• Conducting a study to compare limit equilibrium and advanced numerical methods for slopes reinforced with stabilizing piles. • Preparing a literature study and modeling to compare strain wedge and GROUP procedures to define simplified analytical steps for A-Wall systems. • Presenting two webinars in 2018 — topics, speakers and dates to be announced soon. Driven Pile Committee Chair: Ben Vance, P.E., STRATA [email protected] Trustee Liaison: David Borger, P.E. Skyline Steel, [email protected] Drilled Shaft Committee Chair: Paul Axtell, P.E., D. GE, Dan Brown and Associates, [email protected] Trustee Liaison: James Johnson, Condon Johnson and Associates [email protected] • Continued an organized outreach effort for deep foundations at the Internation- al Bridge Conference in Washington, D.C., in June, including a dedicated exhibit hall area for foundations. • Collaborating on a cofunded study with EFFC to develop a guide to improve tremie concreting and testing practices for deep foundations (drilled shafts and diaphragm/slurry walls). The first edition of EFFC-DFI Best Practice Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations (2016) is available for free download from www.dfi.org. The second edition, including recommendations for future practice, is scheduled for release in 2018. • Collaborating on a cofunded study with the DFI Seismic and Lateral Loads Committee, through the DFI Commit- tee Project Fund, and ADSC to evaluate the shear demand in drilled shaft rock sockets. Construction and testing are ongoing with preliminary results expected to be available in early 2018. 110 • DEEP FOUNDATIONS • NOV/DEC 2017 Ground Improvement Committee Chair: Tanner Blackburn, Ph.D., P.E. Hayward Baker [email protected] Trustee Liaison: Martin G. Taube, P.E., P.G. Menard USA, [email protected] • Supported the SSI seminar in Washington, D.C. • Reviewing Unified Facilities Guide Specifications for Densified Aggregate Piers for NAVFAC. • Maintaining a ground improvement presentation and speaker information database. Abstract submission portal is available on committee web page. • Exploring possibility of presenting educational opportunities in driven pile design. • Investigating ways to utilize the structural capacity of steel piles more efficiently in the design process. • Conducted a productive committee meeting at SuperPile ’17 in San Diego, with more than 30 individuals in attendance. Multiple potential committee projects were discussed. Helical Piles and Tiebacks Committee Chair: Gary Seider, P.E., Hubbell Power Systems/Chance, [email protected] Trustee Liaison: Howard Perko, Ph.D., P.E. Magnum Piering [email protected] • Developing standard specifications for helical soil nails. • Developing a committee-endorsed engineering instruction/training program for helical designers. • Organizing annual topical seminars. • Developing a helical pile design guide. • Conducting Helical Seismic Research Study including literature review, laboratory and model testing and full- scale field testing (Researcher: Prof. Amy Cerato, University of Oklahoma). • Working on two draft ASTM Standards – one for helical pile testing and another for installation/testing. • Working with ICC-ES staff and Helical Ad Hoc Committee on revisions to Helical Pile Acceptance Criteria AC358. • Conducting Helical Seismic Liquefaction Research Study including scale mode shake table testing (Researcher: Prof. Ramin Motamed, University of Nevada – Reno). • Reviewing NAVFAC Helical Pile Specification. • Planning a DFI and Helical Pile World Educational Tradeshow on helical piles, tiebacks and anchors in Cincinnati, Ohio. Date to be determined.
