedentirelywithforensicmatters,spe-cializinginconstructiondefectlitigation.OnJanuary1,1999,IretiredfromLaw/CrandallandformedanewcompanycalledCrandallConsultants,Inc.Underthatdesignation,Iamstilloperatingasaforensicconsultantingeo-technicalengineering.Myactivitiesarealmostcompletelyconcernedwithlitigation,withverylittleinvolvementinthedesignaspectsofgeotechnicalengineering.

MyoneregretisthatIhavebeensotiedupinthebusinessactivitiesthatIhavebeenunabletoattendandbeactiveintheprofessionalsocietiestothedegreethatIhavebeeninthepast.Istillmaintainmembershipinallofthem,butitisdifficulttofindtimetoattendthemeetingsandconventions.Theprincipaldrawbackinthelitigationfieldisone’sin-abilitytomaintainadefiniteschedule.Ifacasegoestotrial,theexpertsareexpectedtobeavailabletomeetthecourtrequirements.Also,arbitrationandmediationsessionsareobligatory,andareoftenscheduledatthelastminute.Asaresult,itishardtoplanforat-tendingprofessionalmeetingsandengaginginrelatedactivities.

Istillfindtheworkveryinteresting,somuchsothatIstillputinatleastfortyhoursaweek.MyoneconcessiontogettingolderisthatInowtrytoavoidworkingonSaturdaysandSundays.

Photographs

105

Graduation from San Diego High School, California, 1935.

Photos Connections: The EERI Oral History Series

106

LeRoy Crandall (left) and his brother Clifford with their grandfather, Jefferson L. Crandall, 1922.

LeRoy Crandall, with fiancée Eileen Exnicios, at Crandall’s graduation from the University of California at Berkeley, 1941.

107

PhotosLeRoy Crandall

Crandall at the office of LeRoy Crandall and Associates at 1619 Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, 1955.

Eileen and LeRoy attend a costume party for the Structural Engineers Association of California, 1959.


108

Partial excavation for a high-rise being built

in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LeRoy Crandall and Associates did

the geotechnical engineering, 1965.

Disneyland was one of the first geotechnical engineering projects the new firm of LeRoy Crandall and Associates undertook, 1954.

109


The aerial tramway at Palm Springs, for which LeRoy Crandall and Associates provided the geotechnical engineering, 1961.

The tie-back shoring system (partial depth) for the Century City Theme Towers, which was the deepest excavation ever attempted at that time, 1970.

The San Bernardino County Foothill Communities Law and Justice Center, Rancho Cucamonga. This was the first building in the United States to use base isolation. LeRoy Crandall and Associates provided the ground motion design criteria, 1987.


110

Elected to honorary membership in the

American Society of Civil Engineers, 1984.

LeRoy Crandall and Associates moved their office to Glendale, California in 1986.

111


Crandall in his office at 711 North Alvarado Street in Los Angeles. LeRoy Crandall and Associates commissioned the building and maintained their headquarters office there from 1966 -1986 (photo circa 1984).

Aerial view of downtown Los Angeles, California. LeRoy Crandall and Associates was the geotechnical engineering firm for all but two of the high-rise buildings (photo by Marshall Lew).


112

Left: Eileen and LeRoy on a cruise in 2000.

Above: Eileen and LeRoy at the Taj Mahal, 1993.

113


Marshall Lew and LeRoy Crandall, January 2008.

115

IndexLeRoy Crandall

AAccelerographs, 49–50

Airfields and airport facilities, 16–17

Allen, Clarence R., 81, 94

Alquist, Alfred E., 53, 58, 94–95, 97

Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zones Act of 1972, 94–95

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 53, 79, 99

award from, 7

Crandall member of board of directors of, 79

Andrews, Richard, 95, 99

Asphaltic sands, La Brea Tar Pit, Los Angeles, California, 46

Attenuation of strong ground motion, 61

BBanville, Joe, 11

Barnes, Fred, 23, 26, 29, 30

Barnes, Steve, 85, 87

Base isolation, 68–70

bridges, 69

San Bernardino County Foothill Communities Law and Justice Center, Rancho Cucamonga, California, 68, 109

