DVGI November 2023 Dinner Meeting - DFI Traveling Lecture - Dos and Don'ts in Lateral Stabilization of Soils Using Deep Foundation Elements

Besides their main application to support vertical and lateral loading from a superstructrure, deep foundation elements are often subject to lateral loading from the soil itself. In some cases, the foundation elements may need to resist lateral movement of the soil during a potential lateral spreading event in a seismic area, or they may potentially be subject to lateral movement when installed near or below a slope.

This presentation discusses potential situations where deep foundation elements may be required to withstand lateral soil movements. A theoretical, simple slope instability case will be used to illustrate the various steps of analysis, including assessment of movement profile, development of the foundation reaction-displacement function, evaluation of the slope and foundation stability. This example depicts suitable methods of analysis of these systems and will be used to highlight analysis flaws that are often seen in practice.

Several case histories will also be presented that include lateral “squeezing” of soft soils located under or near the edge of an embankment and its effect on driven piles; mitigation of lateral squeeze using drilled foundations; design and testing of augered cast-in-place piles to withstand a lateral spreading event; and slope stabilization using micropiles. Design and construction of these systems, most of which were recently completed, will be discussed in some detail.

About the Speaker

Jesús Gómez, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, vice president, GEI Consultants, has been selected as the 2023-2024 Traveling Lecturer. He is available, on request of DFI, to present lectures September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024. 

A well-known geotechnical expert, and member of DFI, Gómez will travel and present a series of lectures to university students, professional groups and industry associations. The program promotes the field of geotechnical engineering and deep foundation construction by encouraging students to explore a career in the deep foundations industry, providing information on topics of interest to members of the industry and raising awareness of how DFI and its activities support the industry.

Gómez has more than 35 years of design and construction experience in geotechnical projects nationally and internationally. He has led numerous foundation, dam rehabilitation and earth support projects where he has developed cost-effective, constructible solutions.

He has authored over 80 publications on a variety of geotechnical and structural topics and on soil-structure interaction. He has been teaching courses on soil mechanics, foundation design, ground improvement and ground stabilization since 1985 as an adjunct professor at various universities, and as an instructor for the National Highway Institute (NHI) and other entities throughout the Americas and Europe.

Gómez obtained a civil engineering degree at Universidad Católica in Caracas, Venezuela, and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Virginia Tech.