Dynamic Technical Program Planned for DFI’s SuperPile ‘19 — May 1-3 in Seattle: Featuring Workshops, Invited Speakers, Forums and Panel Discussions

DFI’s SuperPile ’19, hosted in partnership with ADSC, is taking place May 1-3 at the Sheraton Grand Seattle, Washington. The event focuses on the latest developments in augered cast-in-place/drilled displacement piles, drilled shafts, driven piles, ground improvement, helical piles and tiebacks, marine foundations, micropiles, testing and evaluation of foundation systems, and seismic and lateral loads.

On Wednesday, May 1, a full-day pre-conference Impact Testing for Site Characterization Workshop is being hosted by DFI’s Testing and Evaluation Committee. The workshop highlights best practices for using impact testing methods to enhance quality of site investigation. Presenters include Jason DeJong, Ph.D., University of California, Davis; Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Ryan Allin, P.E., Pile Dynamics; Marcel Bielefeld, Allnamics; David Tara, Thurber Engineering; Mike Holloway, P.E., consulting engineer; and a representative of Conetec.

Thursday, May 2, features presentations by invited speakers focused on important, local projects.

• Dynamic and Rapid Pile Loading Test Program at Terminal 5, Port of Seattle: Brice Exley, P.E., Hart Crowser, and Steve Spencer, P.E., Pacific Pile & Marine. This presentation discusses the engineering and construction aspects of a large offshore pile load testing program at the Port of Seattle. The program included low strain testing/signal matching and Rapid Load Testing of offshore prestressed concrete piles, and onshore open-ended pipe piles.

• Concrete Filled Steel Tubes and Their Connections for Efficient Deep Foundations in Regions of Moderate and High Seismicity: Dawn Lehman, Ph.D., University of Washington, and Amy Leland, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This presentation summarizes over a decade of work sponsored by the Army, Caltrans and WSDOT, resulting in recent changes to the AASHTO bridge design specification and WSDOT bridge design manual. The presentation will discuss experimental and analytical results for the piles and connections.

• Seismic Design of Pile-Supported Port Structures: Geotechnical Perspectives: Stephen Dickenson, Ph.D., P.E., D. PE, New Albion Geotechnical. This presentation focuses on common design challenges, pitfalls and lessons learned from numerous port and waterfront projects from around the world. Recommendations will be presented for practitioners charged with geotechnical analysis of soil-foundation-structure interaction of pile-supported wharves and piers.

On Thursday, May 2, an Industry-Owner Collaborative Forum is being broadcast as a live webinar. The forum focuses on programs that provide unbiased industry input to enhance the value safety, sustainability and quality of technical foundation solutions. Collaborative vehicles being presented include Washington DOT’s industry outreach program; DFI’s Seepage Control Committee, Chennai Metro working group, and the International Groundwater Management Working Group; PDCA’s Pile Advocacy Program, and introduction of new technologies to AASHTO.

The panel is being moderated by Matthew Janes, P.Eng., Isherwood Associates and DFI president. Panelists include: Pollyanna Cunningham, ICE® – International Construction Equipment and chair of DFI’s Driven Pile Committee; Mark Gaines, P.E., Washington State DOT; Silas Nichols, P.E., Federal Highway Administration; and David Paul, P.E., Paul GeoTek Engineering and DFI trustee.

The webinar also includes a live broadcast of the Osterberg Memorial Lecture by Prof. Samuel Paikowsky, Ph.D., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Massachusetts Lowell and president of GeoDynamica. Prof. Paikowsky’s presentation is titled, “Capacity Testing of Deep Foundations: Successes and Pitfalls.”

On Friday, May 3, a panel discussion, titled, “Foundation Test Methods: Horses for Courses,” compares foundation testing methods. The session focuses on the importance of understanding the pros and cons of foundation test methods to one that ensures that a project’s objectives are met. Invited speakers Bert Miner, Robert Miner Dynamic Testing, and Mike Justason, McMaster University, discuss the principles of high-strain dynamic testing methods as compared to rapid load testing methods, including the advantages and drawbacks, followed by a moderated Q&A session. Then, invited speakers Bernie Hertlein, GEI Consultants, and Gray Mullins. Ph.D., University of South Florida, discuss integrity testing covering crosshole sonic logging, low strain dynamic testing (also referred to as sonic integrity testing or pile integrity testing), thermal integrity profiling and gamma-gamma logging. 

For more information or to register, visit archive.dfi.org/SuperPile19.