About J R Meyer & Associates, Inc.
Experience and Expertise to Recognize the Critical Interactions of Soils and Structures
With over 50 years of experience in geotechnical engineering and construction material testing, I specialize in litigation support of complex Soil-Structure interactions and subsurface conditions. My technical expertise allows me to provide factual understanding of complicated issues.
Ability to explain complex technical jargon in simple, familiar terms
As an Adjunct Professor with over 15 years teaching experience in Foundation Engineering and Construction Materials Testing at the University of Houston Construction Management Department, I have developed an ability to explain complicated geotechnical and materials testing concepts in simple and understandable terms.
J R Meyer & Associates, Inc. Practice Areas
Geotechnical Forensic Investigations
My experience provides me the background to interpret forensic data based on accepted theories and protocols to help understand the past behavior of constructed works.
Litigation Support
Geotechnical Forensics naturally allows for various opinions of "what happened". Understanding Geotechnical behavior requires a combination of advanced education and extensive experience of having seen what works and what doesn't. My approach is collaborative, grounded in decades of experience, and always focused on delivering reliable, actionable insights.
Expert Witness
I strive to provide credible, straightforward testimony in a manner that is informed by over 50 years of Geotechnical practice combined with 15-years as an Adjunct Professor of engineering that is built on jargon not routinely used by the layperson. I have learned to speak about engineering concepts in a straightforward manner using common jargon.
J. Ray Meyer, P.E.
Specialization
Mr. Ray Meyer brings an extensive background of over 50 years in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials Engineering and Testing, and Forensic Investigations. His work is centered on challenges related to expansive and soft soils, soil-structure interactions, and the testing of construction materials for large, complex projects in the public and private sectors.
In his role as an Adjunct Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Houston, Mr. Meyer instructs courses on Construction Materials Testing, and Soils Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. This teaching role has refined his ability to demystify complex engineering concepts for individuals with little to no technical background, making him adept at conveying ideas to non-engineers and those with non-engineering backgrounds.
Mr. Meyer’s career spans a wide range of civil engineering projects, where he has applied his geotechnical expertise to design and analyze structures such as bridges, waterfront structures, deep foundations (e.g., piles, auger cast piers), slabs, pavements, runways, channels, levees, and drainage systems. His work includes critical aspects of industrial paving, airport runways, side slope stability, groundwater drainage, and complex construction scenarios like cofferdams and wet wells and earth retaining structures.
Additionally, Mr. Meyer is highly experienced in geotechnical forensic investigations, which involve analyzing structure issues such as foundation failures, pavement distress, slope stability, bulkhead and pier performance, and site moisture problems. His forensic expertise also addresses issues stemming from soil movement due to environmental factors like drought and rainfall, underground utility failures, and interactions between foundations and site vegetation.
Throughout his career, Mr. Meyer has served as a subject matter expert in disputes regarding foundation and pavement performance, making him a valuable resource for understanding and resolving complex geotechnical issues in civil engineering projects.
SELECTED ORIGINAL DESIGN PROJECT EXPERIENCE
TXDOT - HOUSTON DISTRICT, FM 1960 BRIDGE CROSSING LAKE HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TX
Drilling, laboratory testing, foundation analysis and slope stability analyses were performed for the bridge embankments since a portion of the bridge would be supported on the existing soil peninsulas and a small island in the middle of the lake. Soil borings were drilled from four “flexi-float” barges strapped together to accommodate a drill rig. Engineering analyses were performed to estimate lateral earth pressures to assist in the design of earth retaining structures at the bridge abutments and pier capacities of bridge supports.
BRAZORIA COUNTY MANAGED LANE HWY 288 at BELTWAY 8 SOUTH, BRAZORIA COUNTY TX
Mr. Meyer was Geotechnical Engineer of Record and managed the drilling, laboratory testing and engineering analyses for a new 5-mile section of tollway with surface paving, earthen embankments, and bridge structures according to TxDOT Standards. Performed WINCORE analysis for piles and piers. Analyzed Mechanically Stabilized Earth walls for bearing capacity, stability, eccentricity, and settlement.
FORT BEND COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER and EXPANSION FORT BEND COUNTY, TX
Fort Bend County retained Mr. Meyer’s firm, Paradigm Consultants, Inc., to provide geotechnical design and foundation construction consulting for the 3-story Fort Bend Justice Center Administration Building and later expansion located between Eugene Heiman Circle and Williams Way Boulevard in Fort Bend County, Texas.
