COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is geared toward practicing design and construction engineers who routinely deal with soil and foundation problems but have little theoretical background in soil mechanics or foundation engineering. The course takes a project-oriented approach whereby the soils input to a bridge project is followed from conception to completion. In each phase of the project, the soil concepts will be developed into specific foundation designs and recommendations. The classroom presentation includes a variety of exercises to verify achievement of learning objectives. Each participant will take away a comprehensive reference manual on soils and foundations and a participant workbook containing a copy of all slides presented and completed exercises.

OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identifying the minimum level of geotechnical input in various project phases of a highway project
• Recalling the equipment and procedures used to implement a subsurface investigation of soil and rock conditions
• Demonstrating basic skills in visual description of soils native to the host state
• Recalling geotechnical facilities and personnel in the host state
• Recalling the basic soil test procedures and how the results of the various soil tests are applied results to highway projects
• Listing procedures used for both settlement and stability analysis, and recalling design solutions to stability and settlement problems for approach roadway embankments
• Listing procedures used for determining bearing capacity and settlement of shallow foundations such as spread footings
• Identifying the basic skills needed in the design and construction management of driven pile and drilled shaft foundations
• Recalling the driven pile and drilled shaft foundation construction equipment and construction inspection procedures
• Description static load testing and recalling the basic skills needed to interpret static load test results
• Recalling the basic skills needed in the design and construction of earth retaining structures
• Discussing the format and minimum content of an adequate foundation report

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Personnel from the following units at the transportation agency could benefit from this workshop: geotechnical, bridge design, roadway design, materials, construction, and maintenance. The personnel who will benefit the most are the first-line supervisors involved in the design of highway structures and embankments. The greatest impact will be achieved by convincing structural, design, and construction engineers to use procedures from this course as a guide for routine geotechnical work. All attendees should be encouraged to attend the entire course, not just sections that are in their specialty. One of the major benefits of this course is to give engineers an appreciation of activities outside their specialties that influence, or are influenced by, the work of the geotechnical engineer.

If you have questions about this NHI training, please contact NHI at nhicustomerservice@dot.gov or 877.558.6873.