The Drilled Shafts Committee will host a joint seminar with the Drilled Shaft Committee of ADSC on July 11, 2013 in Columbus, OH.  This two-day program will include invited speakers presenting case history, design and research information on the use of drilled shafts.  Exhibitions are planned, and we welcome member involvement.  Please contact DFI headquarters for more information.

We are pleased that our proposal prepared jointly with the Seismic and Lateral Loads and Committee was approved for funding by the DFI Board of Trustees.  This joint committee effort involves a literature review and development of online database of existing large scale pile experiments (Phase 1 - 2013).  This database will provide a comprehensive catalog of pile load tests conducted under a variety of loading and boundary conditions that will be a resource to guide geotechnical engineers in using performance based design approaches.  Phase 1 work will be conducted by Prof. Anne Lemnitizer of University of California at Irvine.   Members from ADSC's Drilled Shaft Committee will work with DFI's Committee members to provide input to and review of deliverables.  Phase 2 of the project is expected to be an experimental pile testing program that will address gaps in pile testing data identified in the Phase 1 (planned for 2014-2015, not funded at this time).

The last committee meeting was held in Houston at the DFI Annual Conference.  The meeting was well attended by members of DFI and ADSC.  There was a good discussion on the joint ADSC-DFI task force on rebar cage design.  Dr. Tony Marinucci and Mary Ellen Bruce are leading the effort from ADSC and DFI, respectively, with Mark Petersen, Chair of DFI's Seismic and Lateral Load Committee.  The task force will work to define the problem and specific project scope, and outline the data needed to evaluate the large shear loads that are generated between hard rock and soil in lateral analysis.  During the first stage of the project, we will be gathering, cataloging and disseminating lateral load test data.  Subsequent stages will evaluate how existing software analyzes these conditions, and the process may result in recommending new p-y models.  A series of short courses may be offered through DFI and ADSC disseminating the results.  Volunteers interested in tackling existing design methodologies on rebar cage design are welcome to participate.

We are looking at updating the Drilled Shaft Inspector's Manual.  Kirk McIntosh of AMEC- Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. volunteered to lead the effort.  Please let Kirk know if you can help (Kirk.McIntosh@amec.com).

We are asking Committee members what they want from their membership.  Every topic is available for discussion within this group of the industry's leading practitioners.  Please don't hesitate to begin a discussion, using the mailing list or selecting a target group.  We can only improve through conversation and collaboration.