MARY ELLEN BRUCE LARGE, P.E., D.GE, DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES Technical Activities Update The DFI Committee Project Fund (CPF) has fostered practical research since its inception in 2012. A significant role of DFI Technical Committees is to encourage the use of the CPF to support initiatives that improve the design and execution of geotechnical construction technologies, such as deep foundations, excavation support and ground improvement. Committees are currently discussing concepts for proposals for 2019 awards, which are due in December. The CPF is aimed at supporting committee projects, so all proposals must be submitted through and endorsed by a committee. Since funded projects must produce a usable deliverable, numerous research docu- ments, reports and articles on current COMMITTEE CHAIR TANNER BLACKBURN, PH.D., P.E. Ground Improvement Committee The Ground Improvement Committee continues to serve as a resource for industry practitioners, owners, engineers, contractors and academics. DFI committee members volunteer their time to improve, promote and grow the geotechnical engineering and geotechnical construction industries. However, DFI members who are not on technical committees can contribute to this effort as well! One example of this potential contribution is to volunteer to give a presentation on a relevant ground improvement topic. Lyle Simonton of Subsurface Constructors has started a database of potential speakers for ground improvement topics. This database is a resource for DFI members who are planning seminars, workshops, or regional or local seminars. You can volunteer to present by adding yourself — or encouraging others to add themselves — to the database via a web-based form, located on the DFI Ground Improvement Technical Committee webpage under ‘Groups’ at www.dfi.org. The committee has supported DFI Committee Project Fund projects, which have resulted in practical publications that advanced the state of the practice. In 2018, Dr. Armin Stuedlein, P.E., Oregon State University, was awarded funding by the DFI Board of Trustees for a two-year research project titled “Seismic Performance of Rigid Inclusions.” This project, supported by multiple committees (Ground Improvement, Augered Cast-in- Place and Drilled Displacement Pile, and Seismic and Lateral Loads Technical Committees), will use numerical modeling to investigate the soil-structure response of minimally reinforced rigid elements subjected to kinematic loading and cyclic shear strains. It is anticipated that Dr. Stuedlein’s research effort will provide useful industry guidance for the appropriate use and proper design of rigid inclusions in seismic areas. Because this study aims to produce results that will be immediately transferrable to practice, Dr. Stuedlein requests that DFI members that construct rigid inclusions provide project information (e.g., plans, specifications and subsurface profiles) for their most common treatment conditions. Send this information directly to Dr. Stuedlein at [email protected] or contact him with questions as you develop packages for distribution to the research team. Lastly, the committee is always seeking ideas for new initiatives and projects, including research projects eligible for DFI Committee Project Funds. Contact me directly to discuss your ideas and proposals at [email protected]. COMMITTEE CHAIR DAVID MILLER, P.E. Soil Mixing Committee The Soil Mixing Committee has been active in research through the DFI Committee Project Fund. Dr. George Filz, P.E., Virginia Tech University, submitted the final version of his research report on “Influences of Mixture Proportions and Test Conditions on the Strength and Stiffness of Wet Mixed Soil and Cement,” which is published and available at www.dfi.org, under ‘Publications/ Project Fund Deliverables.’ The paper is the result of extensive work by Dr. Filz and his graduate students. George Onorato and Dr. Giovanni Bonita, GEI Consultants, have been awarded funding through the CPF for research on “The Effect of Curing Stresses on the Mechanical Properties of Soil- Cement Mixed Materials.” This study includes project data mining and field data collection to establish correlations for strength and permeability with confining stress. This extensive undertaking will require industry cooperation, and the research team is inviting companies to collaborate on the project. All client information will be kept confidential. For each project, they are seeking general site location, project type, duration, schedule, mixing depth and soil types. It is important to know that as part of the research, the researchers will need all available site geotechnical characterization DEEP FOUNDATIONS • SEPT/OCT 2018 • 113 industry issues have been produced and are available on the ‘Awards/Committee Project Fund’ page at www.dfi.org . All members are encouraged to share ideas on research topics that could advance the unde r s t anding and us e of de ep foundations. TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES
