Western Student Chapter, CGS
January 28, 2021 - Information Session
Western has recently formed a student chapter of the Canadian Geotechnical Society. This short online session will introduce the future activities of the chapter and the new executive committee to the undergraduate and graduate students at Western. Further information on the Canadian Geotechnical Society, the International Society for Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering, and the Geotechnical Research Centre will be provided.
Speakers:
Ahmed Fouad Hussein: President of the Western CGS Student Chapter
Vincent Castonguay: National Executive Committee Member of the Canadian Geotechnical Society
Tim Newson: Director, Geotechnical Research Centre (Western) & Vice-President for North America ISSMGE
Click here for PowerPoint Presentation
Speakers
Click here for Professor Cascante's presentation
Click links for recordings of Professor Cascante's presentation Natural and Engineered Geosystems Subjected to Repetitive Multi-physics Loads-20211018 1559-1
Energy: A Geo-Centered Perspective-20211020 1659-1
Geotechnical Research Centre & CGS Western Student Chapter Seminar presents
Speaker: Professor Giovanni Cascante
Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Waterloo
Friday, November 26, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Topic: Evaluation of dynamic properties of geomaterials using UPV and BE
Summary: In this presentation, the effects of transducer coupling and specimen geometric effects on UPV and BE testing are addressed. First, results using the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) method in concrete specimens are presented. UVP is commonly used in civil engineering, as it is the ASTM standard for the relative evaluation of concrete quality. Secondly, specimen coupling effects in a Tx-BE testing are evaluated. Finally, the actual response of BEs (Tx-Rx) inside a coarse sand sample are studied; and an example of the challenges of interpretation of BE testing in a sensitive clay is discussed.
Biography: Around the world, cities are facing a major challenge: What to do about aging infrastructure such as bridges, water mains, roads, and electrical transmission lines. How can engineers know if they have years of life left in them or are on the verge of collapse? Prof. Cascante’s research team is working towards innovating techniques to help distinguish the good from the bad -- without manually taking the system apart. Before joining the University, he worked as a Project Engineer (Trow Consulting Engineers Ltd.), Research Assistant, Post-doctoral Fellow (University of Waterloo), and Research and a Consulting Engineer (Intevep S.A.). His areas of expertise are in nondestructive testing of civil infrastructure, dynamic soil characterization (resonant column, BE, and ultrasonics), signal processing, numerical simulations of wave propagation, and vibration measurements. Dr. Cascante has authored 60 refereed journals publications, including award-winning papers (ASTM 2005, SAGEEP 2005, TAC 2006). Dr. Cascante serves as associate editor for the Geotechnical Testing Journal (ASTM).
Geotechnical Research Centre & CGS Western Student Chapter Seminar (Joint with University of Waterloo) presents
Speaker: Professor Carlos Santamarina
Professor of Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Topic: Energy: A Geo-Centered Perspective
Summary: There will be a pronounced increase in energy demand in the next decades associated to economical development and population growth worldwide. In the meantime, climate change has been tracking our dependency on fossil fuels, and it is a rapidly evolving threat to our daily lives, with marked implications on livability and infrastructure worldwide. Energy geo-science and engineering is at the center of the energy-climate-and-livability challenge, from resource recovery, transportation, consumption and conservation, to waste management, carbon sequestration and infrastructure adaptation. The central role of energy geoengineering extends to all energy resources, including fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable sources. In all cases, engineering solutions will require a thorough understanding of underlying subsurface processes that involve sediments, fractured rocks and complex fluids.
Biography: Dr. J. Carlos Santamarina (Professor - KAUST) graduated from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and completed graduate studies at the Universities of Maryland and Purdue. He taught at NYU-Polytechnic, the University of Waterloo and at Georgia Tech before joining KAUST in 2015. His research centers on the science of geomaterials and engineering solutions to address global energy challenges, with contributions from resource recovery to energy and waste geostorage. He delivered the 50th Terzaghi Lecture on Energy Geotechnology, was a British Geotechnical Association Touring Lecturer, and is member of both Argentinean National Academies. Former team members are professors at more than forty universities, researchers at national laboratories, or practicing engineers at leading organizations worldwide.
Click here for recording of Dr. Sfriso's PowerPoint Presentation
Geotechnical Research Centre & CGS Western Student Chapter Seminar presents
Speaker: Dr. Alejo Sfriso
University of Buenos Aires
SRK Argentina (ISSMGE VP South America)
Thursday, September 23, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Topic: Case history of a wastewater TBM tunnel under the River Plate, Argentina
Summary: A wastewater TBM tunnel runs 12 km under the River Plate, in the coast of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Final disposal of effluents is done by several standing pipes that were driven upwards in the riverbed. The presentation focuses on the numerical modelling of the ground-structure interaction during construction and operation (when the tunnel will sustain internal pressure that might put the rings in tension) and the driving of the vertical discharge pipes.
