History of Driven Piles in New Orleans

NA S IA EC THE LOUISIANA S T I I U O O N L CIVIL ENGINEER ACADIANA BRANCH • BATON ROUGE BRANCH NEW ORLEANS BRANCH • SHREVEPORT BRANCH 1914 Journal of The Louisiana Section

Volume 12 ¥ Number 2 February 2004

INSIDE: FEATURE: FUTURE: Registration and Information for History of driven piles Louisiana Civil Engineering 2004 Annual Spring Meeting in New Orleans Conference and Show and Conference in Shreveport in New Orleans March 18 - 19, 2004 ESSAY: September 9-10, 2004 A technology-based economy NEWS: for North Louisiana Section Annual Meeting Times-Picayune acknowledges in New Orleans reporters win ASCE award September 10, 2004 New professional degree SERVICES AND SUPPLIERS

13201 Old Gentilly Road New Orleans, Louisiana 70129 Precast Bridges Concrete Pipe — Manholes — Box Culverts Catch Basins — Drainage Structures OFFICE: 877-754-7379 FACSIMILE: 504-254-3164

PROFESSIONAL LISTINGS

The listing of your business card or larger presentation here with our other supporters to help subsidize The Louisiana Civil Engineer, the journal of the Louisiana Section, would be greatly appreciated. For information about listing rates and requirements, please direct inquiries to Norma Jean Mattei, PE, Telephone: (504) 280-5414 or e-mail: [email protected].

2 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE: CONTENTS Norma Jean Mattei, PE, Chair (504) 280-5414 Branch Presidents, Members President’s Message ...... 4 James C. Porter, PE, Editor (225) 242-4556 History of driven piles in New Orleans ...... 5 Yvette Weatherton, PE, Student Chapter News (225) 771-5870 News from the Branches ...... 8 Student Chapter News ...... 10 PUBLISHER: Franklin Press, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA Section News and Information ...... 11 A technology-based economy for N. Louisiana ...... 12 The Louisiana Civil Engineer quarterly journal is an official publication of the Louisiana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers with an 2004 Annual Spring Meeting & Conference: average circulation of approximately 1900. The Section neither guarantees Registration Form ...... 13 the accuracy of statements made nor necessarily concurs with the opinions Conference Agenda ...... 14 expressed in this publication. Please submit letters to the editor and articles Editor’s Journal ...... 16 for consideration to be published by facsimile to (225) 242-4552, by e-mail Professional Listings ...... 2, 22-23 to [email protected], or by mail to the Publications Committee c/o James C. Porter, PE ¥ 2608 Terrace Avenue ¥ Baton Rouge, LA 70806- Services and Suppliers ...... 2, 24 6868.

LOUISIANA SECTION ¥ AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS Louisiana Engineering Center ¥ 9643 Brookline Avenue ¥ Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809 ¥ (225) 923-1662 SECTION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Secretary President-Elect President Mohammed J. Khattak Kirt M. Nixon, EI Barbara E. Featherston, PE University of Louisiana — Lafayette Smith and Raley, Inc. Camp Dresser & McKee Treasurer Secretary President-Elect Jeffrey L. Duplantis, PE Lisa Nichols, EI Norma Jean Mattei, PE Sellers & Associates, Inc. Mohr & Associates Inc. University of New Orleans Past President Treasurer Vice President Larry A. Cramer, PE Ashley T. Sears, EI Kim E. Martindale, PE Sellers & Associates, Inc. Aillet, Fenner, Jolly and McClelland Louisiana DOTD Baton Rouge Branch Past President Secretary-Treasurer President Joe E. (Butch) Ford, Jr., PE Timothy M. Ruppert, PE David M. Burkholder, PE Bossier Parish US Army Corps of Engineers Louisiana DNR BRANCH TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIRS Past President President-Elect Baton Rouge Charles L. Eustis, PE André M. Rodrigue, PE Structures Louis J. Capozzoli & Associates ABMB Engineers, Inc. Danny J. Deville, PE Directors-at-Large Vice President McKee & Deville Consulting Engineers, Inc. Joe E. (Butch) Ford, PE Thomas T. Roberts, PE Geotechnical Bossier Parish Waskey Bridges, Inc. Gavin P. Gautreau, PE J. Keith Shackelford, PE Secretary-Treasurer Louisiana Transportation Research Center CSRS, Inc. Brant B. Richard, PE Environmental Gustave S. (Gus) Cantrell, PE C-K Associates, Inc. University of New Orleans Stephen D. Fields, PE Patrick J. Landry, PE Directors Compliance Consultants, Inc. Louisiana DNR Gregory P. Sepeda, PE Water Resources Sigma Consulting Group, Inc. Morris Sade Assigned Branch Directors Jesse T. Thompson, EI Miraj Envirotek, Inc. Reda Bakeer, PE PEC, Inc. Tulane University Management Stephen M. Meunier, PE Michael N. Dooley, PE Roy A. Waggenspack, PE Louisiana DOTD Owen & White, Inc. Sigma Consulting Group, Inc. Past President Branch Directors Pipeline J. Keith Shackelford, PE Roy A. Waggenspack, PE John E. Bosch, Jr., PE Chenevert Songy Rodi Soderberg, Inc. Maritime International, Inc. Owen and White, Inc. David M. Burkholder, PE New Orleans Branch Transportation Louisiana DNR President P. Brian Wolshon, PE Christopher G. Humphreys, PE Christopher G. Humphreys, PE LSU Baton Rouge Professional Services Industries, Inc. Professional Services Industries, Inc. New Orleans C. Eric Hudson, PE President-Elect Structures Alliance, Inc. Deborah D. Keller, PE Mark H. Gronski, PE SECTION TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIRS Port of New Orleans U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Geotechnical Vice President Geotechnical David P. Sauls, PE William H. Sewell, Jr., PE William W. Gwyn, PE Louis J. Capozzoli & Associates DPW City of New Orleans Eustis Engineering Company, Inc. Structures Secretary Environmental and Water Resources Anthony F. Goodgion, PE Ronald L. Schumann, Jr., PE David A. Cole, PE Linfield, Hunter & Junius, Inc. DMJM+Harris, Inc. Montgomery Watson Harza, Inc. Environmental Treasurer STUDENT CHAPTERS IN THE LOUISIANA SECTION Brant B. Richard, PE Christopher L. Sanchez, EI Presidents/Faculty Advisors C-K Associates, Inc. Consoer Townsend Envirodyne Engrs., Inc. LSU Kyle Murrell BRANCH OFFICERS Directors P. Brian Wolshon, PE Peter R. Cali, PE La. Tech Brooke Fletcher Acadiana Branch US Army Corps of Engineers President Norman D. Pumphrey, Jr., PE Nathan J. Junius, EI McNeese Nick Pestello John E. Bosch, Jr., PE Linfield, Hunter & Junius, Inc. Maritime International, Inc. Janardanan (Jay) O. Uppot, PE Past President Southern Niayonda Picou, Chuckwu Onu and President-Elect Daniel L. Bolinger, PE Yvette P. Weatherton, PE Kimberly D. Landry, EI DMJM+Harris, Inc. Lafayette Consolidated Government Tulane Ashley Warren Shreveport Branch John H. (Jack) Grubbs, PE Vice President President ULL Sandy Guidry Dax A. Douet, PE Paul A. Richards, PE C. H. Fenstermaker & Associates, Inc. C. Eric Hudson, PE Alliance, Inc. UNO Stephanie Krebbs Gianna M. Cothern, PE

