ADAMA Software has released update 13.1 for their Mechanically Stabilized Earth retaining wall design software, MSEW 3.0 as of August 30, 2011. Some of the design methodology changes in the 2009 FHWA manual for MSE walls were implemented in Update 13, as well as a few corrections related to true bridge abutments and other bug fixes.
Standards and Codes
Changes in Geotechnical Engineering Practice in Arizona
[Editor] Note: NCS Consultants, LLC is Randy Post’s full time employer…ie. my day job! [/Editor]
There are some significant changes being made to the state of the practice in geotechnical engineering in Arizona. NCS Consultants, LLC has prepared three policy memoranda for the Arizona Department of Transportation or ADOT that have been issued to consultants all over the State. These memos are on the topics of bearing capacity and settlement of spread footings and retaining walls, the design of drilled shaft foundations in gravelly soils, and the preparation of drilled shaft axial capacity charts for use by bridge engineers.
Although primarily applicable to upcoming ADOT projects implementing the AASHTO 2007 LRFD code, the memos will have a ripple effect down through other local agencies within the state who frequently defer to ADOT guidelines for geotechnical engineering. Also, the memos and the ADOT/NCS approach to LRFD implementation in geotechnical engineering were presented by NCS at the 2008 TRB Conference in Washington D.C., and many other state DOTs and the FHWA were very excited about the memos. The approach used if not the exact content may become a model for other agencies. More info and links to download the policy memoranda are provided after the break.
Articles
6 Free Sites for Geotechnical Webinars and Technical References
Are you itching for some geo-education? The following is a list of 6 free and awesome sites that provide free webinars, papers, and technical reference manuals for you to get some more in-depth knowledge about our awesome geotech profession:
[Editor] Click through for this contributed article from Rey Villa. [/Editor]
Comings and Goings
Schneider in Talks to Acquire Bentley Systems
Schneider Electric, a French energy management company, is reported to be in talks to acquire Bentley Systems, the well-know engineering software company worth approximately $16B. Bentley has noted that discussions are at a preliminary stage, […]