2010 PGS Workshop & 8th G.A. Leonards Lecture

4:30 p.m., Saturday, May 1, 2010
Fowler Hall, Stewart Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Dr. Richard D. Woods
Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Abstract of Presentation:

Many major infrastructure facilities are reaching or have passed their design lives and are being replaced or soon will be replaced. Some of these facilities are supported on foundations that, while adequate for their age, will require replacements that have higher capacities. Two relatively common situations of this kind occur in which the original foundations consisted of: 1) shallow footings or, 2) relatively short and small capacity piles. Some agencies are moving away from shallow foundations for new facilities and tend to prefer deep pile foundations for replacement structures. There are a significant number of old shallow foundations that have performed satisfactorily but are situated above loose granular deposits that can be caused to settle by vibrations. Particularly with highway facilities, the old structure is expected to continue functioning during construction of the new structures. If impact driving is the chosen new foundation installation technique, loose granular strata below existing shallow foundations may be caused to settle during construction, sometimes disabling the old structure. Prediction of what soil profiles are susceptible to this kind of construction related settlement is an important component of replacement structure design. Two specific examples of Interstate Bridge replacement serve as inspiration for this study.

Dr. Richard D. Woods, Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan, served on the faculty in the Department from 1967 through 2002. He received his BS and MS degrees from Notre Dame and his Ph.D. (1967) from the University of Michigan. Dr. Woods' research includes foundation dynamics, vibration measurements, vibration damage, dynamic soil properties, seismic site characterization, and application of geophysics in geotechnical engineering. He has written many seminal papers and he was a co-author (with F.E. Richart, Jr. and John R. Hall, Jr.), of the classic book Vibration of Soils and Foundations.

Dr. Woods has a lifetime of service to many technical and professional organizations. Among them are: Chairman of the ASCE Geotechnical Engineering Division, President of the U.S. Universities Council on Geotechnical Engineering Research (USUCGER), President of the Environmental Engineering Geophysical Society, Vice President for North America of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, and Chair of the International Activities Council of the Geo-Institute of ASCE. He gave the 1997 Terzaghi Lecture and was named an Honorary Member of ASCE in 2004. He is a Registered Professional Engineer. He was selected for membership in the National Academy of Engineering in 2003.

Geotechnical Workshop Theme: Making Waves in Geotechnical Engineering
8:00a.m.-4:00p.m. (includes lunch)
Stewart Center, Room 218 A-D, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN)

2010 Workshop Program

Reception and Banquet: 6:30p.m., Saturday, May 1, 2010
Buchanan Club, Ross Ade Stadium, Purdue University, 850 Beering Drive, West Lafayette, IN. (Reservations are required.)

Support for the PGS workshop and Leonards lecture is provided by the following sponsors: School of Civil Engineering, Earth Exploration, Fugro Consultants, Nicholson Construction (Gold); Haley and Aldrich, Hayward Baker (Silver); Alt & Witzig, Golder Associates, Parsons Brinckerhoff (Bronze).