Section Delegates to District 14 Council The Louisiana Section is located in ASCE Zone II, District 14. Miles B. Bingham, PE Timothy M. Rupert, PE Ralph W. Junius, PE URS Greiner U.S. Army Corps Linfield, Hunter & Junius, Inc. Zone II consists of Districts 6, 7, 9, 10 and 14. District 14 consists Woodward Clyde of Engineers of the Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia Sections. THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 3 President’s Message Barbara E. Featherston, PE The state of our infrastructure is a very The problem is that at some point it would important issue that has a significant impact on seem the situation is going to just explode! our daily lives as well as our profession. As There continues to be a growing inventory of engineers, it is part of our business to design, infrastructure that just cannot be effectively construct, operate and maintain the infrastruc- operated or maintained. It must be replaced and ture — roads, bridges, pipes and pumps, etc. — the related costs continue to escalate with the to facilitate the development of our civilization. problem. As a practical matter, all of the facilities we What do we do as engineers? We cannot design have a life cycle. Within that life cycle it grow or mint money though that would appear to is implied that resources for the expected main- be what we may need to address the problem. tenance and the eventual replacement — noth- How do we generate the funds needed to start to ing lasts forever — are required. Some facilities arrest and eventually reverse the state of a dete- have different life expectancies and different riorating infrastructure that represents such maintenance requirements. overwhelming needs? Currently the resources As engineering students we all took engi- for infrastructure are obtained through fees — neering economy that taught us as engineers to water and sewer — and taxes — gas, property, take into account the capital cost of a project, its sales, etc. Those are basically the mechanisms for and 17 against the proposal. This alone life expectancy and the years between preven- needed, we just need to get more from them and should not sway the individual member’s vote tive maintenance when we analyze the alterna- ensure they are applied to the infrastructure for come this July when the ballot is received in the tives for our clients. The problem is when our which they are designated. mail. I urge each Section member to take some aging facilities were designed and built, an There are some rays of hope on the engi- time to review the proposal on the ASCE web- implied covenant was made to expend the capi- neering/political horizon which may effectively site www.asce.org and become informed and tal to provide for preventive maintenance and generate the public awareness of the realities of prepared to vote. replacement when the service life comes to an the infrastructure engineering issues. Infor- To some extent, I can see why the gover- end. What we are witnessing today sympto- mation technology-enabled asset management nance proposal has not caused a grassroots matically is the advanced and sometimes prema- systems developed in the private sector are being uproar among the general membership. What is ture decay of our infrastructure and the breaking implemented at all levels of government. They proposed will basically streamline the organiza- of that covenant made many years ago. will provide a powerful tool to not only accu- tional structure of the ASCE above the Section The commitment to maintenance and rately assess the current conditions of the infra- level. It was initially touted as a way to cut some replacement varies depending upon how visible structure but accurately predict future conditions costs of operation but the proponents are waver- or how much immediate impact that particular based on the decisions made and resources ded- ing on this issue. The proposal eliminates the facility has on the general public. If it is a pub- icated. Further, this powerful engineering tool smaller districts and district councils and estab- lic road that is heavily traveled or important to can accurately estimate the cost of deferred lishes larger regions and regional boards. local business, it tends to get more attention as it maintenance. Such information effectively Our District 14 and either District 10 (the degrades than the buried deteriorating sewer communicated to the public and political estab- state of Florida) or District 15 (the state of Texas pipe that is out of sight. Even with public roads lishment should promote much more responsi- et al) could be merged to form a new region. there are proverbial fights to generate and dis- ble public debate. At least the accurate predic- The sentiments among the Section leadership tribute sufficient funds to address the needs in a tion of future consequences for inaction will would be more in favor of a merger with District timely and economical manner. leave no excuses and provide a learning experi- 10. The representation of the larger region on Louisiana is not the only state struggling ence when the future becomes the present. the National Board would replace the Zone Vice with the dilemma of insufficient funding. For The EPA is either working on or implement- Presidents and the District Directors currently some reason the infrastructure is simply taken ing a program for water and sewer works that serving on the National Board, reducing its size for granted. It may be because of its demon- would require municipalities to financially from 28 to 17 members. strated substantial reliability. It should be and assess those programs similar to a business. The So far so good... The problem is that the usually is always there, working and not nega- plan includes how much the system is worth, details of the organization and operation of the tively impacting our health, safety and general what the expected maintenance needs and costs regional boards have not yet been established. If quality of life. All across the nation we see the are and when expansion will be needed and how selection to the regional boards is by popular same problems in varying degrees. Elected offi- much it will cost. This would then equate back vote then sections like the Louisiana Section cials generally accept that there are problems to an adequate rate of funding that would pro- might as well sit back and watch the folks from with the infrastructure and that they need to be vide for the needs. Florida play on the national level. fixed. But infrastructure is not always a high The ASCE National is pushing for the reau- The opportunity for service on the National priority and it seems like there are a million thorization of TEA 21. This is an absolute Board by a representative from a section is hands out seeking and competing for limited necessity if we are to maintain and replace the reduced, not only because of the reduction in its resources. aging roads, bridges, ports, etc. I urge everyone size, but also because the proposed “representa- The ASCE in recent years has made an to help by contacting your congressmen or sen- tion” on National Board. Not only will the attempt to quantify the infrastructure problem. ators and let them know the urgency and impor- number of members on the National Board be It has aperiodically developed and published the tance of its reauthorization. (Continued on Page 17) Infrastructure Report Card that indicates we as a On a lighter but similarly important note, the ______nation fail miserably at maintaining and replac- ASCE National Board of Direction (National About the cover: The cover graphic serves as ing a large component of our infrastructure that Board) voted to put the proposal on governance Figure 3 for the feature article in this issue, is seriously deficient. The cost estimates for to a vote of the membership to consider it for “History of driven piling in New Orleans.” It is getting the infrastructure up to par are in the bil- adoption into the Constitution. District 14, that a reproduction from the plans of the Domino lions — a price that seems we as a nation are not includes the Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Building (American Sugar Refinery) (circa prepared politically to pay. So we as engineers Louisiana sections, and Zone II, which includes 1920) showing the partial details of its pile foun- are often left to continue working to maintain several districts including District 14, voted as a dation. The as-built plans for the foundation of what we can as best we can with the limited block against the proposal on governance. The the Domino Building represent the first record of resources available. total vote on the National Board I believe was 19 a pile load test conducted in New Orleans.

