Short Course Title: Filtration and Drainage in Geosynthetic Engineering: Principles, Practices, and Sustainability
Date and time: Sunday, 17th September 2023 – 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Geosynthetics have been traditionally used as drains and filters for decades. As any construction material they must be properly specified based on sound design procedures in order to provide effective solutions in geotechnical and geoenvironmental projects. Geosynthetics can be easily and quickly installed and can avoid or minimize the utilization of natural drainage materials. This short-course will present the typical geosynthetic products that can be used as filters and drains, the basis for design and specification, a review of geosynthetics applications drainage systems, hard erosion control applications, roadways, reinforced soil embankments, slopes and retaining walls. Case histories demonstrating long-term performance and an evaluation of sustainability versus conventional graded granular filters will also be reviewed.
Course outcomes include:
- Identifying the types of geosynthetics for drainage and filtration.
- Recognizing applications in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental engineering problems.
- Recalling basic definitions, primary and secondary functions, and filtration concepts.
- Understanding the principles of filtration and drainage design criteria and locating design methods.
- Identifying factors affecting the performance of geosynthetics in drainage and filtration.
- Explaining construction principles for effective geosynthetic installation for different geosynthetic drainage and filtration applications.
- Reviewing case-histories of successful long-term drainage and filtration performance.
- Identify four potential cost savings in using geosynthetics including improved performance and sustainability.
This workshop will enable participants to:
- Gain theoretical and practical knowledge on the use and selection of geosynthetics for drainage and filtration.
- Develop an appreciation of activities outside your own specialty.
Who should attend:
- Design specialists, civil and environmental engineers and senior construction engineers.
- Consulting engineers, industrial technical representative and academic who specialize in use of geosynthetics in construction.
- Contractors associated with the construction of earth works.
- Forensic engineers.
BIO
Dr. Barry Christopher is an independent geotechnical engineering consultant with over 40 years of experience and specializes in ground improvement technologies including geosynthetics applications and design, geotechnical/geosynthetics testing and instrumentation. He has authored over 150 technical papers on these subjects as well as ten design manuals for the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) including Geotextile Engineering and Geosynthetics Design and Construction Guidelines, a textbook on Geosynthetic Engineering, four book chapters on Geosynthetics including one for the Hand Book of ground Water Engineering, and three National Cooperative Highway Research Program syntheses including Pavement Subsurface Drainage Systems. He is a National Highway Institute certified instructor, developing and teaching a number of training courses for the FHWA including Geosynthetics Engineering. He has chaired several national and international professional committees and is currently active in the American Society of Testing and Materials (past chair of D35 Geosynthetics committee), the American Society of Civil Engineers, the International Geosynthetics Society (past council member), the North American Geosynthetics Society (past President), and the Transportation Research Board (past chair of AFS70 Geosynthetics committee). He has a BSCE from UNC, Charlotte, MS from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. from Purdue University.
