DFI ACTIVITIES Successful ACIP and DD Specialty Seminar The Augered Cast-in-Place (ACIP) & Drilled Displacement (DD) Piles Specialty Seminar took place on November 10, 2016, in Newport Beach, Calif., and hosted a record-breaking 100 attendees. This specialty seminar included a broad range of presentations describing the design, construction, and quality control and assurance of ACIP and DD piles. Committee Chair Morgan NeSmith, P.E., of Berkel & Company Contractors, led the seminar with an overview of the development of ACIP and DD pile technologies, followed by detailed instruction on design methods, installation techniques and materials. NeSmith highlighted the recent publication of the committee’s updated ACIP Piles Manual that includes detailed guidance specifications and commentary. This manual is available on the Publications page at www.dfi.org. Tim Siegel, P.E., G.E., D.GE, of Dan Brown and Associates, expanded the discussion on design by outlining specific challenges for ACIP/DD pile designers in California. Topics included nontechnical factors such as competing stakeholder priorities relating to cost and risk; mutual understanding of performance expectations; communication between geotechnical and structural engineers regarding design methods and foundation performance expectations; and detailed design issues related to liquefaction, drag load and lateral pile behavior. Bernie Hertlein, FACI, of GEI Consultants, described specific factors involved in using non- destructive foundation testing techniques to verify the integrity of ACIP and DD piles. John Anderson, of Specrete-IP, discussed the common issue of reinforcing steel insertion in augercast piles. Anderson showed how grouts designed to retain water can be specified and used to combat this problem, emphasizing relevant projects on the West Coast. Peter Faust, Dipl.-Ing., of Malcolm Drilling, Gordon King of Morris Shea Bridge Company and NeSmith provided interesting and challenging case histories on innovative ACIP and DD pile applications. Seminar speakers (L to R): Garneau, Anderson, Hertlein, Faust, King, Siegel, NeSmith (Gouchon not pictured) Several DFI member companies served as underwriters for the seminar, including: Berkel & Company Contractors, Champion Equipment Company, American Piledriving Equipment, Headed Reinforcement Corporation and Jeffrey Machine. Seminar attendees DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2017 • 19
