Editorial Note - Vol. 10, No. 1, 2016-Article

Article

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The editors introduce the first 2016 issue of the <em>Journal of the Deep Foundations Institute</em>, highlighting five papers with practical applications:

- Bradshaw et al. validate a Borehole Plug Test in dense silty fine sand at a Rhode Island bridge site. The test can estimate interface engineering parameters and simulate aspects of drilled-shaft performance, supplementing static load tests.
- Coe and Kermani examine methods for estimating the lengths of existing bridge foundations, supporting code evaluation and the reuse of foundations. The paper received the 2014 DFI Young Professor Paper Award.
- Johnson explains how to interpret Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP), a widely adopted nondestructive testing method. The work received the 2015 student paper award.
- Bradshaw presents a model that uses nonlinear t-z analysis and a genetic algorithm to infer side and toe resistance from conventional pile load-test data, including when strain gauges are unavailable or damaged. The method was checked against full-scale test results and earned the 2015 Young Professor Paper Award.
- Olgun and Bowers investigate using energy piles to de-ice bridge decks without heat pumps. Their field experiments examine de-icing and thermal recharge and introduce a “thermal modulus” to characterize thermally induced axial stresses. The paper was runner-up in the 2015 Young Professor competition.

The editors thank the authors and encourage further submissions, emphasizing the journal’s role in sharing useful technology with DFI members.

Keywords

deep foundations

bridge foundations

borehole plug test

thermal integrity profiling

pile load test

energy piles

drilled-shaft performance

nondestructive testing

genetic algorithm

de-icing bridge decks