The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has opened registration for its virtual SuperPile 2020 event, taking place 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EST June 18-19.
The conference, hosted in partnership with ADSC, includes two half-day sessions of online panel discussions and presentations on some of the most contemporary topics in the foundations industry. Each day ends with a one-hour virtual networking happy hour.
June 18 opens with a panel discussion on “Geotechnical Baseline Reports” (GBR). Geotechnical and legal experts discuss the meaning, benefits and challenges of using a GBR for foundation projects. James Morrison, PE, P. Eng., of COWI North America moderates the panel. Panelists include Randy Essex, Mott MacDonald; Jeramy Decker, Ph.D., Kiewit; Vic Donald, PE, Terracon; Conrad Felice, Ph.D., PE, P.Eng., D. GE., F.ASCE, C.W. Felice; Richard Kalson, Esq., Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff.
The panel discussion is followed by three presentations highlighting new design approaches and practical construction issues.
“The Incremental Rigidity Method – More-Direct Conversion of Strain to Internal Force in an Instrumented Static Loading Test,” Van Komurka, PE, D.GE, F.ASCE, GRL Engineers.
“Pipe Piles in Plastic Soils: Effect of Installation Activities on Side Resistance,” Steve Saye, PE, Kiewit Infrastructure Engineers.
“Impact of Heave on Permanently Cased Drilled Shaft Axial Capacity in Sand,” Glen Bellew, PE, USACE-Kansas City District.
June 19 starts with three more presentations by invited speakers.
“Micropiles for Permanent Support Applications in Sedimentary Formations,” Jesus Gomez, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, GEI Consultants.
“Reducing Risk and Conservatism in Drilled Shaft Design: A Case Study,” Justin Toney, P.E., Quanta Subsurface and Brock Wallis, MJ Drilling.
“Using Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) to Monitor Shaft Cooling System for Large Diameter Drilled Shafts,” David Schoen, P.E., S&ME
The event concludes with “Horses for Courses – Pile Testing,” a panel discussion on foundation and integrity testing methods. Testing experts explore the features, limitations and appropriate use of static load testing as compared to bi-directional load testing, and of low strain dynamic testing as compared to thermal integrity profiling. The moderator is Gerald Verbeek, Allnamics Pile Testing Experts. Panelists include Ryan Allin, PE, Pile Dynamics; Marcel Bielefeld, MSc, MScBA, Allnamics; Erik Loehr, Ph.D., PE, University of Missouri-Columbia; and Robert Simpson, Load Testing Consulting.
Full conference attendees receive six professional development hours (PDHs).
Virtual happy hours sponsored by ICE - International Construction Equipment and PierTech Systems. DFI says additional opportunities to support the conference are still available. To register or find out about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.dfi.org/superpile2020.
The DFI is an international association of contractors, engineers, academics and suppliers in the deep foundations industry with more than 3,500 members worldwide. For more information about the Deep Foundations Institute, visit www.dfi.org.
