Seminar Detail

Program Information Registration
Ground Improvement Technology and Applications
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa
Hollywood, CA
October 12, 2010

This one-day educational seminar will cover current issues in ground improvement technology. The state of practice of ground improvement techniques used internationally will be outlined, with particular emphasis on practice in Southern California. New advancements will be highlighted including the use of natural biological processes, vacuum consolidation, and Cutter Soil Mixing. The evolving relationship between building codes and ground improvement will be explored and discussed including the code development process, content of the seismic building code and an overview of tools for verifying ground improvement. The issues and challenges of predicting liquefaction and the use of panel reinforcement to reduce ground shaking will be presented. Case histories will highlight the processes described.

Attendees are invited to bring a poster that communicates the types of ground improvement techniques they are designing and constructing. Posters will be displayed in the break/lunch area for viewing by all. Space is limited so reserve your poster space early.
Seminar Program

Preliminary Program (Tuesday, October 12, 2010)
8:00 AM-8:30 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM-8:40 AM Opening Remarks
GIC Chair: Marty Taube, Menard and Local Chair: Chris Diaz, Diaz Yourman & Associates
8:40 AM-9:15 AM Ground Improvement – What is it and why do we use it?
Timothy S. Avery, P.E., Hayward Baker Inc.
Ground Improvement is a very versatile method for providing solutions to numerous geotechnical issues. This presentation will provide a brief introduction to what ground improvement is, a summary of methods, and when one method might be used over another. Ground improvement methods discussed will be Dynamic Deep Compaction, Vibro Compaction/Replacement, and Deep Soil Mixing.
9:15 AM-9:45 AM Recent trends in Ground Improvement Applications
James G. Collin, Ph.D., P.E., The Collin Group Ltd.
9:45 AM-10:15 AM Ground Improvement Practices in Southern California
Juan I. Baez, Ph.D., P.E., Advanced Geosolutions Inc.
10:15 AM-10:30 AM Break/Poster Viewing
10:30 AM-11:00 AM Bio-Mediated Ground Improvement - Part of the Future?
Jason Dejong, Ph.D., University of California Davis
The role of biological processes in soils has been identified as one of the “final frontiers” of the profession, and significant research activities on how biological processes can improve the engineering properties of soil is ongoing. Bio-improvement can reduce hydraulic conductivity by three orders of magnitude, increase stiffness and strength such that loose sand becomes soft rock, and alter volumetric behavior such that liquefaction can be prevented. This presentation will present an overview of this emerging field, highlight technologies that to date have shown the most promise, and present recent experimental results that are part of a larger effort to perform full-scale pilot test projects.
11:00 AM-11:30 PM Recent Advancement in the Vacuum Consolidation Technology – Case Studies in Australia and South East Asia
Frederic Masse, Menard
The Vacuum Consolidation Method utilizes the atmospheric pressure to consolidate soft saturated compressible soils. A preloading equivalent to 70% of the atmospheric pressure is applied when a vacuum is created under an impervious membrane covering the treatment area. This Vacuum preload, unlike a classical soil preload, is isotropic, constant with depth and leads to an immediate decrease of the pore water pressure within the treated soil mass. This technology has been successfully applied for various type of structures and various type of soil profile in Europe, Asia and Australia in the past 20 years. After reviewing the theoretical basis of this unique technology as well as the construction methodology, this presentation will go into the details of two different recent applications in Vietnam for a Power Plant and in Australia for the construction of the extension of the Brisbane Container Terminal over reclaimed land.
11:30 PM-12:00 PM Use of Cutter Soil Mixing to Construct Two Microtunnel Access Shafts in Newport Beach, California
Roberto A. Lopez, P.E., Malcolm Drilling Company Inc.
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Lunch/Poster Viewing
1:00 PM-1:15 PM ICC Code Development Process
Kevin Scott, International Code Council
Course Description: This seminar will cover the code development process for the International Code Council set of codes. The attendee will learn about the code development cycle, who can submit a code change proposal, how to write a code change proposal, how to participate on Code Development Committees, and how to work with other organizations to be successful.
1:15 PM-1:45 PM Overview of Seismic Requirements in Building Codes
Frank Leathers, P.E., GEI Consultants Inc.
