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AUGUST MEETING NOTICE
***Tuesday, August 13, 2013***

Topic: "Geologic Aspects of Two Ongoing Research Projects: Friction Losses in Tieback Anchors used for Landslide Stabilization, and Deep Foundation Performance in Laterally Spreading Ground"

Speaker: Ben Turner
UCLA, PhD Student

Location: Victorio's Ristorante
on Victory Blvd. in North Hollywood

Date/Time: Tuesday, August 13, 2013
6:00pm - Social Hour
7:00pm - Dinner
8:00pm - Presentation

Cost: $30 per person with reservations in advance for AEG members, $35 Non-Members and AEG members without reservations (at the door), $15 for students with a valid student ID.

RSVP: Please email Edmond Lee at: edmond@geoconceptsinc.com or call (818) 994-8895 ext.103.
Please make reservations by e-mail prior to 1 p.m., Monday, August 11th, 2013


Abstract
Geologic Aspects of Two Ongoing Research Projects: Friction Losses in Tieback Anchors used for Landslide Stabilization, and Deep Foundation Performance in Laterally Spreading Ground

Background, motivation, and preliminary results for two ongoing research studies will be presented along with case histories applying to each project:

1. Friction losses in the unbonded zone of long tieback anchors used for landslide stabilization have led to rejection during load testing due to failure to meet the criteria that the unbonded length must elongate by at least 80% of the theoretical value. Previous load test data are back-analyzed, and the results suggest that revised criteria may be appropriate in the case of long anchors. Important implications for stability analysis and construction monitoring will be discussed, along with proposed strategies for monitoring friction losses for the White Point Landslide stabilization project.

2. Recent guidelines published by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) and adapted by Caltrans on design of pile foundations in laterally spreading ground will be reviewed, along with preliminary results of a validation study involving a pair of parallel bridges damaged during the 2010 Mw 7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake in northern Baja, Mexico.

In both cases, geologic aspects of the design process will be highlighted, with particular emphasis given to the importance of the geologic site interpretation and communication with the geotechnical engineer.
 
Speaker Biography
After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with BS and MS degrees in civil engineering, Mr. Turner started working for the Glendale office of Shannon & Wilson in 2010. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in geotechnical earthquake engineering at UCLA with an emphasis on the performance of deep foundations under seismic loading. His experience includes a variety of foundation and earth retention projects acting as designer, construction observer, and contractor