Separately Bookable Workshops

  • Workshop A: Application of Piling Techniques for Australian Conditions
  • Workshop B: Accounting for Installation Effects in Pile Design
  • Workshop C: Outlining how to Perform Various Techniques of Pile Testing
  • Workshop D: Best Practice in Soft Soil Engineering and Ground Improvement

Wednesday 12 May

5.15pm - 8:00pm Workshop A: Application of Piling Techniques for Australian Conditions

Today different piling and installation techniques are available to carry out deep foundations for all kind of structures. This workshop will explore the piling techniques that are commonly available in Australia today, and how to choose the best pile type to suit particular structures and ground conditions. After attending this workshop you will have a broad understanding of the most suitable deep foundation systems for Australian conditions. What will be covered:

  • Driven preformed piling techniques and methodologies
  • Bored pile foundation techniques and methodologies
  • Screwed displacement pile techniques and methodologies
  • Continuous flight auger pile techniques and methodologies

About your Expert Tutor

Martin Larisch
Project Manager
PILING CONTRACTORS

Martin has been involved in the Piling and Foundation Industry for almost 10 years. He manages the technical, design and tendering aspects of projects and processes as well as contractual and site related tasks for a wide range of piling and foundation systems.

Thursday 13 May

9.00am - 11:45am Workshop B: Accounting for Installation Effects in Pile Design

Pile design is commonly carried out from geotechnical site investigations. More often than not, the effects of installation of the piles are not taken into account. This workshop will highlight how piles behave for various pile types and geotechnical conditions. Construction practices and associated quality issues that influence pile performance will be presented. The aim of the workshop is to bring an awareness of what a pile designer needs to know in designing different piling systems for various soil conditions

  • Effect of method of pile installation
  • Effects of pile setup on pile design

About your Expert Tutor

Slav Tchepak
Chief Engineer
VIBROPILE

Slav has served 10 years with the Country Road Board (now VicRoad) as a Geotechnical Engineer with the Foundation Investigations Section. Slav then worked for Frankipile for a total period of 17 years as the Group Design and Development Engineer and Manager. Slav joined Vibropile in 1999 as the Group Technical Manager in Melbourne and is currently the Chief Engineer based in our Sydney Office.

Thursday 13 May

12.15pm - 3:00pm Workshop C: Outlining how to Perform Various Techniques of Pile Testing

This workshop deals with all aspects of modern good practices in foundation testing. These include the importance of incorporating the geological and geotechnical aspects of the ground conditions, current limit analysis methods for bearing capacity, and definition of factors of safety. The various settlement analyses and their underlying assumptions and reliability will be covered. A thorough treatment of the design of deep foundations is provided to include:

  • Capacity of deep foundations and axial capacity calculation of driven piles
  • Pile driving methods and testing
  • Calculating the axial capacity of drilled shafts
  • Construction methods for drilled shafts
  • Pile/shaft response to lateral load and group behaviour

About your Expert Tutor

Dr. Julian Seidel
Managing Director
FOUNDATION QA

Dr. Seidel has had 27 years professional experience as a geotechnical engineer, specialising in all aspects of deep foundations. During this time, he has been employed as a senior engineer with general and specialist geotechnical and foundation engineering consultants, a government road authority, a specialist deep foundation contractor, and at University as senior lecturer and researcher.

Thursday 13 May

3.30pm - 6:15pm Workshop D: Best Practice in Soft Soil Engineering and Ground Improvement

Soft soil engineering and ground improvement is about striking a balance between safety, performance and cost. The associated risks involving ground improvement works often include stability of the work during construction, construction time and program, long term performance of functionality, and construction and maintenance costs. To manage such risks, adequate planning, investigation, and design and construction processes shall be implemented to ensure a successful delivery of the project. The workshop will be held with an open discussion forum to draw the industry practitioners’ opinions and exchanges of specific experiences in soft soil engineering and ground improvement projects. Topics of the discussions may include:

  • Suitability of various investigation methods
  • Identification of risks, management and control of risks
  • Observational approach during construction and usefulness of instrumentation and monitoring
  • Availability of ground improvement techniques and limitation of design methods

About your Expert Tutor

Patrick Wong
Senior Principal
COFFEY

Patrick is currently a Senior Principal of Coffey Geotechnics. He joined the company after graduating from The University of Sydney in 1978, and has enjoyed a fulfilling career as a Geotechnical Consultant ever since. Since 2005, his role has been to provide technical leadership, mentoring, and coaching to younger staff, and at the same time doing the challenging and interesting projects that he has a passion for.