4 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 History of driven piles in New Orleans By Lloyd A. Held, Jr., PE

Introduction mapped in 1975 — is generally encountered Since New Orleans is located adjacent to the between el 120 and el 160. It consists of Mississippi River, it is no coincidence that the approximately 40 to 50 ft of over consolidated River has had a major impact on the riverine soil clays near the top and generally slightly over deposits that are encountered in the region. The consolidated to normally consolidated clays near near surface soils in the New Orleans area are the bottom. The third horizon is generally recent deposits that would be generally charac- encountered between el 235 to el 240. It is terized as weak, compressible material. For the characterized as sandy for up to 10 ft thick near most part, such an observation is correct in that the top underlain by 60 ft or more of highly over inland swamps generally exist throughout consolidated clays. The fourth horizon is gener- Kenner and New Orleans East. However, river- ally encountered at el 325. It consists of very ine soil deposits immediately adjacent to the dense sands and highly precompressed clays. river provided a natural levee of much more competent — stronger and less compressible — Early experience material. Other natural ridges that occur are Prior to pile foundations, buildings in New point bar deposits, abandoned courses, and beach Orleans were supported on shallow foundations timber piles were used in New Orleans for the ridge deposits. These deposits vary in thickness for example like the bearing wall foundations foundation of Dinwiddie Hall at Tulane and their surface varies in depth below the exist- used in the Pontalba Building circa 1849 and University. ing ground surface throughout the area. shown in Figure 1. The first recorded pile foun- The Hotel DeSoto, circa 1906 was the first The most competent and consistent geologi- dation in New Orleans shown in Figure 2 was foundation of record with a geotechnical recom- cal formation encountered in the area is the constructed in 1897 and it supported Central mendation based on soil exploration and testing Pleistocene formation. This formation has been Power Station. The foundation consisted of that included 3 wash borings and the driving subdivided into at least 3, and possibly 4, hori- 1,900 untreated timber piles driven to a tip resistance record for a steel sheet test pile driven zons. The first horizon — last mapped in 1958 embedment 64 ft to 73 ft below the existing with a 150 pound hammer with a 10' drop. This — is generally encountered between el 40 and ground surface. The interesting feature of this could be considered something comparable to a el 100. This formation typically consists of pile foundation is that the butt ends of the modified standard penetration test. The meas- approximately 5 to 10 ft of relatively thin layers untreated piles are located only 5.5 ft below the ured resistance at 40 ft penetration below the of precompressed clays underlain by normally existing ground surface and above the water existing ground surface was 96 blows per foot. consolidated clays. The second horizon — last table. It was not until 1922 that the first treated The recommended penetration for the untreated

Figure 1. Pontalba Building (circa 1849) and the typical details of cross sections of shallow bearing wall foundations used to support it.

Lloyd A. Held, Jr., PE, is Chairman of the Board of Eustis Engineering Company, Inc. and has been with the firm for 38 years. He earned his BS in civil engineering from Louisiana State University in 1965 and his ME in civil engineering from Tulane University in 1979. Held is a registered professional engineer in Louisiana and Mississippi and his professional experience includes all phases of geotechnical engineering practice with particular emphasis in planning field exploration programs, supervision of soil mechanics laboratory tests, engineering analyses, and engineering report preparation. He has served as either the staff engineer or principal for more than 75 percent of the high rise structures in the New Orleans area. This article was adapted from the paper, “A History of Piles in New Orleans” presented by Held during the 2003 Louisiana Civil Engineering Conference and Show in Kenner.

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 5 Figure 2. Central Power Station (circa 1887) and the partial details of its pile foundation — the first constructed in New Orleans.

timber job piles was 40 ft below the existing experience gained from more than 80 driven pile ings performed, 10 test piles driven, and 2 test ground surface. The maximum driving resist- foundations including those previously dis- piles loaded to failure. Later geotechnical inves- ance achieved was 24 blows per foot and the rec- cussed. It was discovered that soil borings failed tigations revealed a dense to very dense sand ommended design load was 12 tons per pile. to give satisfactory information and that geologi- stratum at a depth between 42 ft and 50 ft, a Even by today’s standards, the founda- cal formations can change not just within city dense sand stratum at a depth between 59 ft and tion for the Domino Building is massive. Shown blocks, but even under a single building. The 68 ft, and a dense sand stratum at a depth in part in Figure 3 on the front cover, it was con- conclusion was that if piles are spaced 2' to 3' on between 78 ft and 101 ft. Beneath these sand structed in 1920 for American Sugar Refinery. centers, driven to a fairly firm resistance, then strata are normally consolidated clay soils to a More than 5,500 untreated timber piles were loaded to 12 to 15 tons per piles, there would be depth of 150 ft below the existing ground sur- placed 2'-9" on centers and driven to a tip embed- no settlement of the superstructure. And then face. It was the original intent to drive the test ment of 62 ft below the existing ground surface. came Charity Hospital . . . piles to a tip embedment of 60 ft below the exist- The piles were driven with a Vulcan hammer ing ground surface. However, after driving 5 test having a ram weight of 5 kips and a drop of 42", Charity Hospital piles, it was concluded that the piles were break- and the blow count varied from 9 to 25 blows per The conceptual design for Charity Hospital ing and the specifications were changed to a tip foot. The first recorded pile load test as shown in of Louisiana built in 1938 called for 13- to 14- embedment of 42 ft below the existing ground Figure 4 was performed for this foundation. story wings to be connected to a center core of 13 surface. During this same time period, the first settle- to 21 stories by 3- to 5-story structures as shown A settlement of 6" was observed under the ments were measured for the pile foundation of in the schematic of its plan view in Figure 5. The 21-story portion of the structure after it was com- the 20-story Hibernia National Bank building. It loads that are also shown in Figure 5 varied from pleted in October 1938. By January 1939, the was constructed on untreated timber piles with a 280 to 840 psf under the lightly loaded areas to settlement of the 21-story structure had increased tip embedment of 67 ft below the existing ground 3,600 to 5,900 psf under the 13- to 21-story to 9" and the heavily loaded wings had experi- surface. Settlements reached 2.5" when con- areas. The foundation plan in Figure 6 shows the enced 5" of settlement. No explanation could be struction operations were completed after which location of some of the more than 9,700 untreat- given regarding the cause of these settlements. no more settlement observations were made. ed timber piles driven on the site. Karl Terzaghi and Hardy Cross were In 1937, the WPA of Louisiana studied the The structural engineer required 5 test bor- employed by the State of Louisiana to assess the

6 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 piles which had been driven before and requested the contractor to reseat them. This potential source of settlement would have escaped the attention of many. Considering these facts, it appears to me that your consulting engineer designed and supervised the foundation with more than average care and ability. Seven years ago, I considered a theory of the cause of the exceptional and unexpected settlement of the pile foundations. The settlement of the Charity Hospital is one of many confirma- tions of my theory. However, in foundation engineering, I would not even dare to apply one of my own theories until I found it repeatedly confirmed by continuous experi- ences.

Continuing evolution When J. Bres Eustis, PE, began the practice of geotechnical engineering in the New Orleans area with the formation of Eustis Engineering Company, Inc. in 1946, it had become immediately apparent that heavily loaded foundations would require special attention to minimize settlement. If the timber pile was to continue as the mainstay of foundation support in the area, changes would have to be made... The design loads would have to be increased and piles would have to be driven to greater embedments. Figure 4. The load test details and results for test pile 10 for the Domino Building foundation. The New Orleans Building Code increased the design load to 25 tons per pile for treated timber piles and 30 tons per pile for composite situation. Hardy Cross was to evaluate the struc- to these, he recognized and avoided the timber piles. Although composite timber piles ture and Karl Terzaghi was to evaluate the foun- damage of breaking the piles by over driv- had been used to support structures as early as dations and the foundation conditions. In doing ing. Finally, he also noticed the driving of 1920, their use was more for the reduction in so, Karl Terzaghi’s evaluation introduced the the piles caused an upward movement of the New Orleans area to modern era soil exploration (Continued on Page 17) and mechanics. He supervised ¥drilled soil borings ¥ undisturbed samples of the soils and ¥ consolidation tests on the soils. He then performed an engineering analysis of the soils from the information obtained. From his analysis, he estimated that the 21- story structure would settle as much as 19.5" over a long period of time. By June 1940, the 21-story structure had settled 14" and the lightly loaded areas of the structure had settled 5". In his engineering report, Karl Terzaghi defended the actions of the structural engineer concluding that ...the responsibility for an accident can only be established if there exists a general knowledge and accepted procedure for avoiding it. In the case of the Charity Hospital, the accident is represented by the unexpected settlement of a pile foundation. From time to time, one encounters an excep- tion to the average behavior of pile foundations designed on the basis of the accepted rule. The professional literature contains numerous records dealing with such excep- tions. Yet to my knowledge, in no case has a designer been held responsible because nobody was in a position to explain the underlying physical cause. Your consulting engineer has fully complied with all custom- ary requirements because he made two load tests, and according to accepted standards, Figure 5. A schematic detail of the Charity Hospital (circa 1938) plan showing the number of sto- these tests were very favorable. In addition ries, the load intensity, and the boring and test pile locations.

