Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes
now including
LRFD and Allowable Stress Wall Design Sections
(Based on AASHTO LRFD Specifications, 4th Edition, 2007 )

(Updated March 28, 2008)

Register Online!

November 12-14 , 2008

LOCATION:
University of Delaware Campus

(2.4 ceu's or 24 professional development hours awarded for full participation)

This popular course, MSEW & RSS, presents the latest national recommendations for design and construction practice for reinforced soil structures AND it now includes the latest wall design guidance on LRFD and ASD design plus hands-on instruction in using two powerful software packages, MSEW and ReSSA, licensed to the FHWA as well as State DOT's.
Note that the AASHTO LRFD Specifications, 4th Edition, 2007 became federally mandated as of October 2007. This is YOUR chance to be at the forefront!

Course Description

This practical training program, based on AASHTO and FHWA technical specifications and design and construction recommendations on soil reinforcement, is presented by two nationally known geotechnical experts who will help YOU appreciate and implement mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes (MSEW/RSS). Discussions will involve civil and geotechnical design issues. You will learn how to combine soil reinforcing materials made of steel and polymers with an appropriate facing to produce a composite structure with improved engineering properties. These earth fill construction methods are extremely cost effective and aesthetically pleasing, and they provide substantial construction time-savings compared to conventional types of earth retaining systems used in the transportation community. Registration will be limited in order to facilitate discussion and learning that takes place not only through lectures, but also through working with your peers on sample problems and getting hands-on experience with the MSEW and ReSSA software. (You should bring a calculator for problem-solving sessions and your laptop computer, on which the software will be temporarily loaded to run on Windows operating system.)

Who Should Attend

Design specialists (geotechnical, structural, roadway), engineering geologists and senior construction engineers; consulting engineers; industry, technical representatives and academic community representatives who work on earth retaining structure selection, design and contracting will also find this course extremely valuable. Attendees should have a basic knowledge of soil mechanics and roadway design.

Benefits

• This course enables you to gain practical knowledge in all areas of mechanically stabilized earth walls and reinforced soil slopes, including:
• selection
• design(LRFD, Allowable Stress for MSE Walls, designs beyond AASHTO)
• construction
• monitoring
• contractual aspects
• Use sophisticated MSEW and ReSSA software, temporarily loaded on your own laptop, to perform hands-on exercises -- even using the software as a forensic tool.
• Understand the advantages and limitations of each reinforcement system.

The Presenters

Dov Leshchinsky is a professor of civil engineering at the University of Delaware. He has developed design methods, including geosynthetic reinforced slopes and walls, that are being used worldwide. Dr. Leshchinsky holds the PhD in geotechnical engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as bachelor and master's degrees in civil engineering from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. His research interests are in the areas of soil-structure interaction, slope stability engineering, soil reinforcing and ground improvement. Prior to joining Delaware's faculty, he was a research engineer with the Association of American Railroads.

Jerry A. DiMaggio is Principal Bridge Engineer - Geotechnical and National Program Manager with the U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in Washington D.C. He holds BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from Clarkson University and is a registered professional engineer in several states, as well as a certified Master Trainer and licensed Contract Arbitrator (AAA). He has provided consulting technical design and construction assistance on more than 900 transportation projects in all 50 states, throughout Central and South America, and in several middle eastern countries. He has presented over 300 seminars and workshops for professionals on design and construction of bridges, retaining walls and engineered earthworks, and has been the invited keynote speaker at more than 30 national meetings and conferences. Mr. DiMaggio is currently a member of several national committees and task forces for the development of technical guidelines, specifications and testing standards related to geotechnical and foundation practice. He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Delaware, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Akron. Among his numerous national and international recognitions are the U.S. Department of Transportation's Silver Medal, the Geosynthetics Society Achievement Medal, FHWA's "Engineer of the Year," and recently (2007) he received special awards for his career contributions from the Transportation Research Board and the International Association for Foundation Drilling. Mr. DiMaggio currently serves on the ASCE Geo-Institute National Board of Governors.

Agenda

Each day:
7:30 a.m. continental breakfast
Class Times:
Wed., Thurs. & Fri., November 12, 13 & 14: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Through a combination of lectures, example problems, student exercises and discussion, this course covers the following topics:

• MSE wall systems, applications and description
• Site & project evaluation
• Construction methods
• Soil reinforcement principles
• System design properties
• Reinforced Soil Slopes: project evaluation
• Specifications and Contracting Methods
• Field Inspection and Monitoring
• Multiple student exercises dealing with MSE Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes
• Hands-on exercises using ReSSA software, including one on global stability of MSE Walls
• Design of MSE Walls (ASD & LRFD) - including numerous student exercises
• Design of Walls with Complex Geometries
• Hands-on exercises using MSEW software applying the AASHTO LRFD Specifications

Registration and General Information

Program Fee includes extensive course notes/FHWA manuals; continental breakfasts and all breaks.

Registration is limited due to the highly interactive nature of this course and computer lab space.

Group Registrations: $795/person when 3 or more registrants are from the same company

Individual Registrations: $895 per person

A 10% discount coupon toward the purchase of MSEW and ReSSA software packages will be available to all participants in these courses.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Tuesday, October 28, 2008

REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION:  A confirmation letter including directions to campus and parking will be mailed to your home on or before October 28, 2008.

CANCELLATIONS and SUBSTITUTIONS: Refunds granted if the request is received in writing by October 28, 2008. No refunds after October 28, but substitutions are permitted up to the first day of class.

ACCOMMODATIONS and TRANSPORTATION: Participants are responsible for making their own housing and transportation arrangements.  Air transportation should be arranged to either Philadelphia or Baltimore airport.  By calling early and asking for the University of Delaware affiliated rates, you can obtain discounts at the following hotels:
Courtyard by Marriott - UD Campus Hotel - 400 Pencader Way, Newark, DE, 1-302-737-0900
The following are each about one mile from campus:
Embassy Suites - 654 S. College Ave., Newark, DE, 1-302-368-8000
Sleep Inn - 630 S. College Ave.(Rt.896N), Newark, DE, 1-302-453-1700
Howard Johnson Inn - 1119 S. College Ave., Newark, DE, 1-302-368-8521