I'm guessing you're an engineer, or have engineering training? (Terms like "angle of repose" and "unconfined compressive strength" don't show up here very often!)
I think the best you're going to do here, or on other forums, is find some seat of the pants strategies that have worked. I've had a lot of engineers and even JPL "rocket scientists" here -- but I don't recall a self-identified civil or structural engineer. I think that you'll get MUCH more useful input with pictures and sketches, than with an engineering description. But, from your description, I think you are right to be concerned.
Post them on Photobucket, Flickr or Picasa, and link them in. Or if your willing to wait, email them to me at poolforum@gmail.com.
Still, you may need to actually consult with an engineer. I know that high-end builders in hilly markets, like some areas of California, routinely talk to engineers about problems like yours. Atlanta? Not so much, but that doesn't mean it's a bad idea, just that you're going to be hard put to find an engineer who can combine textbook knowledge with adequate field experience.
In my own personal background, I've worked almost exclusively with engineer designed large commercial pools, and I could give you a 200 item list of dumb things done by registered PE's. My remaining local customer is a country club pool that has a 4" diagonal corner to corner off-level, due to a local engineer ignoring the soil study reporting a plastic layer of alluvial soil 20' down!
If you get the pics up, you may want to post on poolspaforum.com, which has far more pool industry member than I allow here, and ask for a practicing engineer knowledgeable about pool construction. I can assure you that there are NONE in my area (110 miles N of you) and that quite a few of the engineers in your area who've been involved in commercial pool design . . . shouldn't have been involved!
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