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 7 News from the Branches

BATON ROUGE By David M. Burkholder, PE, President Lisa H. Nice, AIA, of Raymond Post, FAIA, attend the regular membership meetings and Following the November Branch member- Architects, is the scheduled guest speaker for the luncheons. This year’s Christmas Party was ship meeting, a continuing professional develop- January 2004 Branch membership meeting and made possible through the generosity and spon- ment seminar was presented offering 1 PDU for luncheon. Her topic will concern the 150,000- sorship of 25 local engineering firms, contrac- those in attendance. W. Ryan Tice, PE, who is a square-foot expansion of the Baton Rouge tors and suppliers. Project Manager in Transportation Engineering Centroplex Convention Center that is currently Marc Levitan, the Director of the LSU for Neel-Schaffer, Inc. in Jackson, MS, made the under construction. This $30 million project Hurricane Center, gave a presentation titled presentation. His topic was “Seeing is began in August of 2002 and it is scheduled to be “Rethinking Engineering in Hurricane Prone Believing: Visual Aid for Project Concepts.” To completed later this year. Regions: Lessons from Hurricanes Lili and facilitate the understanding of project concepts, The Branch Christmas Party was held Isabel” during the November Branch member- the use of visual aids was demonstrated in the December 5, 2003 in the facilities of the Bocage ship meeting and luncheon. He suggested that form of renderings, before/after photographs, Racquet Club. The popularity of this annual the design for storm surge and wind load should and animation. The process for creating project event continued with more than 80 people in be referenced to the Saffir-Simpson scale for models, renderings and animation was demon- attendance. As one of the few Branch-sponsored hurricane intensity. Thus a building might be strated and emphasized through the presentation evening social events, it provides a wonderful rated for a category 3 storm in a similar manner of several case projects. opportunity to renew old acquaintances and visit that its floor loads are specified for a certain with many of our members who are unable to occupancy. ACADIANA By John E. Bosch, Jr., PE, President On behalf of the Branch Board, It is my hope sponsored with the Lafayette Chapter of the topic should be selected by the time you are everyone had a happy and joyful holiday season Louisiana Engineering Society. The food and reading this message and a search should be and may I wish you the best for 2004. conversation were great. It is appropriate that we underway to identify and invite a recognized January 27th, the Branch once again will be express our gratitude to the members of the expert in that field who is available to come to participating in the 2004 CAREER Connections Lafayette Chapter of the LES who organized this Lafayette to present the seminar. In the past, the Expo held in the Cajundome. Our mission is to social. Branch has sponsored a series of great spring encourage and inspire the participating 10th- The Board is currently attempting to identi- seminars. This year is expected to be no excep- grade students and to answer the questions that fy potential topics that would be poignant and of tion as a continuation of this series. This semi- they may have about civil engineering as a pos- the greatest general interest to the civil engineer- nar will be open to all members of the Section sible career choice. We believe that participating ing community and appropriate to be presented who are invited to participate and we look for- in events like this really places civil engineering during the two-day, Spring Seminar planned to ward to hosting any Section members outside of in the forefront of the participating students’ be hosted by the Branch. It is planned that dur- the Branch who choose to attend. thoughts when they contemplate their possible ing the next meeting of the Board the list of In conclusion, may I further wish you peace career opportunities. potential seminar topics assembled will be and joy in the new year. The December Branch membership function reviewed and narrowed down to the most feasi- was a Christmas social held at Chris’ Po-Boys in ble subjects for the seminar and the facilities to downtown Lafayette. The event was jointly house the event will be considered. The seminar NEW ORLEANS By Christopher G. Humphreys, PE, President

The New Orleans Branch has had an active The November general membership meet- foundation amendments. This seminar is sched- fourth quarter in 2003 hosting several informa- ing, held in Bravo’s Restaurant in New Orleans, uled for January 29, 2004 at the University of tive technical seminars. This is in addition to the featured Lydia Jemison who is a Certified Urban New Orleans. Future seminars on wind loading monthly membership meetings it sponsors that Planner. She discussed the public planning and finite element are in the planning stages. feature guest speakers with topics of broad inter- process as it relates to major urban civil engi- Dates and times for these and all other technical est to our members and other ongoing plans. neering projects. seminars can be found on the Branch website www.asceno.org as they become available. Membership meetings Technical committees On December 3rd the Structures Committee The October general membership meeting The Branch technical committees have spon- sponsored a presentation on the design of Liquid was held in Commander’s Palace — one of New sored several technical seminars and are in the Containing Concrete Structures presented by Orleans’ finest restaurants. The guest speaker process of planning more of them. The David G. Kittridge, PE. The Structures was Christopher P. Knotts, PE, Engineer Environmental Committee is planning a seminar Committee began the administrative year spon- Administrator with the Coastal Engineering on New Blending Requirements for Waste Water soring its annual Offshore Seminar held October Division of the Louisiana Department of Natural Treatment Plants. The date and time for this 9th. The topic was Vortex Induced Vibration Resources. His presentation on America’s wet- seminar has yet to be determined. Effects on Mooring Systems and it was present- lands and the importance of protecting the The Structures Committee is planning a ed by R. Dale Ramsey, PE and Bala Louisiana coastline was of great interest to our seminar featuring Subash V. Kulkarni, PE, who Padmanabhan. branch members as was evidenced by the out- will present an overview of the 2004 New The Geotechnical Committee is currently standing attendance of over 80 members and Orleans Building Code adaptation to the developing a series of seminars on subsidence. guests. International Building Code with applicable (Continued on Page 10)

8 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 SHREVEPORT By C. Eric Hudson, PE, President

The Branch will be hosting the Section’s 2004 Annual Spring Meeting and Conference on March 18th and 19th. Please mark your calendar now! If you plan to attend, please complete the registration form provided in this issue and return it with your registration fee as soon as possible to take advantage of the fee discount. It is expected that the conference will host approximately 100 civil engineers and students from throughout Louisiana. On behalf of the Section, I would like to extend an opportunity to your company to support this event by either being a sponsor or providing a display in the exhibit hall during the conference. The name of participating companies will be prominently dis- played throughout the conference venue. Should you be interested in being a sponsor or an exhibitor, please complete the accompanying form and return it by February 28, 2004. For more information, please feel free to contact Eric Hudson at (318) 222-2600 or ehudson@fenner- consulting.net. At the end of January, I will attend the Louisiana Tech University Student Chapter Winter Banquet to present two $500 scholarships on behalf of the Branch. They will be awarded to deserving civil engineering students — one to a junior and the other a senior. These scholarships are made possible through the net proceeds from the Branch-sponsored golf tournament held in May. Our January Branch membership meeting will be a joint meeting with the Shreveport Shreveport, gave an informative presentation on the drainage plan are over in today’s more envi- Chapter of the Louisiana Engineering Society. the revisions to the City’s erosion control ordi- ronmentally conscious world. Butch Ford, PE, Bossier Parish Engineer, has nances and its Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans. As we all learned during this meeting, Editor’s Note: The article that appears in requested that we organize a presentation on this issue titled “A technology-based economy installing PVC drainage pipe according to the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans have become very detailed and complex. This presen- for North Louisiana” was contributed through Louisiana DOTD specifications. This presenta- the Shreveport Branch and would normally be tion will be given by a representative of Contech tation was very helpful to me as a consultant attempting to keep up with the ever-changing included in this section — News from the and it should be very educational. Branches. However, because of its general inter- The November Branch membership meeting regulations of the local, state and federal agencies. Let’s face the facts — the days of calling est and statewide ramifications it was placed in held in the Petroleum Club was well attended. the Section News and Information section. Wes Wyche and Steve Williams, with City of for silt fence and hay bales in a general note on Ð Observations Ð

