2025 Conference

Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference

73nd Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference



This is the 73rd offering of the University of Minnesota Geotechnical Engineering Conference. The Planning Committee, whose members represent the contracting industry, government agencies, the University, and consulting engineers, has developed a program offering technical information and discussion on current topics for the geotechnical engineering community. Topics at the conference will cover response of pile groups, designing piles for downdrag, stabilizing non-plastic soil through mineral carbonation, reusing foundations, Minnesota’s mining resources, behavior of geomaterials in pavement foundations, and recent case histories. The conference provides a forum to interact with peers, meet specialty contractors, and hear researchers and practitioners discuss theory and application of geomechanics. Civil engineers, architects, planners, contractors, and geologists with an interest in geotechnical engineering will benefit by attending this conference.

The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Conference Details

Date:

February 20-21, 2025

Graduate Hotel, 615 Washington Ave SE (Google Map Link)


Sponsored by:

Department of Civil, Environmental, Geo- Engineering

University of Minnesota

Minnesota Geotechnical Society

Geo-Institute of ASCE


Program

Friday, February 21, 2025

 

7:30

Registration and Continental Breakfast

Lobby, Meridian Ballroom

 

8:15 – 8:25

Introduction and Welcome

Meridian Ballroom

 

Steve Olson, PE

Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Kiewit - Engineering Group

 

Distinguished University Representative

College of Science and Engineering

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

 

 

8:25 – 9:20

Kersten Lecture

Response of Pile Groups to Applied Load and General Subsistence[SO1]  per the Unified Method

 

Bengt Fellenius, Dr Tech, PEng

Consultant

Sidney, British Columbia, Canada

 

Available case histories on observations on full-scale piled rafts show that the settlement response to applied load can be modeled as the compression of an Equivalent Pier composed of the piles and the soil matrix plus the compression of soil layers below the pile-toe level calculated as that of an Equivalent Raft at the pile toe level. Interior piles engage the soil from the pile toe level upward in contrast to a single pile, which engages it from the ground downward. Piles and soil have strain compatibility, which determines the distribution of load between the piles, the contact stress, and the load-transfer movement of the piles. The responses between the interior and perimeter piles differ. Particularly so in non-subsiding and subsiding environment, because perimeter piles are subjected to downdrag and drag forces, while neither downdrag nor drag force will affect the interior piles to any appreciable degree. In non-subsiding environment, it is advantageous to make perimeter piles shorter, while in a subsiding environment, perimeter piles best be longer. The difference will affect the load distribution and bending moment response across the raft, which is also governed by the degree of rigidity of the raft and by the difference in dishing at the pile toe level and in the dishing of the actual raft. Contact stress under the raft, be it large or small, is incidental to the response of a piled foundation and cannot be considered to reduce the effect of the load applied to the foundation.

 

 

9:20 – 10:00

Preferred Approach to Dragload Design per NCHRP Project No. 12-116A Recommendations to AASHTO

 

Aaron Budge, PhD PE

Interim Executive Director, School of Applied Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN

 

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) championed a project to propose improved AASHTO Specifications for the Design of Pile for Downdrag in preparation for revision to the AASHTO Code that has been underway over the past few years. Specifications from the most recent versions of the code were found lacking with respect to downdrag considerations. The project team conducted a review of both literature and the current state of practice, subsequently outlining a proposed methodology for inclusion in the updated AASHTO Specifications. This methodology includes recommendations for selection of soil properties, commentary on existing t-z relationships as necessary for an appropriate neutral plan method, and an approach to driven pile design that appropriately accounts for the downdrag/dragload phenomenon. Multiple design examples were provided to explain the methodology to those utilizing the AASHTO Specifications, including both a traditional approach (shown to be extremely overconservative) and the Unified Method approach (strongly recommended as the preferred approach for design.) This paper provides one of the numerous examples as shared in the project final report, including the comparison to the traditional

method and the benefits of utilizing this preferred approach.