CLEAR CREEK ISD - CHALLENGER COLUMBIA STADIUM CLEARLAKE, TX
Mr. Meyer was the Project Manager and provided Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Material Services for the $40 M Challenger Columbia Stadium, which seats 10,000 spectators with an open concourse concept on both home and visitor sides. The centralized field house includes locker rooms, athletic offices, community area, viewing decks and support facilities. Altogether, the site provides a venue for athletic games and tournaments, graduation ceremonies, track and field competitions, fine arts exhibitions, and more.
FORENSICS
Mr. Meyer has participated in numerous forensic studies over the years. Several of these projects were in litigation status. Some of the more notable forensic studies have included the following projects:
· Large Waterfront Bulkhead Failure – This project was conducted in support of litigation for the Plaintiff. Nearing the end of construction, this several hundred foot long, steel sheet pile bulkhead with two rows of tieback anchor piles located along the Texas Gulf Coast failed. An associated pier and warehouse structure was partially undermined as well. Mr. Meyer, with his Team, developed several possible failure mechanisms that could be at play and then analyzed the most likely causes. Once the cause of the failure was identified, Mr. Meyer participated in the development of a possible solution to rebuild the bulkhead.
· Private School Facility Foundation Issues – Mr. Meyer worked with the Plaintiff. A Texas-based private school facility had developed numerous floor and wall cracks due to what turned out to be movement due to the soil-structure interaction. Mr. Meyer performed geotechnical studies of the soil conditions and unearthed several drilled pier foundations around the building perimeter to their as-built conditions. It was determined that expansive soil was used as fill material below the slab causing the floor to heave upward. It was also discovered that several of the footings had been constructed to a smaller size than specified resulting in a higher level of footing pressure on the soil causing footing settlement. This combination of floor heave, and footing settlement resulted in the building movement.
· Manufacturing Facility Floor Movement – Mr. Meyer worked with the Owner to help identify the cause(s) of movement. This large manufacturing facility was experiencing operational issues due to floor slab movement. The product traveled on small rail cars through a 400-deg F pre-heater facility before they entered the Kiln heater where they were heated to over 1500-deg F. The pre-heater slab had settled over 8-inches causing operational disruptions and the area under the Kiln had settled more. Mr. Meyer determined that the heat had penetrated the concrete slab and caused the underlying clay soil to lose moisture and shrink thereby causing the slab to settle.
· Building Foundation Movements – Worked with large National insurance companies on over 200 separate projects concerning causes of foundation movement. Some of these projects included litigation as an attempt to resolve the issue. Among the causes were soil moisture extraction due to vegetation or seasonal environmental conditions, leaking water pipes below or adjacent to the foundation, improperly selected foundation types and poor maintenance of the foundation area.
PUBLICATIONS
· Editor, Analysis and Design of Pile Foundations, Proceedings of a Symposium sponsored by ASCE Geotechnical Engineering Division, ASCE National Convention, San Francisco, CA, October 1984.
TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Meyer regularly provides technical lectures, seminars, and presentations using face-to-face and webinar formats for Local and National Consulting, Legal and Continuing Education Firms. The topics have included:
· Soils in Construction
· Understanding and Working with Urban Soils
· Reading and Understanding Geotechnical Reports
· Deep Foundation Design and Construction
· Deep Excavations
· Soil Mechanics, Bearing Capacity and Slope Stabilization
EDUCATION
MCE, University of Houston, 1978
BSCE, University of Houston, 1973
REGISTRATION
Professional Engineer Texas, No. 44465
Firm TBPE F-26707
AFFILIATIONS
Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston: Cullen College of Engineering, Construction Management Department, 2009 to present
Member of ASCE National Shallow, Foundation Committee, 2016 to present
Member-Center for Research in Geoengineering Practice, Texas A&M
Past-President, Texas Council of Engineering Laboratories- Houston, 2018 to 2021
Past President, University of Houston Engineering Alumni Organization
Partner (Retired) - CMT/formerly Paradigm Consultants, Aug. 2012 to July 2024
President JR Meyer Associates, Inc. – December 2024 to present
Contact Us
J R Meyer & Associates, Inc.
Sugar Land, Texas
J. Ray Meyer, P.E. (281) 543-6515 ray.meyer@jrmeyerassociates.com