Ethics: sional relationship. Close enough to have a good the Empire State Building; and large bridges like With the failure of Enron one of the impli- working relationship with the client but not so the Golden Gate, the Verrazano Narrows and the cated players in the sorry history that led to its close that the relationship corrupts the very char- Sunshine Skyway to make artistic and cultural financial collapse is the accounting firm Arthur acter of the primary service or business relation- statements is as much if not more the point than Anderson. It is alleged to have served as Enron’s ship. Considering the ongoing trend of munici- whether they are within conventional or practical accountant to provide an independent peer palities burying the engineering services under structural limits. Such high profile artistic and review of its accounting procedures that should layers of political hacks that make the engineer- cultural statements that represent capitalism; have foretold and maybe curbed Enron’s inap- ing decisions or at least insulate the elected offi- national, state or civic pride; military prowess; propriate behavior that led to what may have cials from exposure to the engineering issues and etc. now have become natural targets of terrorists been its intentional demise in the early stages. leadership in the public works departments may in a culture motivated by ignorance, envy and a Unfortunately, Arthur Anderson served Enron in be an example of the other extreme in the rela- misguided sense of morality that are the antithe- the additional capacity of consultant. The result- tionship — not close enough. - Editor sis of western culture. Acts of terrorism com- ing relationship is alleged to have created a Design: mitted against these most valued statements of “...coziness that reeked of conflict of interest and In the strange turn of events that led to and the enemy culture are apparently their own state- surely helped produce Enron account books that included the events of 9/11 gives the building ment. The public’s safety that is the building should have been filed under ‘fiction’ never profession pause to rethink or at least think about profession’s obligation to serve and safeguard in reporting a single bad quarter before” the col- the structures that make high profile artistic the context of safe facilities may not be well lapse. and/or cultural statements. The intention of served by a facility that makes a high profile Close but not too close seems to be a possi- unusual buildings such as the World Trade statement and in doing so becomes more suscep- ble key to avoid conflict of interest in a profes- Center towers, the Sears Tower, the Pentagon and tible to terrorist attack. - Editor

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 9 Student Chapter News

Southern Welcomes President-Elect Bill Henry “It’s great to be a civil engineer” were the regarding their responsibilities and duties as anything on it allows them to relinquish their opening words of ASCE President-Elect William engineering professionals. responsibility as citizens. With the answer being “Bill” Henry, PE, as he greeted the Southern In closing, Henry emphasized the impor- an obvious no, he continued by stating it is University students and faculty on January 22nd. tance of involvement in the community and in important that engineers become more involved The gathering was the chapter’s kickoff meeting government affairs. He suggested that when the in government, especially in policy positions; for the Spring 2004 semester. student chapter plans activities, it should also however, being careful not to engage in discus- During his talk, Henry discussed the various plan the publicity and carry out both, adding that, sions or activities that would violate their ethical roles that civil engineers typically take in socie- “You deserve it and the profession needs it.” For practice. ty — technical design specialists, managers, the most part, the public has a high regard for the “It’s great to be a civil engineer,” a career educators and constructors — and defined skills engineering profession though they often do not that not only encourages, but requires the use of that are imperative to each of the roles men- know what engineers do. Positive publicity can both creativity and intellect. This inspirational tioned. He stressed the importance of ethics and change that. Henry then suggested that engi- talk was a great way for the student chapter to the role of the faculty in educating students neers look at their college diploma and notice if kick off the new year.

ASCE President-Elect Bill Henry speaks to members of Southern Chapter during the kickoff meeting William Henry, PE, visits with Patrick for the semester. Carriere, PE, Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Southern. (Continued from Page 8)

They will include Community outreach activities being Economic Backbone.” The panel will include ¥geologic faulting/coastal erosion planned include a booth at the New Orleans Jazz Section members, Blaise M. Carrierre, PE, ¥ subsidence inside of protected areas and Heritage Festival scheduled for late April Deputy Secretary Louisiana Department of ¥ subsidence effects on infrastructure and through early May. It will offer civil engineer- Transportation and Development, and William ¥ subsidence effects on residential construc- ing-based activities designed to be fun for kids. H. Sewell, Jr., PE, Deputy Director of New tion. Our Younger Members Committee will be pro- Orleans Department of Public Works. The US The first seminar on geologic viding judges and prizes for the Greater New Congress is wrestling with the reauthorization of faulting/coastal erosion will be a panel discus- Orleans Science and Engineering Fair. In addi- the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st sion on the topic of coastal land loss. This topic tion the Board is currently considering plans to Century as our deteriorating surface transporta- will address the geologic processes that affect sponsor television ads intended to increase pub- tion systems continue to unnecessarily cost levee construction as well as other construction lic awareness of civil engineers and the civil American communities millions of dollars. This in coastal areas. Currently there are two diver- engineering profession in the Greater New legislation will decide the gross amount and the gent opinions as to the causes of coastal land loss Orleans area. apportionment of the billions of federal dollars making it a highly controversial issue that will be Our Younger Members Committee hosted that will be earmarked for transportation infra- presented by Woody Gagliano with Coast several social outings some of which included structure in the various states. The panel will Environments and Del Britch with the US Army members of the ASCE student chapters in the discuss pressing infrastructure needs with an Corps of Engineers. The panelists will be from Branch. The Committee will be co-hosting the emphasis on surface transportation and what this the Committee and the affected agencies of Younger Members Council that is meeting dur- means for Louisiana and New Orleans in partic- interest. This seminar is tentatively scheduled ing the Zone II Leadership Conference sched- ular. This seminar will be held in conjunction for early February. The subsequent seminars uled to be held in New Orleans in the Astor with the Zone II Leadership Conference on planned on this topic will concentrate on the Crown Plaza Hotel January 23-25, 2004. Friday, January 23, 2004 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 engineering mechanics of subsidence as opposed pm. to the more global effects of the first presenta- TEA21 reauthorization Information on all Branch activities can be tion. The New Orleans Branch assisted national found on its website that is also conveniently set organization with developing a panel discussion up to allow online registration for the announced Other activities titled “America’s Infrastructure: Rebuilding Our seminars and conferences.