Biography: Dr Alejo Sfriso is expert in the application of numerical methods to the design, analysis and risk evaluation of geotechnical structures, with emphasis in construction procedures, with 30 years of experience, projects in 25+ countries and 90+ publications. In addition to his professional activity, Alejo is Professor of Soil Mechanics and Geology at the University of Buenos Aires, Vice President for South America of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering for the period 2017|2021 and Past President of the Argentinean Society for Geotechnical Engineering.
Geotechnical Research Centre & CGS Western Student Chapter Seminar presents
Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Black
Director of the Centre for Energy & Infrastructure Ground Research [CEIGR]
University of Sheffield
Wednesday, June 17, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Topic: Understanding soil-structure interaction using visual based geotechnical physical models
Summary: This presentation focuses on the use of advanced physical modelling methods, referred to as “transparent soil modelling”, to make direct observations of complex soil-structure interactions. The modelling concept, experimental methodology are reported and a number of previous investigations ranging from piling to soil reinforcement are presented to demonstrate the impact and benefits of the modelling approach to practice.
Biography: Dr. Black BEng, PhD, SFHEA, MICE, has 15 years of experience as an academic. Jonathan gained his PhD from Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2007. He joined the University of Sheffield in 2008 to take up a Lectureship in Geotechnical Engineering and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering in 2015. He established and is the Director of the Centre for Energy & Infrastructure Ground Research [CEIGR] that is home to a 4m diameter 50gT geotechnical beam centrifuge. Some of his current research interests focus on foundation systems for offshore renewable energy systems (monopiles) and infrastructure resilience due to climate change (slopes/flood embankments). He continues to develop visual based experimental method and image analysis methods to provide increased observations of soil-structure interactions. He has authored over 50 technical articles and currently is the UK representative for the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) Technical Committee (TC104) on Physical Modelling. He has served on the Editorial board of ICE Geotechnical Engineering and Geotechnique.
Click here for recording of Dr. Hinchberger's presentation
Geotechnical Research Centre & CGS Western Student Chapter Seminar presents
Speaker: Dr. Sean Hinchberger
Thursday, April 29, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Topic: Geotechnical Case Studies: Managing the Risk Associated with Knowledge Gaps!
Summary: This presentation uses a series of Geotechnical Case Studies to highlight the impact of uncertainty on foundation, retaining wall and tailings dam design and discusses the current state of geotechnical practice and potential future needs.
Biography: Dr. Hinchberger, PhD, P.Eng., has 30-years of experience as a consulting geotechnical engineer in the Mining, Energy and Infrastructure Sectors. He has participated in over 75 engineering projects in Canada, the United States, and overseas specializing in earthquake geotechnical engineering, soft soils engineering, embankment dams, tailings dams, tunnels and shafts, and complex foundations. During his career, Dr. Hinchberger has accumulated major project experience including: Engineer of Record for the Hebron GBS Cofferdam (Bull Arm, NFLD); Engineer of Record for the Revelstoke and Mica Dam Safety Reviews (Columbia River, BC); he led the foundation, earthworks and shoring designs at the Brighton Beach Cogeneration Power Plant (Windsor, ON), the Pearson International Airport Expansion - Central Utilities Plant (Toronto, ON), the Rt. Honorable Herb Gray Parkway Project (Windsor, ON), the Third Crossing Bridge (Kingston, ON); and new processing units for the Irving Oil Refinery Upgrade Project (St. John’s NB). Additionally, he has designed tailings storage facilities for North American Paladium’s Lac Des Iles Mine (Lac Des Iles, ON), and the Marietta Ferromanganese Waste Retention Dam (Marietta, OH). Sean is a recognized globally as a geotechnical expert and has participated as a member on design and/or construction review panels for the Shikwamkwa Replacement Dam Project, CAN, Chiquicamata Underground Expansion Project, Chile, Toronto Transit Commission Tunnel Liner Rehabilitation Project, CAN, and the Keeyask Hydroelectric Project, CAN.
Click here for recording of Dr. Boone's presentation
Geotechnical Research Centre & CGS Western Student Chapter Seminar presents
Speaker: Dr. Storer Boone
Principal, Golder Associates
March 18, 2021
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Topic: Controlling Settlement and Sinkhole Risks During Tunnelling and Microtunnelling
Biography: He has more than 30 years of tunnelling experience. His research, design, construction and forensic work has focused on soft-ground tunelling and deep excations, risk analysis and subsurface risk management. His experience includes large civil and underground highway and transit projects procured using design-build and traditional approaches.