University of Southern California Hospital, Los Angeles, California, 69

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), 81

Beanfield, Rufus M., 87

Bearing ratio tests of airfield pavings, 16

Beerman, Paul, 7

Bentonite clay, 35, 44

Blaylock, Al, 97

Blume, John A., 49, 50, 53, 86

Bolt, Bruce A., 57–58, 95, 96, 97

Boren, Ann, 96

Bowen, Oliver G., 85, 87

Brandow and Johnston, engineers, 87

Brewer, William (Bill), 7, 9, 12, 16

Bridges

base isolation of, 69

Caltrans, 59–60

Golden Gate Bridge, 59

lifelines, 81

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, 59

Vincent Thomas Bridge, Los Angeles, California, 59

Brown, Jr., Edmund G. (Jerry), xiv, 95, 99

Brown, Glenn A., xiii, 30

Brown, Glenn A. and Associates, merger with Crandall firm, 30

Brugger, Walter, 55

Buildings, modeling of, 85

Butts, Wendell, 87

CC.F. Braun & Co., 20

California at Risk program, 98

California Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG), 54, 71, 82, 94–95

Crandall board member of, 95

California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, 61

California Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC), 54, 60, 68, 86, 93–99

California at Risk program, 98

Crandall member of, 56–59, 93–99, 102

Index Connections: The EERI Oral History Series

116

Scott member of, 56–59, 97

Caltrans (California Department of Transportation)

Crandall early employment at, 13–14

SMIP, inclusion of under, 59–61

Strong Motion Instrumentation Advisory Committee (SMIAC), 56, 60, 95

Casagrande, Arthur, 90

Century City Theme Towers, Century City, California, 109

Chamber of Commerce, U.S., Crandall member of, 26

Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake (1999), 103

Chieruzzi, Robert, xiii

Chiu, Seymour, xiii, 29, 30

City of Los Angeles, California

building code, dynamic analysis requirements, 66

building instrumentation ordinance, 50–51, 54

City Hall, 87

County Courts building, 87

Department of Building and Safety, 55

grading ordinance (1952), 33–34

Hall of Administration, 87

leadership in instrumentation of buildings, 51–56

leadership in soil engineering requirements and building codes for hillsides, 32–33, 44

Music Center, 75

Cloud, William K., 51

Cluff, Lloyd S., 97

Coastal facilities, 21, 24, 26

Coast and Geodetic Survey, U.S., 49, 87

Computers, influence of on engineering, 71–73, 74, 77, 79, 102

Contamination, environmental, 45–47

Converse, Fred, 89, 91

County of Los Angeles, California

grading ordinance (1952), 34

Crandall, Eileen Exnicios, 13, 15, 26, 106, 107

Crandall, Jefferson L. (grandfather), 106

Crandall, LeRoy

ASCE member of board of directors of, 79

awards, 110

California Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC), member of, 56–59, 93–99, 102

college education

Fresno State University, California, surveying class, 7

San Diego State University, California, 5–7

University of California at Berkeley, 9–12

Crandall and Associates. See Crandall, LeRoy and Associates

Crandall Consultants, Inc, 103

Dames and Moore, 14, 15–24

established own firm, 24, 25–30

expert witness, 103

National Youth Administration (NYA), employment by in UC soil mechanics lab, 10

Crandall, LeRoy and Associates, 24, 25–30

base isolation. See Base isolation

engineering geologists, in-house, 30

headquarters offices, design and construction of, 28–30

117

IndexLeRoy Crandall

highrise buildings, 108, 111

incorporation, 28–30

Law Engineering, acquisition by, 29–30

merger with Glenn A. Brown and Associates, 30

name changed to Law/Crandall, 103

Crandall Consultants, Inc, 103

Cross, Hardy, 88

Cross, Hardy, Moment Distribution Method, 88

Cupp, Miss, 2

Cut and fill techniques, 33–34, 39

DDames, Trent, 17–18, 19–20, 22–24, 88, 89

Dames and Moore

airfields and airport facilities, 16–17

career with, 14, 15–24

partnership, 22–24

separation from, 24

World War II, impact of on workload, 16

Dams

criteria for as more stringent, 95

damage to in 1971 San Fernando, California earthquake, 52

Davis, Harmer E., 10–12

Davis, Raymond E., 11

Degenkolb, Henry J., 49, 58, 70

DeLine, Ralph A., 87

Derrick, Clarence, 83

Disneyland, 108

Division of the Safety of Dams, California Department of Water Resources. See California Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG)

