Osterberg Celebration

The Deep Foundations Institute's Educational Trust Board of Trustees invites you to the Annual Osterberg Memorial Lecture and Dinner, which takes place Thursday, May 7, at the Riva Café in Chicago.

The Osterberg Memorial Lecture has been established in honor of Dr. Jorj Osterberg, who has long been recognized for his innovations in soil sampling and testing (including his inventions: the Osterberg Sampler and the Osterberg Cell), to recognize innovations in the deep foundations construction industry and related to deep foundations engineering design, testing or education - all aspects of his lifelong contributions.

Presenters this year include Clyde Baker Jr., a colleague of Osterberg who has served as a geotechnical engineer or consultant on eight of the 20 tallest buildings in the world; and Robert Lukas, a former student of Osterberg, and former principal of STS Consultants Inc.

For complete details, visit www.dfi.org.

Micropile Workshop in England

The International Society for Micropiles (ISM) presents the ISM Workshop 2009, which takes place May 10-13 in London.

Highlights of the event:

• Workshops held aboard the HMS President on the River Thames.
• Technical presentations and in-depth discussion of micropile technology.
• Breakout sessions on research and practice issues.
• 5th Annual Lizzi Lecture, delivered by Donald Bruce of Geosystems L.P.
• Subsequent one-day micropile design and construction seminar taught by international micropile specialists.

For all the details, visit www.ismicropiles.org.
 

Bermingham Is Honored

Bermingham Foundation Solutions, Hamilton, Ontario, recently was named Ernst & Young's Ontario "Entrepreneur of the Year" in the manufacturing category. Patrick Bermingham, CEO, credits employees and the company's team-based management for its success. "For entrepreneurs," he says, "it's not about the money; it's about realizing the potential of the company. The biggest achievement is breathing new life into an old company. I want to thank my employees, therefore, for helping me realize my dreams."

Bermingham Foundation Solutions is specialized in all aspects of foundation construction, and supplies foundation tools and expertise for large infrastructure projects globally.

Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year is recognized globally as the most prestigious business award honoring the spirit and contribution of individuals in Canada and around the world who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. Dan Cornacchia, National and Ontario Director of the awards program, comments that since The Entrepreneur of the Year annual awards program was established in Canada 15 years ago, "individuals have been finding exciting, new ways of doing business and meeting market needs. Their ideas and contributions make a real difference to their customers, employees and communities."

Featured Project

Wolf Creek Dam Repairs

Kentucky's Wolf Creek Dam has been leaking, requiring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to operate Lake Cumberland at lower levels, and causing long-term financial impacts to surrounding areas. The Corps assessed the situation and cited Wolf Creek among its highest-risk dams. In 2007, the Nashville District of the USACE issued the RFP (request for proposals) Solicitation for the Phase II of the foundation remediation to which several worldwide geotechnical companies responded.

TREVIICOS/Soletanche JV, with North American headquarters in Charlestown, Mass., was awarded the $341.4 million project in July 2008 for the construction of the 4,200-foot-long concrete barrier wall with average depth of 275 feet. The methodology selected to stop the seepage through the karstic rock formation involves a combination of secant piles and rectangular panels.

WIRTH International, Houston, will supply the specialized equipment, drill rigs and drill string for the installation of the secant piles customized for the special requirements of this unique project. It is anticipated that the cooperation with WIRTH, linked to the customization of the equipment, will be continued throughout the project. Technical assistance will be provided by American Commercial Inc., a DSI company headquartered in Bristol, Va. Similar methods and equipment were successful at the Walter F. George Dam project in Alabama by the TREVIICOS/Rodio Joint Venture.

The Wolf Creek Dam Project started in the fall of 2008, with a contract performance period of four years. Once this project is complete, the dam will be fully functional, resulting in several benefits to the area, including healthy fish habitats, visitor and tourism financial impacts, as well as the ability to maximize use of all the hydropower plants in the Cumberland River System.

NASSPA Expands Membership

The North American Steel Sheet Piling Association (NASSPA) has expanded its membership to companies and individuals that are involved with accessories, equipment, design and specification of steel sheet piling (SSP) systems. In keeping with the mission of NASSPA to provide a forum where the users of steel sheet piling technology can interact and discuss best practices, the association's board of trustees approved two new
membership categories into NASSPA. Associate membership is offered to firms engaged in the manufacture, distribution and/or supply of equipment, material, accessories or services to the hot-rolled steel sheet piling industry in North America. Technical affiliate membership is offered to firms engaged with the design or in teaching the art and science of design and installation of hot-rolled steel sheet piling in North America.

According to Gerry McShane, who represents Arcelor Mittal on the NASSPA board of trustees, "The work that NASSPA does in developing standards, promoting steel sheet piling systems and developing education programs will only benefit as we hear from suppliers and users of SSP systems. We look forward to their participation at NASSPA committees and their involvement with NASSPA projects."

Steel sheet piling wall systems are used as major components in the construction of port facilities, bridges, locks and dams; remediation of contaminated soils; and support of excavation. Founded in 2003, NASSPA is dedicated to the promotion of hot-rolled steel sheet piling. and its members represent the major producers of hot-rolled steel sheet piling that supply the North American market. The association is involved in a broad range of education, technical, research, marketing and communications activities.

On the Job

Increasing Motorist Safety

Tri-State Construction Inc., Bellevue, Wash., utilizes a giant auger to drill shafts for piers for the new on-ramp from State Road 3 to northbound U.S. 101 near Shelton, Wash. After the shafts were drilled, reinforcing steel rebar cages were inserted in the shaft and concrete was poured. The $3.8 million project means drivers no longer have to turn left across high-speed traffic to access U.S. 101.

Featured Product of the Month

Hydraulic Rotary Head

AEC Store Corner

Foundation Engineering Handbook - $127.95
The latest information on foundation engineering, design, construction and code

This practical resource offers complete coverage of foundation engineering, emphasizing the geotechnical aspects and the use of the 2006 International Building Code. Foundation Engineering Handbook explains how to develop a complete program of foundation investigation, conduct geotechnical field and laboratory studies, and analyze data for the design of foundations. Evaluating construction and preparing foundation engineering reports also is covered.

Covers these and other key topics:

• Soil mechanics
• Field testing
• Earth slope stability evaluation
• Seismic analysis
• 2006 International Building Code

CLICK HERE for more details or to purchase this book.