Australian Geomechanics Society Victoria – 2010 Meetings
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10 February 2010
New Piling Code AS 2159-2009
Slav Tchepak & Tom George
The new piling code ‘AS 2159-2009 : Piling – Design and installation’ was released in November 2009. The revised Code will incorporate some major rethinking in respect of pile design and testing, which is expected to require significant changes from consultants and piling contractors.
We are fortunate that some of the code committee are based in Victoria and will outline the more significant changes in the new Code.
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24 March 2010
March 2010 edition of Australian Geomechanics ‘Geotechnology of Victoria’
Dominic Lopez – Changes of Thornthwaite’s Total Moisture Indices in Victoria from 1948-2007 and the effect on seasonal foundation movements
C.W. Thornthwaite first presented the Total Moisture Index (later known as the Thornthwaite’s Moisture Index, TMI) in 1948. This paper presents the TMI values calculated for Victoria, and shows that Victoria has experienced drying conditions in the past 60 years. Possible changes to the “Characteristic Surface Movement” (ys) as defined in Australian Standard 2870–Residential slabs and footings construction (1996) due to the new climatic conditions indicated by the TMI changes are also discussed.
Jeremy Barber – Landslide risk management and ground characterisation on the sugarloaf pipeline project
The 70 km long Sugarloaf Pipeline will deliver water from the Goulburn River in central Victoria to Sugarloaf Reservoir. Initial geomorphologic assessments identified the most significant considerations were landslide hazards of the existing slopes due to clearing and benching of the construction access corridor. This paper outlines the Landslide Risk Management for on the project including large scale studies, macro alignment selection, detailed onsite investigations of steep sites intersected by the final alignment prior to construction, implementation of the batter designs in construction and monitoring of the construction phase with detailed reporting of the findings.
B. Stanley – Lime optimisation in lime-slag treated soft Coode Island Silt in Melbourne
This paper aims to identify optimum lime content for lime-slag treated Coode Island Silt (CIS) for sustained improvement of strength. CIS sampled from the Convention Centre construction site in Melbourne was treated with lime-slag additives in the laboratory to determine optimum lime content. The cured specimens were tested in the laboratory for unconfined compressive strength (UCS), pH and Atterberg limits. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction analyses (XRD) were also conducted on specimens cured for one year to study the physico-chemical and microstructural developments responsible for long term strength behaviour.
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May 12, 2010
2009 E.H. Davis Lecture
Recent Advances in the Application of Vertical Drains and Vacuum Preloading in Soft Soil StabilizationBuddhima Indraratna
Much of the world’s essential infrastructure is built along congested costal belts composed of highly compressible and weak soils up to significant depths. Alluvial and marine soft clay deposits have very low bearing capacity and excessive settlement characteristics, with direct design and maintenance implications on tall structures, large commercial buildings, as well as port and transport infrastructure. Stabilizing such soft soils prior to construction is essential for both short and long term stability.
Pre-construction consolidation of soft formation soils by applying a surcharge load alone often takes too long. Moreover, attributed to the low permeability and high thickness of low-lying clay deposits, the required surcharge load to achieve more than 90% degree of consolidation can be excessively high over a prolonged period. A system of vertical drains combined with vacuum pressure and surcharge preloading has become an attractive ground improvement alternative in terms of both cost and effectiveness. This technique accelerates soil consolidation by promoting rapid radial flow, decreasing the excess pore pressure while increasing the effective stress.
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May 21-22, 2010
Melbourne Geomorphology
Dr Neville Rosengren
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June 16, 2010
Concepts & Parameters Related to Ground Improvement Illustrated by Case Histories
Serge Varaskin
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July 23, 2010
Soil and Rock Logging – AS1726 Geotechnical Site Investigations
Dr Fred Baynes
The course aims to educate geotechnical engineers, geologists, geotechnicians and other relevant professionals such as civil and structural engineers, who find themselves logging and/or interpreting soil and rock logs in accordance with AS1726 – Geotechnical Site Investigations. The content assumed that the participants already have a basic understanding of soil and rock logging. The course is particularly relevant to professionals starting their careers, but also provides for senior level professionals wanting to refresh their knowledge of AS1726.
Dr Fred Baynes commences proceedings with a keynote address to participants, which is followed by theoretical training on the finer points of AS1726. Dr Baynes will then lead a practical session where participants work in small groups to apply the theory and log real soil and rock samples under the guidance and instruction of experienced industry professionals. At the end of the course, results of each groups logging will be reviewed against test result data, and the outcomes discussed amongst all participants.
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August 11, 2010
Piling Rig Bearing Pressure and Design of Construction Working Platforms
Dr Stephen Buttling
Safety is the main concern of all of us involved in construction, where one fatality, or even one incident, is one too many. In recent years, incidents involving overturning of piling rigs and cranes on construction sites have led to an increased awareness of the importance of providing a stable working platform for construction plant. A similar situation in the UK led the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) to commission the BRE to prepare a report on the subject (issued as BRE 470 in 2004), and to prepare a spreadsheet to allow contractors to determine the appropriate bearing pressures. These were adopted by the Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation (PFSF) in 2007. Stephen has spent some time researching these methods and, as Chairman of the Technical Committee of the PFSF, is pushing for their adoption. He will explain the principles behind them and their use, and discuss these in relation to economical working platform design.