Doughty, Rex, 2

Douglas Aircraft, Dames &Moore work for, 17

Downhole arrays, 64, 75

Duke, C. Martin, 29, 52, 53, 75, 79–80, 87

Dynamic analysis, 66, 71–75

EEarthquake Engineering Research Institute

(EERI), 52, 87

Earthquake faults

Alquist-Priolo Act, 94–95

length of relative to potential magnitude, 77

New Madrid, Arkansas, 68

New Madrid, Missouri, 68

Newport-Inglewood, 65, 77, 81

Overland, California, 77

Raymond, California, 77

Rose Canyon, California, 68

San Andreas, California, 65, 77, 82, 94

Santa Monica-Hollywood, California, 77

Earthquakes

Chi-Chi, Taiwan (1999), 103

El Centro, California (1940), 49, 62

El Centro, California (1979), 61

focus, depth of, 77

ground motion. See Strong ground motion

Loma Prieta, California (1989), 48, 59, 81

Long Beach, California (1933), 60

maximum probable, 76

New Madrid, Arkansas (1811), 68

New Madrid, Missouri (1812), 68

Northridge, California (1994), 102


118

prediction of, 65–66, 82, 102

rupture length, 77

San Fernando, California (1971), 50–53, 60

seismic return period, 67

seismic waves, subsurface, 81

total energy, 78

Turkey (1999), 103

Whittier Narrows, California (1987), 61

El Centro, California earthquake (1940), 49, 62

El Centro, California earthquake (1979), 61

Embankment failure, 52–53

Engineering Geologists Qualifications Board, 40–42

Engineering judgment, importance of, 71–73

Erick, Murray, 85, 87

Excavations, 37, 108, 109

FFalk, Mark, 87

Foundation engineering, 18, 31, 42, 73

base isolation, 68–70

basements, 63

design, 66

liquefaction, designed to resist, 48

loads, 71

residential buildings, 53

tieback anchor, development of, 37–38

Fratessa, Paul F., 98

GGasoline storage tanks, leaking of into

groundwater, 45–47

Gates, James, 59

Geology

different from soil engineering, 39

engineering geologists, 40–43, 94

Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics, International Conference on Recent Advances in, 67, 71

Geotechnical engineering

computers, influence of on, 71–73, 74, 77, 79, 102

dynamic analysis, 66–68

engineering geologists, 40–43, 94

instrumentation. See Instrumentation

liability, long-term, 91

maximum probable earthquake, estimate of, 76–77

multi-lot solutions to soil problems, 43–44

naming of the profession, 30, 42

prediction of ground motion at a specific site, 65–66, 82, 102

seismic waves, subsurface, 81

shear wave velocity, 74–75

testing. See Geotechnical testing

Geotechnical testing, 10–11, 22, 40, 73–75, 89–90

contributions of older engineers, 83–90

Giersch, Louise, 58

Gleason, John, 6

Golden Gate Bridge, 59, 60

Grading problems, 32–34

City of Los Angeles hillside ordinance, 32–34

Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes, California, 44

119

IndexLeRoy Crandall

Ground failure, 44, 47

dam embankment, 52

erosion, 32

landslides, 32, 43, 44, 47

liquefaction, 47, 71, 81, 103

Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes, California, 44

settlement, 47–48, 71

slopes, 33–35, 44

Ground motion. See Strong ground motion

Groundwater contamination, 45–47

monitoring wells, 46

HHardy Cross Moment Distribution Method,

88

Harmon, Thomas, 10

Henderson, Mary, 58, 59

Highways as lifelines, 81

Hillside development. See Grading problems

Hirschfeldt, Leopold, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30

Hospitals

SMIP, included under, 59–61

University of Southern California, 69

Housel, William (Bill), 17

Housner, George W., 58, 77, 86

Hyperion sewer outfall, 21, 24, 26

IInstitute of Governmental Studies, U.C.