 

 

10:00 – 10:30

Break

 

 

10:30 – 11:10

Stabilization of Non-Plastic Soils via Accelerated Mineral Carbonation with Lime: Experimental Observations

 

Aaron Gallant, PhD, PE

Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Maine, Orono, Maine

 

Mixing alkali additives like cement, lime, or fly ash with soil conventionally relies on generation of cementitious hydration products to chemically stabilize material. Accelerated mineral carbonation is an alternative approach that precipitates cementing carbonate minerals and permanently sequesters carbon dioxide in the binder. This occurs by introducing carbon dioxide in high concentrations to bypass conventional hydration reactions. Experimental observations from elemental testing of lime-mixed sand and silt and a large soil box experiment simulating accelerated carbonation are presented.

 

 

11:10 – 11:50

Why Rebuild It When You Can Reuse It?

 

Andrew Boeckmann, PhD, PE

Senior Engineer

Dan Brown and Associates, Knoxville, TX

 

Foundation reuse is a design alternative that has found favor among owners and engineers as a means for satisfying financial, schedule, and other constraints on superstructure replacement projects. Reusing foundations presents significant design challenges, primarily assessing the condition and capacity of the existing foundations. Using results from a field research study in Missouri and from various case examples, this presentation will demonstrate techniques for investigating existing foundations and predicting axial capacity. The information presented is useful for improving capacity estimates of existing foundations, demonstrating techniques for field investigation of existing foundations, and highlighting the benefits and feasibility of foundation reuse.

 

 

11:55 – 13:05

Lunch

 

 

13:10 – 13:50

Mining for the Future: Minnesota's Role in Responsible Resource Development

 

Julie Lucas

Executive Director

Mining Minnesota, Virginia, MN

 

Minnesota’s journey toward a clean energy future began over a billion years ago, with the formation of North America’s Midcontinent Rift. This geological event endowed the state’s northeastern region with rich deposits of copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum-group metals—essential minerals for building clean energy technologies and infrastructure. Today, as global demand for these resources surges, alongside heightened awareness of environmental and community concerns, the need to explore Minnesota’s full potential and navigate its challenges has never been more urgent. The presentation will provide insights into Minnesota’s unique resources, their role in our future, and the integration of economic opportunity with environmental responsibility.

 

 

13:50 – 14:30

Evaluation of Cross-Anisotropic Geomechanical Behavior of Unbound Geomaterials in Pavement Foundations

 

Bora Cetin, PhD

Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

 

The resilient modulus (MR) and permanent strain (PS) are commonly used geomechanical properties for pavement design to characterize the geomaterial response to traffic loading, representing recoverable and plastic deformations, respectively. The complexities arising from the cross-anisotropic nature of geomaterials and continuous traffic loading necessitate further investigation into mechanical properties under realistic stress states similar to field conditions. This presentation will summarize the cross-anisotropic MR and permanent deformation of typical unbound geomaterials used in pavement foundations. Moreover, additional results will be discussed on the effect of moving vehicle load on the cross-anisotropic behavior considering the continuous principal stress rotation experienced by geomaterials.

 

 

14:30 – 15:00

Break

 

 

15:00 – 15:25

Case Histories

Meridian Ballroom, A

 

Shoring Design and Construction of a Life Science Center

 

Liang Chern Chow, PE

Project Manager

Haley & Aldrich, Inc., CA

 

The Avia Labs facility is a 6-story all-electric science center with two levels of basement parking that was constructed in Millbrae, California. The site is in the heart of San Francisco Bay Area’s life science clusters that offer direct access to BART and Caltrain transit stations, and the San Andreas Fault is approximately 2 miles away from the site. The code-based seismic parameters derived from the California Building Code 2019 indicate a peak ground acceleration of 1.03g and an earthquake magnitude of 7.9, resulting in an estimated 2 inches of liquefaction settlement at the site. In addition to the strong seismic hazard, the 30-foot deep excavation support system required a seepage cutoff wall and a groundwater control system to work continuously during construction. Consequently, a groundwater control approach was developed, consisting of dewatering and recharge wells, along with a monitoring program to observe groundwater drawdown per BART requirements. The building is designed to be supported on a mat foundation bearing on the Colma formation, which consists primarily of permeable sandy deposits. Due to the proximity of BART rail tracks, the shoring needed to incorporate additional surcharge loading, seismic earth pressure, and high groundwater into the design. Furthermore, the change in pile design from uplift to compression mode was necessary to support the heavy shear forces and the unexpected dewatering activities from an adjacent site further complicated the project challenges.