10 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 Sections News and Information

Highlights of the November Board of Directors meeting

The ASCE staff person in charge of decid- Society’s strained budget funding competing for There remains serious sticking points concerning ing the competitiveness of the requests for State higher priorities, the surplus funds from the the unknown implementation issues. The two Public and Government Affairs Grants is Brian “profitable” institutes have been “absorbed” into voting institute members are believed by some to Pallasch, Director of Government Relations. the Society’s general funds. This may explain be an anomaly to the concept of representative Based on the discussions with him during the the motive for the strong national support for the government. ASCE Civil Engineering Conference and institutes to share in the governance of the ASCE The two directors at-large represent no one Exhibition (National Conference), it would in compensation for the loss of their surplus — certainly not the grassroots membership who appear that proposed government relations pro- funds. supposedly elects them. The method of their grams will be given some precedence over pro- There is a national membership satisfaction nomination may be a crucial issue to legitimate posed public outreach programs that have been survey being conducted that appears to ineffec- democratic representation. The nominations of the principal interest of the Section and its grant tively address some of the significant issues it the directors at-large can be finessed to further requests in the past. The branches submitting attempts to broach such as those concerning the disconnect the national organization from its requests for grants in the future should not be institutes and the perceived value of the services grassroots membership and promote its inde- deterred from pursuing their interests in public they provide. There is concern that the national pendence. They can be limited to those who hold outreach but they should also understand ASCE’s conferences they sponsor serve a very limited the rarefied political views formulated and held preference for government relations programs and narrow audience as opposed to the audience by a small cadre of national leaders. and how this may affect the viability of their pro- served as part of branch and section technical At this time it is understood that the intent of posal. The State Public and Government Affairs committee-sponsored seminars. the directors at-large is to provide for those mem- Grants are due to ASCE by December 1, 2003. The ASCE national remains strongly com- bers of ASCE who have worked tirelessly for the There will be some small forgiveness on the mitted and on course to develop and promote the organization, but were unable to come up deadline if advanced notice of the late arrival is extended and advanced educational requirements through the ranks because of frequent relocations provided. for licensure as a civil engineer according to its or other situations which prevent them from The Louisiana Section founded in 1914 — Policy Statement 465. The basic concepts in the becoming involved at the local, section and the see the Section seal of the cover of this journal — Policy are filtering into the National Council of district level. Another thought is to set aside one was reminded by letter from Nancy Berson, the Examiners for Engineering and Surveying future of the positions for a younger member who may ASCE Director of Geographic Services, of its goals. This effort is proceeding as if there is a not normally have had enough time and experi- approaching 90th anniversary and the opportuni- total disconnect between the national Society ence to participate effectively on the national ty to celebrate such things as past achievements leadership and its grassroots membership that is board but may also have much to contribute. and those responsible for them. She also sug- consistently expressing a general negative atti- The proposed regional boards of governors gested that it is also a time to focus attention on tude toward — and opposition to — the Policy. that would replace the zones and districts should the Section’s present status and future goals and Another particular concern about the devel- work quite well. Again, with no details worked the plans to reach them. opment concerning Policy Statement 465 is the out beyond the goodwill of the large and small The Louisiana Engineering Society solicited direction the proposed advanced curriculum is sections that may be merged into a region, there funds from the Section to help cover its cost to taking. It is being loaded with soft skills that are is good reason for optimism on this part of the host an inauguration celebration planned by the not part of the experience of those who would proposal based on our experience with the cur- National Society of Professional Engineers dur- likely teach them and that are most effectively rent zone and district governance. ing its Annual Meeting scheduled for July 2004 taught and learned in the workplace environment The Board, other Section leaders and the in Hawaii. Bobby E. Price, PE, a past president where they are applied — not the classroom. membership, particularly through branch mem- of the Section and of the LES, is the President- The soft skills are added to the detriment of pro- bership meetings, should be strongly encouraged Elect of the NSPE and will be installed as its viding the seriously needed technological skills to read the ASCE national governance proposal president during the forthcoming meeting. Since that are not being provided or demonstrated by for themselves. It is available on the ASCE the Section did not solicit LES for funds to cover current graduate engineers. There is concern that national website. The governance proposal was its costs of hosting the recent celebration of the the civil engineering profession does not need adopted by the ASCE Board of Direction and installation of Thomas L. Jackson, PE, when he more touchy-feely, but technologically compe- will be submitted to a constitutional election of ascended to the presidency of the ASCE, it was tent graduates. the membership. The Zone II delegation that debated whether the Section should contribute to The same sense of this disconnect between includes District 14 and the Section voted as a this function. Since the Section has expended the ASCE and its grassroots membership was block against the proposal. significant resources in recent years to fund again demonstrated during the ASCE National It was announced that the ASCE is promot- activities that are not typically recurring, it was Conference. The time scheduled on the agenda ing a program called Men/Women at Work. It is decided that the Section would not contribute in for feedback from the sections and branches was intended to target congressmen for ASCE mem- the event if the LES was otherwise able to meet reduced because of the additional time spent by bers to contact with information about how criti- its funding goals. If not, the Board would further the national leadership expressing its objectives cal the reauthorization of TEA21 is. They can be consider a donation. and opinions and leaving effectively no time for provided postcards already addressed to anyone There were several issues concerning the feedback. Upon complaints from some of the from the President, down to a state representa- newly formed ASCE technical institutes dis- section and branch leadership in attendance, they tive. The postcards come in two formats: either cussed during the District 14 meeting. Though were invited to stay late to provide their feed- Men at Work or Women at Work. This was the Society has been completely forgiving con- back. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, many deemed an effective way to encourage the reau- cerning the inability of some institutes to become of the attendees did not stay to participate and thorization. financially independent in a specified time did not get a chance to hear the questions and The next Section Board meeting is scheduled frame, the intent was expressed without any spe- concerns that were brought to the table by the to be in Ruston January 21, 2004 in conjunction cific plan in place to sunset the technical insti- section and branch leaders who stayed. with the Louisiana Tech University ASCE tutes that do not become financially independent The national governance proposal in general Student Chapter Annual Awards Banquet. Board in the specified time frame. While the “unprof- may be workable and achieve the goal of reduc- itable” institutes have been a drain on the ing the number of representatives on the Board. (Continued on Page 15)

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 11 12 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 13 A technology-based economy for North Louisiana by Leslie K. Guice, PE and Jon D. Pratt

