INSTRUCTOR:  Jerry A. DiMaggio P.E, M.ASCE 

“The teleconference method allows the audience to see this webinar straight from my office, without having to travel. I have attended many ASCE webinars and find that ASCE knows how to put together an effective webinar.”—Anonymous Attendee  

Purpose and Background

In January 2009, ASCE initiated a series of webinars that address the practical implementation of Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for geotechnical features. The series is broadly divided into two major areas: LRFD Fundamentals and LRFD Applications. The LRFD fundamentals are taught in a 2-part webinar that includes discussion on basics of LRFD, loads, load combinations and limit states. The LRFD applications address a number of topics ranging from shallow foundations, deep foundations (drilled shafts, driven piles, and micropiles) and earth retaining structures (fill walls, cut walls, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls and ground anchors). Also included among the application topics is a 90-minute standalone webinar which addresses subsurface explorations, the testing and application of soil and rock tests and finally the appropriate selection of geo-material properties for design and construction.

It is assumed that participants enrolling in any of the application topic webinars have a fundamental understanding of the design and construction of geotechnical features.

This webinar concentrates on ground anchors and ground anchor cut walls (top down construction). Ground anchors have a wide range of applications and encompass a diverse range of wall families including sheet pile, post and panel, H-pile and lagging, slurry and soil mix. These walls resist lateral earth and water pressures through their structural stiffness and anchorages (ground anchors). The LRFD platform offers a rational framework for selection, design and construction of different anchored wall types. The webinar will use the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) LRFD Bridge and Structures Specifications as a basis for the technical content. Applicable articles within the current specification include Sections 11, 10 and 3 of the 6th Edition (2012) of AASHTO LRFD Specifications.

It is assumed that webinar participants have a basic working knowledge of design and construction of ground anchors and ground anchor cut retaining walls including fundamental aspects of earth pressure theories and earth pressure diagrams. The webinar will include discussions on the terminology and types of anchor walls, lateral earth pressure designs for ground anchor walls, applicable load factors, use of minimum and maximum load factors for permanent loads, permanent and transient surcharge loads, identification of limit states and resistance factors, pressure surfaces for geotechnical and structural analysis, and consideration of extreme event limits state such as scour and seismic events. Detailed information on ground anchors, their application and construction, the design and construction of ground anchor walls in the context of limit states and general concepts will be presented.

Learning Outcomes

The webinar will help you perform the selection, design and construction of ground anchors and ground anchor wall systems using the LRFD approach.

Webinar Benefits

• Learn basics of LRFD based analysis of ground anchors and ground anchor retaining walls
• Continue building on the knowledge gained from previous LRFD webinars
• Examine the possibilities and benefits of improved communications between geotechnical, structural specialists and contractors for ground anchor wall design and construction

Intended Audience

This webinar will benefit geotechnical and structural specialists as well as general civil engineering specialists involved in the selection, design and construction of ground anchors and ground anchor cut walls. General and specialty wall contractors and material suppliers will also benefit from the webinar. Basic knowledge of geotechnical principles, LRFD and earth pressure concepts and theories is a prerequisite. The webinar will benefit professionals with 0-30 years of practical experience in selection, analysis/ design and construction of ground anchor earth retaining structures.

Webinar Outline

• Terminology and types of ground anchor walls
• Lateral earth pressures
• Consideration of surcharges
• Loads and load factors
• Recommended construction practice and the relationship between design and construction of ground anchors and ground anchor walls
• Failure modes and limit states for strength, service and extreme event loading conditions

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