Berkeley, 26

Instrumentation

accelerographs, 49, 50

bridges, 60

downhole arrays, 64, 75

early days of, 49

free-field, 61, 64, 82

geophone, 75

Golden Gate Bridge, 60

Lotung Array, 61

Parkfield, California array, 82

shake tables, 73–74

SMART-1 Array, 61

Strong Motion Instrumentation Advisory Committee (SMIAC), 56, 95

tie-back anchors, 63

Instrumentation of buildings, 50–56, 61

practical limit to, 56

privacy of records questions, 55

unique structures as unsuitable for, 60

Insurance liability, 91

Iwan, Wilfred D. (Bill), 95, 96, 97

JJahns, Richard, 40, 94

Jeffers, Paul E., 85, 87

Johnston, Roy G., 58, 87

Jones, Jerve, 58

KKelly, James, 70

Kirkgard, James, xiii, 29

Kockleman, William, 97


120

LLabarre, Robert V. (Cap), 89, 90, 91

Labarre and Converse, engineering consultants, 89

La Brea Tar Pit, Los Angeles, California, 46

Landslides, 32, 43, 44–47

Law/Crandall, 103

Law and Justice Center project, 70

Law Engineering, acquisition of Crandall firm, 29

Lebarre, Robert V. (Cap), 89

Lee, Kenneth, 52

Leps, Thomas, 11

Lew, Marshall, 113

Liability, long-term, 91

Lifeline engineering, 79–82

Lipow, Joseph, 37

Liquefaction, 47, 71, 81, 103

Litigation, tract housing, 35–36

Lockheed Aircraft, Dames &Moore work for, 17

Loma Prieta, California earthquake (1989), 48, 59, 81

Cypress Viaduct, collapse of, 59, 81

Long Beach, California earthquake (1933), 60

Los Angeles, California. See City of Los Angeles, California

Luckenbach, Ralph, 13

MMaley, R.P., 51

Maljian, Perry, xiii, 29

Martel, Romeo R. (R.R.), 87–88

Martin, Albert C., 87

Matthiesen, R.B. (Fritz), 87

McLean, Ralph S., 49

McWee, James, xiii, 29

Mellema, William, 87

Mendenhall, Irvan, 7, 27

Microzonation, 47

Microzonation maps, 71

Montgomery, James M., 25

Moore, William W., 13–14, 19–20, 22–24, 87, 89

Murphy, Leonard, 52

NNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric

Association (NOAA), 52

National Science Foundation (NSF), 81

National Youth Administration (NYA), 10

Newport-Inglewood fault, 65, 77, 81

Noerenberg, Clarence E., 87

Noice, Blaine, 87

North American Aviation, Dames and Moore work for, 17

North Outfall Replacement Sewer (NORS), 81

Northridge, California earthquake (1994), 102

OOakeshott, Gordon, 54

Offshore projects, 21

drilled friction piles, 21–22

Hyperion sewer outfall, 24, 26

Olson, Robert A., 95, 97, 99

Overland, California fault, 77

121

IndexLeRoy Crandall

PPalm Springs, California tramway, 109

Parkfield, California, strong motion array, 65, 82, 102

Piles, drilled friction, development of, 21–22

Pipelines, 47, 81–82

Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes, California, 44–47

Priolo, Paul, 94–95

Property lines, adjustment of for ground movement, 44

RRaymond, California fault, 77

Raymond Concrete Pile Company, Chicago, Illinois, 18

Reagan, Ronald, xiv, 94, 95, 99

Refineries, 21

Registration and certification of engineering geologists, 40–42

Response spectra, 71–73, 76, 79

Return period, 67

Richter scale, 78

Rigney, Robert, 58, 68, 97

Riordan, Barbara, 100

Rose Canyon, California fault, 68

SSan Andreas, California fault, 65, 77, 94

San Bernardino County Foothill Communities Law and Justice Center, Rancho Cucamonga, California, 68, 109

San Fernando, California earthquake (1971), 60

dams, damage to, 52

Lower San Fernando Dam, 52

strong motion records from, 50–53

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, 59

Santa Monica-Hollywood fault, 77

Scott, Stanley, 26

California Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC), member of, 56–57, 93, 97

