Policies and System Requirements for Viewing this Course

INSTRUCTOR:
Naresh Samtani, PH.D., P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE

Participants will have access to the virtual workshop video archives and materials for 60 days from the start day of the workshop.

Virtual Workshop Brief

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls are used extensively for grade-separation fill structures in many applications, e.g., highways, railways, marine, commercial, etc. To avoid adverse performance issues, design processes for an MSE wall must be tailored to specific geometry and the environment (conditions) expected over its specified lifetime. This workshop is geared towards development of a better understanding of design procedures using principles of limit states to ensure safe and serviceable MSE wall structures over specified lifetimes. More specifically, this workshop is based on the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methodology that is a North American version of the broader Limit State Design (LSD) approach. The design principles will be explained using wall geometries with level and sloped backfill configurations. The topic of complex geometries will be introduced. The presentation ends with a brief introduction to the design philosophy for the new MSE-LASR technology that permits consideration of Local Available Sustainable Resources (LASR), i.e., non-select or marginal fills.

Primary Discussion Topics

DAY 1

• Terminology and forces for MSE Walls
• Limit states and resistance factors
• Applicable loads and load factors
• Consideration of surcharges
• External stability (Strength and Service)
• Interactions within the MSE mass

DAY 2

• Internal stability (Strength)
• Extreme Event limit states (scour, seismic, and vehicle impact)
• Introduction to complex MSE wall geometries
• Introduction to the design philosophy for MSE-LASR technology
• References

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the terminology and basics of design principles for MSE walls using concepts of limit states and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach
• Identify and apply appropriate load and resistance factors
• Recognize design considerations for surcharges
• Evaluate external stability
• Recognize the soil-reinforcement and other interactions within the MSE mass
• Explain the concepts of internal stability analysis
• Be able to examine overall and compound stability
• Recognize the importance of considering serviceability as part of overall design process
• Contrast the MSE and MSE-LASR technologies

Benefits for Participants

• Become familiar with the latest limit state design approaches and standards
• Avoid common pitfalls and costly errors in analysis and design
• Be able to categorize and streamline limit state evaluation
• Recognize the importance of considering serviceability as part of overall design process
• Contrast the traditional MSE and new MSE-LASR technology

Who Should Attend?

• Geotechnical and structural specialists
• General civil engineering specialists
• Architects
• MSE wall vendors
• Agencies/owners
• General Contractors

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Achievement of the learning objectives will be assessed through a series of in class problem-solving exercises, class discussion, case studies and a short post-test.

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs

This virtual workshop is worth .4 CEUs/4 PDHs. In order to receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test within 60 days of the virtual workshop.

Workshop Outline

Using a collaborative and interactive learning approach, this virtual workshop will help you understand the design principles for MSE walls. You will learn newer design approaches based on the LRFD platform that is the basis for documents for MSE walls by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The workshop will help you assimilate the design principles through active participation by frequent interactions throughout the workshop and real-time expert feedback. The interactions will facilitate a better understanding of the nuances of the newer design principles which would help you avoid costly design errors in real-world projects. In between the two live sessions, attendees will independently work on an application (e.g., exercises) or a reflection (e.g., reading) assignment.

DAY 1 Thursday, May 20, 2021 ¦ 11:30 am to 1:30 pm ET

• Introductions
• Terminology and forces for MSE Walls
• Limit states and resistance factors
• Applicable loads and load factors
• Consideration of surcharges
• External stability (Strength and Service)
• Interactions within the MSE mass
• Review of Day 1
• Interactive Question and Answer (Q&A) session
• Assignment of homework
• Adjourn

DAY 2 Monday, May 24, 2021 ¦ 11:30 am to 1:30 pm ET

• Roadmap for Day 2
• Review of homework assignments
• Recap of Day 1
• Internal stability (Strength)
• Extreme Event limit states (scour, seismic, and vehicle impact)
• Introduction to complex MSE geometries
• Introduction to the design philosophy for MSE-LASR technology
• References
• Review of Day 2 and full workshop
• Interactive Question and Answer (Q&A) session
• Adjourn