Osterberg Load Cell Takes Gerwick Award

The Deep Foundations Institute's Marine Foundations Committee has announced the selection of the Osterberg Load Cell as the recipient of the 2009 Ben C. Gerwick Award for Innovation in Design and Construction of Marine Foundations. Jorg Osterberg invented the device in the mid-1980s while he was professor emeritus at Northwestern University. Osterberg, who died at age 93 in 2008, revolutionized load testing with his invention. The award recognizes his innovation in testing marine foundations, and will be presented to Loadtest Inc. Sept. 26 at the University of California-Berkeley campus. This will mark the 2nd annual award dinner honoring Ben C. Gerwick, Jr. with proceeds from the dinner benefiting the Deep Foundations Institute's Educational Trust.

Jack Hayes, president of Loadtest Inc., Gainesville, Fla., will attend to accept the award. Loadtest is the sole provider of the patented Osterberg Cell bi-directional test method. Dr. Osterberg was one of the original founders of Loadtest, and the company was set up for the express purpose of developing, promoting and establishing the O-cell test process as a premier method for testing deep foundations.

A panel of six marine foundation experts selected the Osterberg Load Cell as this year's award-winner. The device verifies the load-carrying capacity of heavy marine foundations, and the jury cited the fact that prior load-testing methods were extremely expensive and limited in capacity. The Osterberg Cell simplified testing of heavy foundation piers, and makes the process safer and capable of delivering accurate measurement of both side-friction and end-bearing components of total load resistance. The invention helps foundation designers create more cost-effective foundations and reduces the time needed for testing.

The Ben C. Gerwick Award was created in 2008; last year's recipient was the Menck MUP deep water hammer. The award is named for Ben C. Gerwick Jr., who was responsible for world-class contributions to the marine industry during his 62-year career. Gerwick, who died in 2006, was a contractor, educator, author and construction engineer.

Cost-efficient
Piles Conference

The Pile Driving Contractors Association, in cooperation with the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California and the American Society of Civil Engineers' San Francisco Section, presents the 10th annual engineering- and contractor-focused driven Design and Installation of Cost-efficient Piles (DICEP). The event takes place Nov. 19 at the Walnut Creek Marriott in Walnut Creek, Calif.

The goals for this year's DICEP conference are increasing useable pile capacity to reduce foundation costs, and optimizing dollars per ton of pile bearing to reduce project foundation costs.

The DICEP conference will include five 50-minute presentations focusing on engineering issues relevant to pile driving, using case histories and practical and relevant information on driven pile design.

Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available on a limited basis. For complete details, telephone 888-311-7322, or visit www.piledrivers.org.

In Memoriam

Dr. Lymon Reese, professor emeritus, University of Texas, and one of the world's leading drilled foundation experts, passed away on Sept. 14. Dr. Reese was an Honorary Technical Affiliate Member of ADSC: The International Association of Foundation Drilling. His seminal drilled shaft foundation research conducted for the Texas Department of Transportation and his subsequent writings are among the most important work ever conducted in the field. Dr. Reese was one of the last surviving early "giants" of the industry. At age 92, he remained a vibrant contributor to the profession, and will be greatly missed.

Langan Expands Into Southern California

Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, headquartered in Elmwood Park, N.J., has expanded its West Coast presence with the addition of its new office located in Irvine, Calif. The firm now has 12 offices in eight states - New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia, Florida, Nevada and California, as well as international locations in Abu Dhabi and Athens. The Langan principal in charge of the firm's Southern California office is Rudolph Frizzi, the current president of the Deep Foundations Institute. Dan Eberhart and Diane Fiorelli lead the new office's operations.

On the Job

Design-build Earth Retention Project

For the construction of mixed-use retail, office and residential properties called City Creek Center in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, Nicholson Construction Co. provided the turnkey design-build earth retention system that includes 45,000 square feet of diaphragm wall, and 120,000 square feet of soil nail wall. In addition, Nicholson underpinned three buildings with 104 micropiles, and installed more than 700 linear feet of jet grout wall for water control.

As part of a joint venture, Nicholson also installed 1,040 24-inch diameter auger-cast piles as deep foundations for the new structure that is rising out of this 65 foot-deep excavation.

Overall, this is a $1 billion project across three blocks totaling 20 acres. The block containing Nicholson's work is 10 acres. The overall project involves demolition, excavation and new construction of underground parking, a pedestrian shopping mall and office/residential buildings up to 30 stories.

What made this project challenging was the strict, 1-inch movement criteria for the earth retention systems at existing buildings, some 23 stories high. This required the use of anchored diaphragm walls for wall movement control. Where 1-inch movement criteria is required, but adjacent to buildings less than 5 stories, Nicholson employed micropile underpinning to transfer loads below the shoring systems. The earth retention system adjacent to streets could tolerate more wall movement, so traditional soil nail walls were employed. Nicholson addressed ground water issues by performing jet grouting. Adjacent structures and the entire earth retention system are being continuously monitored in real-time by Sol Data's Cyclops instrumentation system.

Since 1955, Nicholson Construction Co., headquartered in Cuddy, Pa., has been an industry leader for performance and technical innovation in geotechnical construction.  As the North American business unit of the Soletanche Bachy Group, Nicholson specializes in deep foundations, earth retention, ground treatment and ground improvement.

Show Off Your Company's Work

The December issue of National Driller magazine will include a special section featuring foundation drilling job profiles and case histories. You're invited to submit stories about projects your firm has completed for this issue. It's absolutely free. All you have to do is send the copy in a word document, along with hi-res photos (300 dpi) in jpg format, and your company will be featured in this highly anticipated issue. It's free, it's easy, and it's good P.R. for your firm, so e-mail your submission to NDeditors@bnpmedia.com , or send a CD to Greg Ettling, BNP Media, 1050 S. Busse #200, Bensenville, Ill. 60106. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Oct 23.

Featured Product of the Month

Hydraulic Impact Hammers

The HHK A-series of hydraulic impact hammers from Junttan feature an adjustable stroke of up to 3.9 feet. The hammer is suitable for driving all types of piles - precast concrete, steel tube, sheet and timber piles. The design of the hammer frame and drive cap makes for low impact noise and less vibration while piling. The construction of the hammer makes it possible to use biodegradable hydraulic oils. The hammer is easy to connect to different hydraulic systems. It can be operated by the hydraulic system of the rig or by a separate power pack. The hammer can be mounted on all kinds of leaders, or can be freely suspended. For more information, visit www.junttan.fi.

AEC Store Corner

Geotechnical Engineering, 5th Ed.

$132.00

Geotechnical Engineering Soil and Foundation Principles and Practice offers a concise, easy-to-understand approach to the principles and methods of soil and geotechnical engineering. This updated classic builds from basic principles of soil mechanics and applies them to new topics, including mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) and intermediate foundations. FOLLOW THIS LINK for a complete description or to purchase this item.  Call Stephanie at 248-244-1275 to place your order by phone.