Editorial Note - Vol. 9, No. 2, 2015-Article

Article

Pdf Summary

The 2015 issue of the <em>Journal of the Deep Foundations Institute</em> focuses largely on pile-foundation performance under axial and lateral loading. It opens with guidance for specifying ground-improvement projects, including how to select techniques based on site information, construction constraints, performance targets, seismicity, and groundwater conditions.

Two articles discuss interpretation of static load tests on augered cast-in-place piles. Chen and Kulhawy offer an alternative interpretation, while Stuedlein responds with further analysis emphasizing pile slenderness as an indicator of axial stiffness and a factor in estimating failure load. Other studies examine helical piles and anchors in structured clays, finding that installation-related soil disturbance can reduce the undrained shear strength mobilized around the upper helix. A case study of bridges affected by lateral spreading during the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake shows that the dimensions of the spreading ground and foundation influence zone affect foundation loading, and that existing “pinning” methods may not represent these effects adequately. The final study compares drilled shafts built in collapsed and intact boreholes, documenting changes in movement and resistance and recommending adjustments to unit-weight assumptions when modeling shafts installed in re-drilled excavations.

The editors announce that the journal will publish three issues annually from 2016, restructure its editorial board, and expand international collaboration. Management by Taylor & Francis is expected to increase the journal’s reach.

The issue also honors Professor Fred Kulhawy, a distinguished geotechnical engineer, prolific author, mentor, and longtime contributor to DFI. He died in May 2015, aged 71. Colleagues remember his technical rigor, generosity, passion for opera, and dedication to students and the engineering community. The issue includes his final journal submission, co-authored with Jie-Ru Chen.

Keywords

pile foundation

axial loading

lateral loading

ground improvement

static load tests

augered cast-in-place piles

helical piles

lateral spreading

drilled shafts

Fred Kulhawy