FEBRUARY 2017 MEETING
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 (1.0 PDH)

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

Geopier® Ground Improvement Systems - Design, Construction and Application

Speaker: Umesh Bachu, P.E. with Geopier Foundation Company, 17619 Murrayfield Court, Richmond TX 77407. Tel No: 713-824-2680.

Mr. Umesh Bachu, P.E. has more than fifteen years of professional experience in providing geotechnical engineering, insitu testing, ground improvement, and construction material testing services. Mr. Bachu holds a MS degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and MBA degree from Georgetown University. He is currently an engineer with Geopier Foundation Company, Inc. (GFC), a subsidiary of the Tensar Corporation, is a design/build specialty contractor specializing in ground reinforcement.

PRESENTATION SUMMARY

Geopier®’s Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) systems are cost-effective intermediate foundation solution to support settlement sensitive structures while providing increased allowable bearing pressure for design of foundations. RAP elements have been used to reinforce good to poor soils, including soft to stiff clay, silt, loose to dense sand, organic silt and variable, uncontrolled/undocumented fill soils.  Where feasible, it is an effective replacement for massive over-excavation and replacement for deep foundations, including driven piles, drilled shafts, and augered cast-in-place piles.  Attendees will be introduced to GFC’s systems, feasibility/limitations followed by Q & A starting with answers to common questions.

Mr. Umesh Bachu  presented the engineering principles, installation methods, research findings, and completed projects with various Geopier® ground improvement systems. The session was interactive and covered a number of case studies.  Case studies covered industrial and commercial projects.