Editorial Note - Vol. 12, No. 3, 2018-Article

Article

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The third issue of the <em>DFI Journal</em> (2018) presents practical research and case studies in foundation design from around the world.

The issue opens with student competition winner Alexandre Almeida’s analysis of 47 full-scale micropile load tests. The study found that a modified Federal Highway Administration method provided the most reasonable estimates of micropile geotechnical capacity in Ontario soils.

A case study of Istanbul’s Galataport Project describes diaphragm walls, deep foundations, liquefaction mitigation, dewatering, and ground improvement, including measures to preserve historic buildings. It also reports field and laboratory testing of the improved soils.

Student runner-up Jamie John Crispin and Professor Colm Leahy present an analytical method for calculating interaction between piles in groups embedded in inhomogeneous soil. Their simplified approach, supported by design charts and an error correction factor, closely approximates the full solution and experimental results.

Another study examines the uplift capacity of helical piles in North Sea clays. Its findings indicate that offshore applications depend strongly on the geotechnical models used to determine pile depth and installation torque.

The issue concludes with a technical note comparing end resistance in continuous flight auger and drilled displacement piles in San Francisco Bay area clays. The test data suggest that the conventional approach tends to underestimate fully mobilised end resistance, while both pile types show comparable performance.

Keywords

micropile load tests

foundation design

diaphragm walls

deep foundations

liquefaction mitigation

pile group interaction

helical piles

uplift capacity

continuous flight auger piles

drilled displacement piles