 

 

15:00 – 15:25

Case Histories

Meridian Ballroom, B

 

Comparison of Elastic Settlement Estimating Methods for a Bridge Foundation with SPT and SCPTu Data

 

Derrick Dasenbrock, PE

Geotechnical Engineer

Federal Highway Administration Resource Center

 

In 2012, a bridge project in central Minnesota was characterized with 3 SPT borings and six seismic SCPTu soundings. Computed values for N 60 , shear wave velocity, and modulus values were derived from the soundings. Survey targets provided settlement documentation. This paper explores the application of five prediction methods described in the NCHRP report Synthesis and Evaluation on the Service Limit State of Engineered Fills for Bridge Support using both SPT and CPT derived parameters, and the Direct CPT Method for Shallow Foundations described in the MnDOT CPT Manual. A comparison of the predictive methods and measured settlement is discussed.

 

15:30 – 15:55

Case Histories

Meridian Ballroom, A

 

Insights From MNROAD: What Can Moisture Tell Us?

 

Ceren Aydin, PhD

Geomechanics Research Engineer

Minnesota Department of Transportation, Maplewood, MN

 

As precipitation patterns become more variable and intense, the implications for pavement durability and structural integrity become critical, necessitating a comprehensive approach to moisture monitoring and management. This paper focuses on investigating moisture trends in the foundation layers of several test cells at MnROAD, the 30-year-old Minnesota Road Research Facility, using data collected from volumetric water content and matric suction sensors. By leveraging the power of statistical analysis, this paper aims to address several key questions: How frequently do foundation systems exceed their optimum moisture content, and what are the moisture trends for different layers such as base, subbase, and subgrade? How crucial are drainage characteristics in regulating moisture levels within the foundation? Furthermore, can moisture trends be used as early indicators of foundation quality and serve as potential predictors of surface distress before it becomes visible? This study also explores the possibility of deriving field soil-water characteristic curves from the available data and its importance to design. By leveraging MnROAD’s comprehensive database and advanced sensor technologies, this research contributes to a refined understanding of moisture dynamics in pavement foundations, offering guidance for future design and maintenance practices.

 

 

15:30 – 15:55

Case Histories

Meridian Ballroom, B

 

Soil Resistance to Driving for Open-, Closed-, and H-piles in Upper Mississippi River Valley Sands

 

James A. Schneider, PE

Geotechnical and Geology Section

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, MN

 

A summary of pile driving log data and Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) test results is presented for three projects in the Upper Mississippi River valley. The projects consisted of (i) 24 in. diameter full displacement closed ended pile piles at the Lock and Dam 6 End Cell (LD6); (ii) 30 in. diameter low displacement open ended pipe piles for the Fountain City Service Base Mooring Dolphins; and (iii) HP16x121 low displacement H-piles at the Lock and Dam 4 End Cell (LD4). Sites are compared by normalizing soil resistance to driving to SPT N-value, and then assessing relative resistance. The relative resistance provides insight into soil resistance to driving for each pile shape and level of displacement during driving. Additionally, interpretations of PDA restrike data are compared to assess inferred setup for the three pile geometries.

 

 

16:00 – 16:25

Case Histories

Meridian Ballroom, A

 

Estimating and Monitoring Construction Vibrations for Driven Pile Installation

 

Michael Hochscheidt, PE

Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Barr Engineering Company, Minneapolis, MN

 

Barr Engineering developed a construction vibration monitoring plan for a driven pile slope stabilization system along the Sheyenne River in West Fargo, North Dakota. Minimizing the risk of vibration induced damage to nearby structures was critical for project success. Barr recommended maximum allowable vibration thresholds, and estimated if vibrations from pile driving would be within these thresholds, or if an alternate design would be required. These estimates were refined based on measurements of nearby pile driving in similar geology. Based on the estimated vibration levels, Barr recommended a system of eight seismographs to record actual construction vibrations.

