As part of an ongoing ADSC research project on axial capacity of drilled shaft rock sockets in the Southeastern US, several test shafts were constructed this past week and the load test portion will commence later in August. Dan Brown and Associates are hosting a contest to predict the results of the O-Cell testing. Feeling lucky? Go read more about the project and the contest. Photos and other info should be posted this week to help with the predictions that are due by COB August 12. [Source: Dan Brown and Associates, PC]
Miscellaneous
Robert Thompson awarded the Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering (D.GE) certification
A little late, but congratulations to my colleague and fellow blogger, Robert Thompson on receiving the D.GE certification. Wish I could have been there! [Source: Dan Brown and Associates, PC. Image: DBA]
Miscellaneous
ASCE Geo-Institute Reports on Trends Affecting the Geo-Community
In July of 2007 a virtual who’s who of the Geo-community gathered at the headquarters of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for a workshop to discuss the Trends Affecting the Geo-community. Yesterday the ASCE released a report on the workshop titled: Trends Affecting the Geo-Community: What Does the Future Hold, edited by Peter Smeallie. More details after the break.
Miscellaneous
Dr. Jorj O. Osterberg – In Memorium
Dr. Jorj O. Osterberg, inventor of the Osterberg Cell or "O-Cell" used for drilled shaft load tests has passed away at the age of 93. According to the Association of Drilled Shaft Contractors or ADSC, he died peacefully in his sleep on June 1, 2008. The geotechnical community has lost a truly legendary figure in our field.
Osterberg held degrees from Columbia, Harvard and Cornell Universities. He was a Professor Emeritus from Northwestern University. He was a former Chairman of the Soil Mechanics and Foundation Division of the ASCE, an Honorary Member of ASCE, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He delivered the Terzaghi Lecture in 1985, and later received the Terzaghi Award. He was one of the last surviving founding members of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Deep Foundations Institute and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Drilled Shaft Contractors. (Adapted from a bio for the 2001 Burmister Lecture, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University). Read on for more.