Hawthorne, N.J.: Three DFI technical committees have released new publications — now available as complimentary downloads from the DFI Publication Store at www.dfi.org. Each report addresses a design or construction challenge and translates current research into clear, practical guidance for the field.

The Seismic and Lateral Loads Committee supported the research report titled  Design Guidelines for Characterizing the Residual Strength of p-y Curves for Rock by Arash Khosravifar, Ph.D., P.E., of Portland State University. Funded through the DFI Committee Project Fund, the report provides a framework for modeling brittle and post-peak behavior in rock-socketed drilled shafts under extreme loading.

“The industry relies on sophisticated computer models to analyze complex soil-structure interaction,” says Committee Chair Jon Sinnreich, P.E., GRL Engineers. “Accurately capturing post-peak rock behavior is essential for both safety and economy. Dr. Khosravifar’s report demonstrates the way forward to model the behavior of rock-socketed drilled shafts accurately. The Seismic and Lateral Loads Committee is proud to support this vital research.”

From the Ground Improvement Committee comes Polymer Grouting: An Alternative to Cementitious Materials by Jie Huang, Ph.D., P.E., The University of Texas at San Antonio — also funded through the Committee Project Fund program.

“The DFI Ground Improvement Committee has sponsored several valuable research projects over the years,” says Committee Chair Miriam Smith, Ph.D., P.E. “This research report provides application guidance for water-activated polymer as an alternative to cementitious grouts in soils with high fines content. The report is an excellent resource for practitioners looking for techniques to expand the groutable spectrum of soils for ground improvement applications.” 

The Subsurface Characterization for Deep Foundations Committee has issued a Position Statement on Geotechnical Baseline Reports (GBRs) to help owners and project teams better understand when and how GBRs add value.

“GBRs are a proven tool for identifying, communicating and managing geotechnical project risks, yet they remain underused in our industry,” says Committee Chair Scott Walker, P.E., G.E., Langan. “This position statement outlines key considerations for GBR implementation and strongly endorses their use on geotechnical and geostructural projects.”

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 4,500 members worldwide.

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Contact: Theresa Engler, Executive Director, (973) 423-4030, tengler@dfi.org