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

Purpose and Background

Drilled shaft foundations in soils and rocks are often a technically sound and cost-effective choice where a deep foundation solution is appropriate based on-site conditions, applied loads, project schedule, and performance requirements. When soils are of relatively poor quality and the structure loads are relatively large the shafts are often drilled through the poor soils into underlying rock mass if present. These shafts could be founded or seated on top of the rock mass, or they could be drilled into the rock mass to form a rock socket. There are a number of different methods to design shafts in soils and rocks. The thrust of the discussions in this workshop is to establish a good understanding of the geotechnical design procedures for drilled shafts in soils and rocks. Construction techniques can have a significant effect on mobilized axial and lateral resistances and therefore brief information on effect of construction on drilled shafts will also be included. The workshop will be indexed to the latest version of the Bridge Design Specifications (BDS) based on the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) platform of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials which is a key component of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines for drilled shafts. Information from AASHTO’s latest Guide Specification for Service life design will also be presented.

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Benefits

• Gain knowledge on latest geotechnical design procedures for drilled shafts in soils and rocks.
• Be able to properly characterize properties of soils and rocks for drilled shaft designs.
• Understand the models of side, tip, and lateral resistance of drilled shafts in soils and rock sockets.
• Examine the possibilities and benefits of improved communications between geotechnical and structural specialists for drilled shaft foundation design.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Explain the issues in evaluating geotechnical resistance of drilled shaft foundations in soils and rocks.
• Examine strain compatibility aspects between side and tip resistance.
• Explain resistance-mobilization models for soils and rocks.
• Choose and apply appropriate geotechnical axial resistance models.
• Explain the issues in evaluating capacity of rock socket foundations.
• Choose and apply appropriate rock capacity models.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and/or fill in the blank questions).

Who Should Attend?

• Geotechnical and structural specialists
• General civil engineering specialists
• Agencies/owners
• General and drilled shaft contractors

Outline

Using a collaborative and interactive learning approach, this virtual workshop will help you understand the geotechnical design procedures for drilled shafts in soils and rocks using the concepts of LRFD. The workshop will help you assimilate crucial considerations for design of drilled shafts in soils and rocks 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 various geotechnical design procedures 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) and/or a reflection (e.g., reading) assignment.

Session 1

• Introductions
• General terminology for design of drilled shafts
• Failure modes and limit states
• Resistance and resistance factors
• Evaluation of geotechnical axial resistance using chart approach
• Concepts for evaluating lateral response
• Extreme events
• Design aspects for drilled shafts in ephemeral waterways
• Typical structural details
• Brief introduction to construction techniques for shafts in soils
• Review of Session 1
• Interactive Question and Answer (Q&A) session
• Assignment of classwork
• Adjourn

Session 2

• Roadmap for Session 2
• Review of classwork assignments and recap of Session 1
• Introduction and definition of variables for rock sockets
• Definition of rock and site characterization
• Axial resistance in rocks
• Lateral resistance in rocks
• Brief introduction to construction techniques for rock sockets
• Material Deterioration: AASHTO Guide Specification Provisions
• Closure and references
• Review of Session 2 and full workshop
• Interactive Question and Answer (Q&A) session
• Adjourn

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs

This course is worth .4 CEUs /4 PDHs. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 30 days of the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]