Driven Pile Committee In the last committee report, we requested that DFI members contribute driven pile case histories for a soon-to-be-published Cost-Efficient Driven Pile Case Histories hardcover book. The response has been underwhelming. This project will not happen without contributions from DFI membership. Those that contribute can use the book as a marketing tool highlighting their firm’s leading-edge design. The case histories may have been previously published in the DFI magazine or other trade publications, presented at a previous seminar or conference, or original to this publication. The committee has identified several factors that contribute to cost- efficient driven piles. The case histories may involve of one or more of the following factors: 1) Pile type/section/material – optimizing the pile type, section or material based on desired allowable load(s) and subsurface conditions. 2) Testing – either utilizing pre-construction testing to better model subsurface conditions or construc- tion testing (i.e., dynamic, static or rapid load testing) to reduce uncertainties. 3) Set-up – incorporating set-up into the design can reduce the pile length, section, and/or pile driving equipment. 4) Higher allowable loads and/or allowable design stresses – reducing the pile count and pile cap size by fully utilizing the available geotechnical and structural allowable load for each pile. 5) Driving criteria – incorporating test results, and developing installation criteria using more reliable methods such as refined wave equation analyses vs. dynamic formulae. These are just a few examples; we encourage other factors to be considered and submitted. The case histories will be cross- referenced based on the cost-saving factors illustrated in each. Van Komurka of Wagner Komurka Geotechnical Group, Inc. ([email protected]) has volunteered to be the point person collecting the case histories and editing the book. The committee will review the submitted case histories for Tom Nichols Committee Chair [email protected] selection at the DFI Annual Conference. Contribute as soon as possible to ensure consideration for inclusion. SuperPile 2012 was a great success drawing over 200 people. Congratulations to local organizer Robert Bittner of Bittner- Shen Consulting for a great event. SuperPile 2013 will be in Minneapolis, Minn. The third annual CGS-DFI-PDCA Driven Pile Seminar was held in Calgary, AB, Canada, on June 28. Calgary Geotec- hnical Society, in particular Frank Magdich of Oak Environmental, helped organize the event. DFI and PDCA will continue to work together on this annual event and other technical issues regarding driven piles. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2012 • 65