Seed, H. Bolton (Harry), 52, 57–59, 95

Seismic Safety Act of 1975, 95

Seismic zoning maps, 71

Seismographs, 50

Settlement. See Ground failure

Shakal, Anthony F., 58, 82

Shake tables, 73–74

Shear wave velocity, 74

Slosson, James, 30, 40

Smoots, Al, 24

Soil-structure interaction, 64


experiments, early, 83–86

Soil contamination, 45–47

Soil engineering, 31–38, 39–47, 62–63, 89. See also Geotechnical engineering

airfields and airport facilities, 16–17

City of Los Angeles, leadership in requiring, 32–34

computers, influence of on, 71–73

contaminated soil, 45–47

drainage, 33–35

dynamic analysis, 66, 74

embankment failure, 52

excavations, 37

expansive soils, 36


122

geology, different from, 39

grading. See Grading problems

ground failure. See Ground failure

landslides, 32, 43, 44–47

liability, long-term, 91

litigation, 35

multi-lot solutions to soil problems, 43

Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes, California, 44–47

saving clients money, 32, 36, 63, 66

slope failure, 33–36, 44

tie-back anchor, development of, 37

Soil mechanics, 18–19, 90

contribution of older engineers, 83–90

landslides, 32, 43, 44–47

soil conditions, effect of on subsurface seismic waves, 65

UC graduate course in, 10

Steams, James, 97

Steinbrugge, Karl, 52, 53, 97

Strong ground motion, 42, 47, 50–56

attenuation of, 61

calculation of in design of buildings, 62–63

characteristics of, 61, 76

CSSC Strong Motion Instrumentation Advisory Committee, Crandall member of, 56, 61

cycles, 78–79

free-field, 64

instrumentation. See Instrumentation

miner’s anecdotal reports of, 65

Parkfield, California array, 102

period, natural, 75

prediction of at specific site, 65, 82, 102

records

El Centro, California (1940), 42, 49, 62

San Fernando, California (1971), 51

response spectra, 71–72, 76, 79

seismic return period, 67

seismic waves, subsurface, 50, 74

shake tables, 73–74

shear wave velocity, 74

site-specific, 71

SMIP. See Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP)

subsurface, 61, 65

total energy, 78–79

Strong Motion Instrumentation Advisory Committee (SMIAC), 56, 60, 61, 95

Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP), 50–56, 82, 102

Caltrans included under, 59–61

funding of, 58

hospitals included under, 59–61

practical limit to number of instruments, 56

public schools, 60

schools included under, 59–61

Structural engineering. See also Foundation engineering


basements, 63

computers, influence of on, 71–73, 79, 102

design of buildings, 62–63

dynamic analysis, 66

Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC), 87, 88

123

IndexLeRoy Crandall

TTarics, Alex, 70

Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering (TCLEE), 53, 79–82

Terzaghi, Karl, 90

Tie-back anchors, 109

development of for shoring, 37

instrumentation of, 63

Tobin, L. Thomas, 95

Tobriner, Stephen (California Supreme Court Justice), 86

Tract housing, soil problems with, 35–36, 44

Turkey earthquake (1999), 103

UU.S. Chamber of Commerce, Crandall

member of, 26

U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 51

U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, U.S., 87

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 58, 65, 71, 87

Uniform Building Code (UBC), 70

University of California at Berkeley, 9–12

Davis Hall, 11

soil mechanics lab, 10

University of Southern California Hospital, Los Angeles, California, 69

Vvan Beveren, James, xiii

WWallace, Robert, 102

Warren, Donald R., 91

Wastewater, treatment of, 46

Webb-Lipow tieback system, 38

Weber, Russell, 27, 29, 30

Whinier, Eldon (Whit), 11

Whittier Narrows, California earthquake (1987), 61

Wilson, David, 86

World War II

bearing ratio tests, 16

Crandall prevented from enlisting during, 17–18

impact of on work at Dames and Moore, 16–19

postwar surge in construction, 20–21

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ConneCtions - Earthquake Engineering Research Institute · 2013-09-03 · Connections series helps...

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