The Foundation Lectures: In-situ Testing

CPTU: Theory, Application and Interpretation

Dr. Paul W. Mayne, Stephen Buttling, Glen Fergus, Yvo (Evo) Keulemans and Allan McConnell

The course aims to educate professionals working in geosciences, environmental sciences and civil and mining construction in the field of in‐situ testing. Often overlooked as a tool or method to obtain information about the sub‐ surface conditions, this one day course aims to provide a basis and appreciation of the possibilities of in‐situ testing in general and CPTu in particular. The course may be particularly relevant to professionals from mining, consulting and construction backgrounds that would benefit from a broader understanding of site investigation methods and its applications.

The course will comprise theoretical background, demonstration of equipment, case studies and workshop and exercises. The workshop will be interactive and focused on practical applications. As a bonus AGS has been provided with the opportunity to have a number of rigs available during the day for the participants to witness and experience the actual data gathering.

It is worth mentioning that attendance at this seminar contributes towards the IEAust’s requirements for Continuing Professional Development.

About the speakers

Dr. Paul W. Mayne Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Tech

Dr. Paul W. Mayne has 37 years invested in the geotechnical engineering profession and since 1990 serves as a Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech. His research program focuses on in‐situ testing, site characterization, foundation systems, and soil & rock properties. Paul is the chair of ISSMGE Technical Committee on In‐ Situ Testing. He has written over 270 publications, including the 2006 James K. Mitchell Lecture, 2007 NCHRP Synthesis on Cone Penetration Testing, 2009 SOA‐1 on Geomaterial Behavior for 17th ICSMGE‐Alexandria, and 2012 SOA on In‐Situ Testing for the ASCE GeoCongress‐Oakland.

He has helped organize and co‐edit the four series of international site characterization (ISC) conferences held in Atlanta (1998), Portugal (2004), Taiwan (2008), and Brazil (2012), with plans for Australia now set for 2016. Dr. Mayne began his career as a lab rat at Cornell University circa 1976 and has evolved into a field mouse over his professional career. He is married with one daughter and plays bass guitar.

Stephen Buttling Senior Principal Consultant, GHD

Stephen will act as the Chair for the day. Stephen is a senior Principal Consultant at GHD and has become a well‐known geotechnical engineer since his arrival in Queensland 5 years ago. He has nearly 40 years of experience, starting in UK, followed by 25 years in South East Asia, and has been specifying and interpreting CPT data for most of that time, including the mechanical cone, and electrical CPTu testing in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Australia. Aside from Chairing the day he will also provide technical input in the interpretation and theory and case studies.

Glen Fergus Principal, Golder Associates

Glen is a Principal with Golder Associates’ Brisbane Office with 30 years’ experience covering the full range of the geotechnical engineering discipline, plus related experience in civil/geotechnical design for major industrial and infrastructure projects. He has had extensive experience over the last 15 years in port‐side land development, particularly at the Port of Brisbane, Fisherman Islands. This included reclamation and development of over 200 Ha south and east of the existing port road / rail corridor, for port‐side industrial development.

Yvo (Evo) Keulemans Founder, CPTS

Yvo (Evo) has 22 years’ experience providing consistently high quality, reliable, CPTu, Vane Shear, SDMT and in‐situ sampling results in Australia and overseas. Since founding CPTS in 1999 ‐ the first independently owned and operated CPT Service in Queensland ‐ Yvo has earned a pre‐eminent reputation for solving challenging site access problems and technical CPT issues. His fleet of vehicles includes; three CPT rigs plus portable CPT equipment and Australia’s only dedicated CPT rig on an Amphirol for access onto tailings dams.

Allan McConnell IGS

Allan is a well‐known geotechnical engineer who, after some 30 years’ experience leading one of the largest geotechnical practices in Australia, started IGS in 2000. With three truck‐mounted rigs, a jack‐up barge and various semi‐portable rig IGS, under Allan’s directorship, aims to reduce geotechnical uncertainty where development interacts with the ground. Although not practicing any longer as a geotechnical consultant, Allan’s experience in both in‐situ testing and geotechnical engineering brings a valuable element to the workshop.

Engineers Australia members participating in AGS technical sessions can record attendance on their personal CPD logs. Members should refer to Engineers Australia CPD policy for details on CPD types, requirements and auditing guidelines.