Registration Open for DFI’s VIRTUAL SuperPile 2020 — June 18-19, 2020

Hawthorne, N.J. (May 12, 2020):  Registration is now open for Virtual SuperPile 2020, taking place June 18-19 from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST each day. Hosted in partnership with ADSC, the conference includes two half-day sessions of online panel discussions and presentations on some of the most contemporary topics in the foundations industry today. Each day ends with a one-hour virtual networking happy hour.

Day One (Thursday) opens with a panel discussion on “Geotechnical Baseline Reports” (GBR). Geotechnical and legal experts discuss the meaning, benefits and challenges of using a GBR for foundation projects. The moderator is James Morrison, P.E., P. Eng., COWI North America. Panelists include Randy Essex, Mott MacDonald; Jeramy Decker, Ph.D., Kiewit; Vic Donald, P.E., Terracon; Conrad Felice, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng., D. GE., F.ASCE, C. W. Felice; Richard Kalson, Esq., Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff.

The panel discussion is followed by three presentations highlighting new design approaches and practical construction issues.

• “The Incremental Rigidity Method – More-Direct Conversion of Strain to Internal Force in an Instrumented Static Loading Test,” Van Komurka, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, GRL Engineers
• “Pipe Piles in Plastic Soils: Effect of Installation Activities on Side Resistance,” Steve Saye, P.E., Kiewit Infrastructure Engineers
• “Impact of Heave on Permanently Cased Drilled Shaft Axial Capacity in Sand,” Glen Bellew, P.E., USACE-Kansas City District

Day Two (Friday) kicks off with three more presentations by invited speakers.

• “Micropiles for Permanent Support Applications in Sedimentary Formations,” Jesus Gomez, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, GEI Consultants
• “Reducing Risk and Conservatism in Drilled Shaft Design: A Case Study,” Justin Toney, P.E., Quanta Subsurface and Brock Wallis, MJ Drilling
• “Using Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) to Monitor Shaft Cooling System for Large Diameter Drilled Shafts,” David Schoen, P.E., S&ME

The event concludes with “Horses for Courses – Pile Testing,” a panel discussion on foundation and integrity testing methods. Testing experts explore the features, limitations and appropriate use of static load testing as compared to bi-directional load testing, and of low strain dynamic testing as compared to thermal integrity profiling. The moderator is Gerald Verbeek, Allnamics Pile Testing Experts. Panelists include Ryan Allin, P.E., Pile Dynamics; Marcel Bielefeld, MSc, MScBA, Allnamics; Erik Loehr, Ph.D., P.E., University of Missouri-Columbia; and Robert Simpson, Load Testing Consulting.

Full conference attendees receive a total of 6 professional development hours (PDHs).

DFI thanks sponsors ICE® – International Construction Equipment and PierTech Systems for each hosting a happy hour and to all the supporting companies who are sponsoring this conference.  Additional opportunities are still available.

To register, visit www.dfi.org/SuperPile2020.

About the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI): DFI (www.dfi.org) is an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry. Our multidisciplinary membership creates a consensus voice and a common vision for continual improvement in the planning, design and construction of deep foundations and excavations. We bring together members for networking, education, communication and collaboration. With our members, we promote the advancement of the deep foundations industry through technical committees, educational programs and conferences, publications, research, government relations and outreach. DFI has more than 3,500 members worldwide.