The rules for competition have seen signifi- needed and must be created for the North cant changes in recent years. At one time, the Louisiana region to thrive. Innovation is more success of a company could be reasonably than creativity or the generation of new knowl- assured as long as it made continuous incremen- edge. It is the transformation of that creativity tal improvements. However, major advances in and knowledge into something of value such as a information technology, communications sys- business with a commercially viable product. tems, and other technologies have significantly To be at the forefront of their competition, changed the business environment and thereby companies must be aware of both the market the rules for competition. needs and their inherent ability to innovate in In today’s economy, the major threat to a ways that can result in a competitive leap for- — company or even an entire industry may not be ward and not just an incremental advancement. from a competitor that does something a little Companies in our region must emulate those better, but from a competitor not previously across the United States that have placed innova- — thought of as such that does that something total- tion at the top of their core competence require- ly different. An example is the threat to the ments. The Silicon Valley-based design firm regional telecommunications companies from IDEO — the developer of innovative products companies involved in wireless technologies and such as Apple’s mouse and Palm’s handheld — internet communications. There are threats to has developed a highly effective process for regional automobile dealers and local bookstores innovation. As a result, it has been consulted by Louisiana Tech students developing innovative from the dot-coms that recently emerged to hundreds of clients seeking to institutionalize products in the CEnIT Innovation Lab. become major economic powers. This illustrates innovation as a key part of their corporate cul- that every company must consider emerging ture. To facilitate a broader culture of innova- ticularly in the North Louisiana region. At the — competition from outside of the traditional tion, the IDEO’s process for innovation is now core of this effort is the Center for sources that are normally defined by a region and being taught at Louisiana Tech. Entrepreneurship and Information Technology (CEnIT) — a cross-disciplinary center — estab- — by a traditional industry. Through its Master Plan for Economic Indeed, global competition has emerged in Development — Louisiana: Vision 2020 — the lished by Louisiana Tech 3 years ago. It has since all sectors of the economy, including some areas state of Louisiana has developed a platform for been approved by the Louisiana Board of never envisioned as competition a decade ago. innovation and economic growth. The core of Regents. It consists of a staff with expertise in For example, the worldwide access to cheap this master plan is the recognition of the impor- ¥ engineering d. skilled labor in Asia enabled by internet commu- tance of the learning enterprise as the first essen- ¥ science nications is emerging as a significant threat to the tial element of innovation. The plan also identi- ¥finance providers of engineering services — even in the fies technology as the driving force behind the ¥ entrepreneurship North Louisiana region. growth and diversification of our economy. ¥ economics, and Similarly, the availability of this technology The essential role of colleges and universi- ¥ information technology. has also created new growth opportunities for the ties as a catalyst in both learning and technology Through the development of new curricula, companies in our region. It allows the compa- development has been demonstrated in numerous acquisition and distribution of research funding, nies in our region to compete in markets from regions of the country. Most are familiar with and promotion of entrepreneurship among facul- which they were once isolated. This E-com- the synergistic interaction between universities ty, students and external partners, CEnIT has merce enables small companies to make products and industry that led to strong economic growth facilitated an environment where creativity and available to a global market. As long as a com- in North Carolina, Silicon Valley and Austin. knowledge can be transformed into something of pany has access to the internet, it can provide This interaction is being replicated in other less value — innovation. goods and services worldwide such that with well-known regions such as Idaho, upper New The CEnIT staff assists students, faculty and appropriate business and technical savvy, a small York state, Phoenix and now in Ruston! those in the community who are establishing or company in rural North Louisiana can develop Over the past several years Louisiana Tech enhancing businesses. It works closely with into a high-growth enterprise. has been putting the Vision 2020 plan into action researchers in micromanufacturing, biomedical Considering these changes in the landscape with efforts to stimulate technology-based eco- engineering and other areas to assist in the trans- of competition, a broader culture of innovation is nomic development in Louisiana and more par- formation of new knowledge and technologies into commercially viable products that can produce new high-quality jobs and economic growth - Career Benchmarks - for the region. These enabling efforts by Louisiana Tech and the CEnIT can provide a Section members Paul F. Crigler, PE, Richard C. Entwisle, PE, Jason G. Rachal, PE, and competitive advantage to the development of the Brian M. Ronkartz, PE, recently earned their civil and/or environmental engineering license in Louisiana. If you are in contact with any of these engineers, please offer them your congratulations economy in the North Louisiana region. on their accomplishment. ______Louisiana residents Robert G. Bice, II, PE, Jody J. Colvin, PE, James E. Lyles, Jr., PE, Leslie K. Guice, PE, is Dean of the College of Meredith M. Moe, PE, Michael L. Pugh, Jr., PE, Benjamin C. Rauschenbach, PE, Laura M. Engineering and Science and the Director of the Riggs, PE, and Charles W. Stahr, PE, recently earned their civil and/or environmental engineering Center for Entrepreneurship and Information license in Louisiana and are not members of the ASCE. A copy of this issue of the journal is sent to Technology at Louisiana Tech University. Jon D. them as an informal introduction to the Section. If they wish to join and/or find out more about the Pratt is Assistant Professor of Finance - ASCE, they are hereby encouraged to visit the ASCE national website, http://www.asce.org. If you Research and the Assistant Director of the are in contact with any of these engineers, please consider formally introducing them to the Section Center for Entrepreneurship and Information by inviting them to attend a branch meeting as your guest. Technology at Louisiana Tech University.

14 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 Times-Picayune reporters win award Book review Monday Morning Leadership Times-Picayune 11/15/03: The 5-day series of articles titled, “Washing by David Cottrell A series of stories on the potential for cata- away: How south Louisiana is growing more Copyright 2002 by CornerStone Leadership strophic losses that hurricanes can have on vulnerable to a catastrophic hurricane,” was Institute Louisiana garnered a national award from the published June 23-27, 2002. Thomas L. ASCE for Times-Picayune reporters Mark Jackson, PE, President of the ASCE, acknowl- Described in the subtitle as 8 mentoring ses- Schleifstein and John McQuaid. Through the edged that “Their comprehensive reporting and sions you can’t afford to miss, Monday Morning nomination of their work by the New Orleans unbiased analysis provided a thorough and accu- Leadership is an excellent and well-focused Branch, they received the national 2003 rate picture of the engineering and environmen- presentation of several direct actions that that a Excellence in Journalism Award at the ASCE tal issues that are a part of our nation’s flood- practicing manager must either confirm or take annual 2003 Civil Engineering Conference and control systems.” to become more effective. The obvious is Exposition held in Nashville, Tennessee. acknowledged in the text that nothing new is provided in the advice offered. If you are a management or a self-improvement junkie, you know New professional degree this is generally true. It has all been done, said The Louisiana DOTD continues to work emphasis — environmental, geotechnical, and thought of before, if not for years, for cen- with a consortium of Louisiana universities to materials, structural and transportation. The turies. develop a master of civil engineering profession- option of a tailored curriculum is also per- The important gift in this book is that its al degree program. The goal is to pool the mitted. message is concentrated in 112 pages in a few resources of the graduate civil engineering pro- ¥Graduate courses will be offered during words that are simple, forceful and in direct grams at these universities and offer a degree evening hours in New Orleans and Baton terms. It allows the manager to simply assess program on a statewide basis that is easily avail- Rouge beginning Spring 2004 with plans to past performance and confirm or devise well- able and accessible to practicing engineers. expand to other metropolitan areas in the advised decisions in the present and the future. Although most of the participating institutions future. have yet to complete their arrangements for this ¥A 65 percent tuition waiver is offered to all program, the DOTD and Tulane University have practicing engineers enrolled in the program ❖ Quote ❖ jointly announced (12/5/03) a partial startup of who are employed by a local, state or feder- the program of study through Tulane University. al government agency or by private industry. Congestion:...There is little agreement about The Tulane University Department of Civil Their employers are encouraged to further what congestion is, how it can be appropriately and Environmental Engineering is now prepared underwrite a portion of their reduced tuition measured, how much is tolerable ... and how to to offer the new graduate degree program that costs. characterize the duration and extent... provides a unique opportunity for practicing For more information about the program Congestion imposes severe costs in the form of engineers to earn an advanced degree. including admission requirements, course offer- traffic delays,... in-transit inventory costs, pro- ¥The Master of Civil Engineering ings, tuition and fees, contact Vijaya K. “VJ” duction interruptions ,... lost time for ... person- Professional Degree program requires 24 Gopu, PE, Chairman, Civil and Environmental nel, wasted time to schedule... for traffic uncer- hours of course work and 6 hours of Engineering Department, 206 Blessey Hall, tainties, wasted fuel, and environmental dam- practicum to be completed on an extended Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70811, tele- age... Rough estimates place them at several part-time basis. phone number: 504-865-5779, facsimile number: $100 billion per year in the United States. The ¥ Students can choose one of five areas of 504-862-8941, and email: [email protected]. delays and uncertainties... erode the advantages of just-in-time delivery systems and add to con- (Continued from Page 11) sumer costs. Growing congestion is damaging transport efficiency and threatens to erode members were encouraged to attend this meeting Vice Chair. Timothy M. Ruppert, PE, a national economic performance. and the banquet and ceremonies that follow. The member of the Section’s delegation to the - Damian J. Kulash ASCE President-Elect, William P. Henry, PE, is Council, agreed to serve as its Vice Chair if President and CEO scheduled to be present during the Board meet- elected, and the Board acted to nominate Eno Transportation Foundation ing to discuss national issues with the Board. him. The Section President and the branch presidents were solicited to write letters to Governor- Elect Blanco, recommending that she consider appointing a licensed civil engineer as the Secretary of the Department of Transportation — Calendar of Events — and Development. The letter should provide compelling reasons for limiting this appointment March 18-19, 2004 Section Annual Spring Meeting and Conference in to a civil engineer. This must be done expedi- Shreveport. tiously for her consideration during the staffing March 25-27, 2004 Deep South Conference of ASCE Student Chapters host- considerations and decisions for executive ed by the University of Mississippi ASCE Student chap- branch made during the transition peroid that is ter in Oxford, Mississippi. See now in full swing. It was noted that there were www.olemiss.edu/orgs/asce/conference/ for more infor- currently two candidates being considered for mation and registration the position, neither of whom are engineers — much less civil engineers. September 9-10, 2004 Louisiana Civil Engineering Conference and Show in Other business transacted: Kenner ¥The Section is now actively seeking a Chair for the Younger Member Committee to be September 10, 2004 Section Annual Meeting in New Orleans. responsible for managing its responsibilities such as organizing and judging the Daniel * For more information, call ASCE toll free at Mead Paper contest. (800)548-2723 or visit the ASCE web page ¥The Section was advised that it is responsible for nominating the District 14 Council

