Editorial Note - Vol. 15, No. 2, 2021-Article

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DFI Journal Volume 15, Issue 2 (2021) presents six publications spanning research papers, a forum paper, and a book review. The editorial explains that forum papers offer a shorter, flexible format for commentary, opinions, research highlights, and responses; book reviews and forum papers receive editorial-board review, with external peer review when needed.

The issue’s research papers cover a range of foundation engineering topics. Small-scale tests show that attaching a bearing plate to a driven pile can increase axial capacity by 20% to 110%, depending on plate size and soil conditions. A study of embankments supported by high-modulus columns finds that column fractures have little effect on lateral spreading or stability; geosynthetic reinforcement becomes significant only after substantial spreading and column fracturing. Numerical analysis of an open-cell sheet-pile quay wall system for East Port Said suggests it could provide an effective alternative to diaphragm walls at nearly 50% lower cost.

A forum contribution examines a previously published long-pile case history using a reliability-based SHANSEP approach. It concludes that no pile-length adjustment is needed for the 50 m pile considered. The book review discusses <em>Model Uncertainties in Foundation Design</em>, which compiles model factors and supporting data for conventional and specialized foundations, as well as other geostructures.

The issue concludes with the winning 2021 DFI Student Paper Competition study. Based on four years of field monitoring of H-piles beneath an Ontario bridge, it evaluates negative skin friction, drag forces, and neutral-plane location using the unified design method.

Keywords

DFI Journal

foundation engineering

bearing plate

high-modulus columns

sheet-pile quay wall

reliability-based SHANSEP

model uncertainties

negative skin friction

drag forces

student paper competition