Sweden Conference Focuses on Execution Codes The European geotechnical community has spent many years and millions of euro developing design and execution codes for foundation works. These codes promote standardization of construction procedures throughout Europe. At the DFI-EFFC International Conference on Piling and Deep Foundations “Global Perspective on Sustainable Execution of Deep Foundation Works” in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 21- 23, specialists from the international foundation industry gathered to explore the impacts of execution codes on foundation practice. Over 300 attendees and 27 exhibitors participated. Sikko Doornbos (Terracon Funderingstechniek B.V., The Netherlands) served as conference chair, K. Rainer Massarsch (Geo Risk and Vibration Scandinavia AB, Sweden) and Stefan Engineering) presented a keynote lecture on the need for standardization for piles. The international panel opined on the benefits of codes to ensure quality products and the potential downside of codes inhibiting innovations. It is hoped that this discussion will spur future sharing from colleagues in Africa, India and South America on relevant national codes issues. The opening session was followed by technical sessions on bored and driven piles, deep mixing, in-situ and preformed walls, and new trends in foundation practice. Co-chairs from Europe and North America organized sessions with diverse topics presented by a broad cross-section of industry specialists (owners, foundation contractors, engineers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, authorities and researchers). R. Massarsch, technical program co-chair Maurice Bottiau (Franki Foundations Belgium) delivered a keynote lecture emphasizing the importance of installation parameters, pile performance and testing. Participants agreed that pile performance will always be affected by installation, and the “human factor” cannot be ignored. The codes should be updated to reflect the improved testing tools available today, and quality will improve through better site investigation and construction records and routinely testing piles to failure. Michal Topolnicki (Keller Polska Sp. Z o.o, Poland) delivered a keynote lecture providing a comprehensive overview of current tools and advancements in deep mixing technologies. This session included presentations on many mixing aspects, including remediation, sampling consider- ations, surcharging and real scale testing. Giuliano Feruglio and Lidija Karaula of Casagrande Aronsson (ÅF Infrastructure AB, Sweden) served as technical program co-chairs. In addi- tion to five technical sessions, the confer- ence also included a site visit, an electronic poster session and a video session. Technical Sessions Massarsch chaired the first technical session on harmonization of execution codes. The session provided a broad overview of relevant codes in Europe, U.S. and Japan. Professor Roger Frank (National School for Highways and Bridges, France, and current president of International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Session Chairs K. Rainer Massarsch (Geo Risk and Vibration Scandinavia AB, Sweden) Maurice Bottiau (Franki Foundations Belgium, Belgium) and Dan Brown (Dan Brown and Associates, USA) Noël Huybrechts (Belgian Building Research Institute, Belgium) and George Burke (Hayward Baker Inc., USA) Bartho Admiraal (Volker Staal en Funderingen (VSF), The Netherlands) and Dwight Metcalf (Kiewit Infrastructure Engineers, USA) Chris Harnan (Ceecom Consult Limited, UK) and Theresa Rappaport (DFI, USA) DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2014 • 25