The magnitude of seismic loading required for design of a structure at a particular site depends significantly upon the strength and stiffness of the subsoil profile at the site. At sites with soft ground conditions, amplification of the earthquake acceleration through the soil profile can significantly increase the design seismic loading. Ground improvement may be useful in strengthening and stiffening the soil mass supporting and surrounding the structure’s foundations and below-ground elements, and thereby reducing the magnitude of seismic loading for the entire structure. This presentation will summarize the key seismic requirements in building codes (primarily IBC-2009), including determination of site class for the subsurface profile, site amplification coefficients based on the site class, determination of mapped maximum earthquake ground motion (acceleration), and evaluation of liquefaction potential. The discussion will also summarize ways in which ground improvement could impact the determination of required seismic design loads.
1:45 PM-2:30 PM Verification Tools for Ground Improvement
Kyle Rollins, Ph.D., Brigham Young University
Dr. Rollins will describe in-situ testing approaches commonly used to evaluate liquefaction after soil improvement for liquefaction mitigation using techniques such as stone column treatment and soil mixing. He will also provide case histories which describe the use of these approaches in practice.
2:30 PM-2:45 PM Break/Poster Viewing
2:45 PM-3:45 PM Triggering of Liquefaction - Issues and Challenges
Ross W. Boulanger, University of California Davis
This presentation will explore current issues in the evaluation of liquefaction triggering for a range of field conditions. Particular attention will be given to issues related to difficult soil types, liquefaction at larger depths, and differences between different liquefaction triggering correlations.
3:45 PM-4:15 PM Use of Panel Reinforcement to Reduce Ground Shaking
C. Guney Olgun and James R. Martin II, Virginia Polytechnic University
In this seminar, we present and summarize results from dynamic three-dimensional (3-D) finite element analyses of soil-mix panel reinforced ground. Results are shown for a series of analyses where typical soil-mix panels are installed at replacement ratios of 24% and 36%. The improvement was found to cause reductions in spectral acceleration of up to 40% in comparison to unimproved ground conditions, especially for structural periods less than 1.0 second. A variety of geometrical configurations such as different replacement ratios, improvement depths as well as panel stiffnesses are currently being studied to provide further insight into the phenomenon.
4:14 PM-4:45 PM Liquefaction Mitigation at San Pablo Dam
A.D. (David) Miller, P.E., Raito Inc.
The earth-fill San Pablo Dam was built in 1920, creating a drinking water reservoir and recreation area northeast of Berkeley, California. After a seismic study determined that the dam foundation was vulnerable to liquefaction from earthquakes on the Hayward fault, the water was lowered to a safe level in 2004. Cement Deep Soil Mixing (CDSM) was chosen to mitigate liquefaction in the downstream toe of the dam foundation. Presentation covers design and construction of CDSM, which was completed by Raito, Inc. in 2009.
4:45 PM-5:00 PM Q&A and Panel Discussion
5:00 PM-6:00 PM Reception in Conference Exhibit Hall
Seminar Information
Venue: Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa
1755 N. Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Tel: 323-856-1200
Toll Free: 800-468-3571
Fax:
Web: Click here
Accommodation: Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa
1755 N. Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Tel: 323-856-1200
Toll Free: 800-468-3571
Web: Click here
These rates are discounted room rates for DFI Attendees, subject to availability. The special rate will also be honored 3 days prior and 3 days following the seminar, based on availability. If you have any difficulty in obtaining a room, please contact Lorraine Engleman Click Here for assistance.
*Please make reservations early. DFI's discounted rates are subject to a cut-off date, (Monday, September 20, 2010) and availability.
Non-member Registration Fee: $395.00
DFI Member Registration Fee: $350.00
Student registration: Discounted Student Registration is available on a limited basis. Student must provide a copy of their ID card.
Student Registration: $50.00
Full Seminar Attendee Registration Fees Include: Seminar Attendance, Breakfast, Breaks, Lunch, Reception, Registration Materials and presentation flash drive (printed Binders can be ordered at an additional cost if desired-contact DFI HQ).
Acknowledgement: If your registration is received in DFI Headquarters prior to Friday, September 24, 2010, you will be sent a confirmation.
Cancellation: Sorry, No Refunds after September 24, 2010. If you are unable to attend, your registration may be transferred to another individual provided they are a DFI member. Cancellations prior to September 24, 2010 must be made in writing via fax or mail.
Payment: Payment must accompany your registration. Register on-line or fax your registration with credit card information included, or mail with credit card information, check or money order.
Blue Ribbon Travel is DFI's official travel coordinator. Call Lorraine Engelman(lorraine@blueribbon.travel) at (718) 767-5455 for assistance with your travel and accommodation needs.
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