2019 Sydney Symposium

Innovations in Geotechnical Construction and Design

Harry Poulos and David Puller

Symposium Fully Booked

The Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS) Sydney Chapter is holding its 23rd annual symposium on Friday 15 November 2019, on ‘Innovations in Geotechnical Construction and Design’.

Overview

The symposium will showcase state-of- the-art practices, new research findings and case histories that demonstrate innovations in geotechnical design and construction. The organising committee invites papers on geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure construction, site characterisation, numerical simulation, collapsed structures, reliability analysis and new insights into experiences, technologies and strategies.

The symposium presents an opportunity for professional engineers, researchers, specialist contractors, regulators, educators and students to meet and share their knowledge and experiences in geotechnical engineering.

Keynote Speakers

Some Inadequacies of Common Design Procedures for Deep Foundations – Harry Poulos

This paper examines some aspects of common deep foundation design that the author considers may be inadequate. The following aspects are considered:

  1. Ignoring foundation interactions;
  2. Ignoring the beneficial effect of the raft;
  3. Assuming a rigid cap or raft;
  4. Over-simplification of the geotechnical profile;
  5. Ignoring the beneficial effects of basement walls;
  6. Ignoring the effects of ground movements;
  7. Ignoring kinematic effects in seismic design.

Each inadequate aspect will be considered in turn, with examples given of the possible consequences. Some lead to conservative designs, while others tend to be unconservative. Suggestions will be offered for addressing the perceived inadequacies, some of which are likely to involve the application of innovative techniques.

The Design and Construction of Very Deep Excavations – Recent Advances – David Puller

Technical advancements in construction plant, materials and numerical analysis tools have made possible a step change in the achievable depth of excavations required for infrastructure, building and mining projects. This has been in response to an increased complexity in such projects particularly in connection with rail, water and power infrastructure sectors around the globe. Such advances do not come without some risks and a clear understanding of the limitations of the techniques, capabilities of construction monitoring and the benefits of practical design details are key to successful execution. In addition, a sound knowledge of the behaviour and testing of materials particularly fresh concrete and support fluids is essential in the minimisation of defects in deep earth retaining structures, which can be extremely costly to remediate.

The following paper considers the state of the art in the construction of very deep and complicated excavations by making reference to a number of recent case histories, where records have been broken and new technologies have been deployed. The construction of diaphragm walls to depths well in excess of 100 m and with wall thickness of 1800 mm and using concrete with a 28-day cube strength in excess of 60 MPa are now possible, provided great care is taken. Improved verticality tolerances of better than 1 in 400, coupled with precise monitoring and advanced design techniques, means that the structural capacity of earth retaining walls in shaft construction have increased significantly which has led to the realisation of deeper excavations, together with deep openings which may be necessary for associated tunnels.

The author will also include the presentation of recent improvements in safety both in cage lifting, handling and splicing as well as around open diaphragm wall excavations. A better understanding of the causation of defects in concrete which has been placed under support fluid via a tremie, has been gained through painful experience and has greatly benefitted from the recent publication of useful guidance in Australia, UK and by the EFFC (European Federation of Foundation Contractors). This has led to a number of new site tests on fresh concrete for mix stability and bleed potential which are gaining increasing traction in the industry. In addition, the introduction of more stringent testing on support fluid such as bentonite during excavation means that instances of defects including leaks, inclusions and areas of poor concrete cover can be reduced. However, despite the availability of extensive guidance on good reinforcement cage detailing for diaphragm cages, examples of poor practice still remain, with great potential to lead to extensive defects such as mattressing which may compromise the durability of permanent works. The author will highlight examples of good and bad practice.

Invited Speakers

Robert Bertuzzi
Geotechnical innovations in the tunneling industry

Organising Committee

Programme

Session I: Geotechnical Lessons Learnt from Design and Construction of Deep Foundations

Session II: Advances in Geotechnical Site Characterisation and Ground Modelling

Session III: Geotechnical Advances and Challenges in Deep Excavation and Ground Improvement

Session IV: Digital Technologies, New Materials and Smart Design in Geotechnical Engineering

Engineers Australia members participating in AGS technical sessions can record attendance on their personal CPD logs. Members should refer to Engineers Australia CPD policy for details on CPD types, requirements and auditing guidelines.