Sunday, November 17

Morning Courses

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Diaphragm Wall Design and Construction

Instructors: Benjamin Giacometti, Nicholson Construction; Mohamed Elgouhary, Treviicos Corporation

Diaphragm walls are becoming increasingly prevalent in the foundation industry because they provide solutions for challenges posed by constructing deep excavations.  Diaphragm wall construction involves unique means and methods, and so their design and installation must account for special considerations. This short course will present practical aspects of the design and construction of diaphragm walls, including means and methods, design approaches, and QA/QC procedures commonly used in the industry. Case histories will also be presented. 

Introduction to Earth Retaining Systems: Soil Nailing, Anchors and Wall Selection

Instructors: Jeff Segar, GeoStabilization, Inc.; Ed Laczynski, Wagman Heavy Civil

The course will be divided into two parts: one part will focus on soil nailing and the other part on anchors and wall selection.  For soil nailing, the course will describe how a soil nail wall functions, provide example applications where soil nailing is the appropriate solution, present every stage of the installation process, highlight key aspects of the design procedures, and explain the testing procedures.  For anchors and wall selection, the course will provide an overview of the construction and function of tieback anchors, contrasted to soil nails.  The instructors will present various wall types and a process for selecting appropriate wall types for temporary and permanent applications.  The course will overview materials and equipment typically used in anchor construction, and present generally accepted federal design guidance (FHWA GEC4) including LRFD processes, the differences required by PennDOT (location of the conference), and a basic anchor design example.

Mechanically Stabilized Earth Structures: Design, Critical Considerations, and Advancements

Instructors: Robert Johnson, Submatrix LLC; Robert Gladstone, Association for Mechanically Stabilized Earth

This workshop will equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to design and implement effective and innovative mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structures.  The workshop begins with an introduction to MSE structures, followed by an exploration of fundamental design concepts, including geotechnical properties, loading conditions, and material selection, illustrated through case studies of successful projects.  Critical design considerations will be discussed, including stability analyses, seismic design, settlement, and drainage, and regulatory requirements and codes will be presented.  The content will highlight recent advancements in MSE design, focusing on innovations in reinforcement materials, state-of-the-art design methodologies, and sustainability considerations. An interactive design exercise will be presented.

Afternoon Courses

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

She Knows the Drill – Women’s Equipment Workshop 

Instructors: Jewels Stover, Bauer Equipment

This short course will cover the basics of the equipment used to construct deep foundations and excavation support systems. The course content will cover base equipment, rotary piling rigs, driven systems, small diameter drills, digging, cutting and mixing systems and associated tools and attachments that are employed in a wide variety of geotechnical construction methods.  This course, taught by female leaders in the equipment sector of the industry, is designed to empower women to gain knowledge of equipment used in geotechnical construction and understand why having that knowledge is powerful for many different roles within the geo-industry. Attendees will get a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on learning opportunities with an afternoon tour to the ECA yard in Pittsburgh. This course will educate, inspire, and build confidence for all those who attend.

Introduction to Advanced Earth Retention Techniques: Ground Freezing, Soil Mixing, Jet Grouting

Instructors: Paul Schmall, Dennis Boehm, Joe Sopko, Max Pucciarello, Keller North America

Ground improvement methods are often utilized for both groundwater control and support of excavation for underground construction.  This short course will focus on the three most common ground improvement techniques for such purposes; jet grouting, soil mixing, and ground freezing.  The presentations will cover applications, design approaches, materials, construction procedures, and quality control and assurance methods.  Direction will be provided to help attendees recognize the project and subsurface conditions in which these techniques are appropriate and special considerations to ensure safe, successful projects.