 

 

16:30        Adjournment


Professional Development Hours

 

Participants can earn 7.0 professional development hours (PDH) for full-day attendance. 



Short Course 


Thursday, February 20, 2025

1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Graduate Hotel, Minneapolis East Bank Campus

 

Short- and Long-term Response of Piled Foundations

 

Course Outline

Principles for settlement and resistances of piled foundations; analyses of head-down and bidirectional static loading tests on strain-gage instrumented piles; using back-calculated test data to simulate the response of other piles at a site.

 

Course Instructor

 

Bengt Fellenius, Dr Tech, PEng

Sidney, British Columbia, Canada


Professional Development Hours

 

Participants can earn 4.0 professional development hours (PDH) for attendance. 



Registration


 Registration for the conference and short course is at z.umn.edu/geoconf2025 or by mailing the following information with a check or purchase order: name, organization, postal address, e-mail address.

 

The early registration fee for the conference is $250; after January 30, 2025, it is $285. The fee includes tuition, parking, proceedings, continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. A refund, less a $10 cancellation fee, will be made if cancellation is received by February 14, 2025.  Student registration is $20 (no proceedings), and a limited number of $100 registrations are available for retired engineers. Reduced registration requests should be sent to geoconf@umn.edu by January 31, 2025 to receive a promo code. The University reserves the right to cancel the conference, in which case a refund will be made.


Pre-Conference Banquet


Thursday, February 20, 2025 

6:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.

Graduate Hotel, Minneapolis East Bank Campus

 

The Minnesota Geotechnical Society (MGS) hosts a dinner meeting of the local ASCE section the night before the conference. The meeting will be held at the Graduate Hotel, 615 Washington Ave SE, on the Minneapolis East Bank Campus of the University of Minnesota, in Think Room 4. The Kersten Lecturer for the conference, Bengt Fellenius, will be the featured speaker. The dinner reception begins at 6 P.M. A separate registration is required for this event. Dinner registration is available here: Dinner Registration 



*NEW in 2025 - Student Poster Session* 

Students are invited to present their research during the dinner the evening before the conference. To enter, send a 250-word abstract to team@mgs-gi.com by February 3, 2025. Participants will be notified by February 6, 2025 if their poster has been accepted for presentation. Posters will not be published. Presented work need not be exclusive for this event. Research that has been presented elsewhere, so long as the author maintains the rights to present it, is welcomed. Please indicate where else the research has or is expected to be presented. Preference will be given to posters going to ASCE Geo-Congress 2025.


All students chosen to present will be given free admission to the Thursday dinner event on February 20th, which includes the happy hour reception, meal, and keynote presentation.  Students will present their posters during the happy hour. $500 in scholarship prize money will be awarded to the top posters. 


Conference Location/Accommodations

 

The conference, short course, and pre-conference banquet will be held at the Graduate Hotel, 615 Washington Ave SE, on the Minneapolis East Bank Campus of the University of Minnesota. Disability accommodations will be provided upon request.



Parking

 

Parking is included in conference registration at the Washington Avenue or University Avenue Ramps of the University of Minnesota.

 

Contact for Further Information

 

Write to geoconf@umn.edu for more information.

Planning Committee


Taylor Adams, US Army Corps of Engineers

Nathan Iverson, Veit & Company

Joe Bentler, American Engineering Testing

Joe Labuz, University of Minnesota (UMN)

Anya Brose, Itasca Consulting Group

Rich Lamb, MnDOT

Aaron Budge, MN State University, Mankato

Brent Larsen, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc.

Ivan Contreras, Barr Engineering

Dan Mahrt, Terracon

Liang Chern Chow, Haley & Aldrich

Steve Olson, Kiewit - Engineering Group

Derrick Dasenbrock, FHWA

Greg Reuter, American Engineering Testing

Chris DeDene, City of Minneapolis

Dave Saftner, UMN, Duluth

Bryan Field, KLJ Engineering

Brian Sanchez, Menard USA

Steve Gale, Gale-Tec Engineering

Joel Swenson, Barr Engineering

Mike Haggerty, Barr Engineering

Brent Theroux, Barr Engineering

Megan Hoppe, American Engineering Testing

Joe Westphal, Braun Intertec