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 15 Editor’s Journal By James C. Porter, PE How green are you A two-part article appeared in August and bish) and reuse material from old buildings can nomic and environmental benefits gained from September 2001 issues of Structural Engineer save enormous costs in tipping fees for the dis- the investment in engineering effort expended magazine about green construction. It identifies posal of the same, and in material and energy on the front-end of a sustainable design will far basic behaviors that I believe should exist and consumption to provide new materials, and outweigh the drawbacks typically experienced be accentuated in all civil engineering works if eliminate the generation of tons of solid waste. using the more conventional disposable our profession is to advance and serve mankind To design an environmentally responsible approach to building design and construction. as it should. Here are some highlights: building in a financially responsible way Green construction or environmentally requires one to rethink or think outside of the Update responsible design suggests effective use of box of the more conventional approaches. Such In the July 2002 issue of the Christian energy, materials and other resources. designs result in long term cost savings through Science Monitor, it was reported that green Sustainable development takes green construc- reduced energy costs and a work environment buildings are multiplying in the United States as tion forward more as a component issue of increasing worker productivity. The integration more property owners seek to conserve energy planned obsolescence with the benevolent twist of structural, electrical and mechanical systems and reduce heating and cooling costs. Analysts of using resources in a way that will not inhibit resulting in creative solutions for the betterment estimate that about $30,000 will be saved in the next generation’s ability to use or reuse them of an entire building are accomplished through annual utility costs at the new Chicago Center for the same purposes. Sustainable develop- effective interdisciplinary communication and for Green Technology by using such equipment ment is the wiser use of resources with more collaboration to provide for the effective coordi- as special thermal windows and sensors that discipline and diligence. Green construction nation of their design. turn lights on only where the skylights do not let and sustainable development should not be nec- Federal agencies responsible for the man- in enough natural light. Additionally, its heating essarily associated with higher construction agement of large inventories of facilities appear and air conditioning costs are kept low by using costs. to be the primary proponents of the green move- geothermal heat, in which pipes carry liquids Effectively using energy, material and ment. Agencies such as the Navy, Army Corps through deep wells beneath an adjoining park- resources requires more front-end investment of of Engineers and the U.S. General Services ing lot to heat or cool it to the earth’s tempera- engineering and interdisciplinary effort apply- Administration are motivated to move toward ture, or about 50 degrees. ing the 4 Rs: the sustainable design process. This is because Today, an estimated 400 buildings are seek- ¥reduce they recognize the substantial benefits that will ing certification from the U.S. Green Building ¥recycle accrue from sustainable development based on Council (USGBC), which has established a ¥reuse and their vast experience with long-term ownership four-level scale for what it terms “Leadership in ¥rethink of facilities. Their initiative is expected to have Energy and Environmental Design.” Peter while practicing the 3 Cs: a substantial trickle-down effect on the prefer- Templeton, a program manager at USGBC ¥ communication ences of less sophisticated and experienced notes, “When these buildings are new, they ¥ coordination and owners in government and industry. don’t smell new. They have a healthier environ- ¥ collaboration. To solidify the concept of sustainable ment so there’s less employee absenteeism.” The conventional practice to reduce the design, engineers need to develop measures to The Environmental Protection Agency reports amount of material in structures by effectively quantify the performance of buildings in terms that commercial and residential buildings use configuring structures and proportioning ele- of sustainability. Sustainability defines a para- roughly 66 percent of the country’s electricity. ments usually results in lower costs. In the ren- digm shift away from the disposable to the By 2010, an estimated 38 million buildings will ovation of existing structures and the construc- durable transformation or a benevolent, planned be added to the 76 million that already exist. tion of new ones, the ability to recycle (refur- obsolescence of the infrastructure. The eco-

Professional Obscurity The news media and the consumers of its Draper Prize. Longer’s recognition was for his I have to ask, is attempting to gain media product — the news — apparently prefer to break-through discovery of the engineering coverage or public attention for an individual principally report and consume tantalizing gos- principles in bio-medical engineering. It engineer in this way self-promotional for the sip, scandal, sentimentality and celebrity hyper- spawned a $20 billion industry for the effective individual or the profession? If it really is, just bole limited mostly to sports and entertainment delivery of chemotherapy to victims of brain how crass would it have been perceived if it had figures. Are journalists defining the content and cancer and the discovery offers promise in pro- been reported as news? Would this have done character of the news or is its content and char- viding other medical treatments. more harm than the good that was intended? acter consumer driven? Either way or some- Atkins found the media indifferent to his Though more subtle, this reminds me of the where in between, it is a significant statement overtures. The Draper Prize, Atkins’ efforts and same ambivalent feeling I get when a compo- about the news and its value to society being its recipient were perceived by the media as a nent of the ASCE voices enthusiastic public heavily focused on the entertainment end rather self-promotional ploy unworthy of news cover- support of a tax for public works projects that is than on the information end of the news spec- age. Maybe it is! If this is a self-promotional being openly debated. No matter how worthy trum. ploy, how does it compare to the hard news cov- the subject public works may be, the conflict of Senior Media Relations Officer, Randy erage of celebrity hyperbole in sports and enter- interest — the profits and salaries to be made by Atkins, with the National Academy of tainment? I suspect that we engineers who civil engineers — are obvious to all but the most Engineering tells the sad tale (Engineering pride ourselves in being pragmatists should eas- naive. These are things that I would hope — if Times, May 2000) about attempting unsuccess- ily understand the news media’s need to keep anyone notices — will not be perceived as self- fully to get news media coverage of MIT pro- one eye on the bottom line and the other on its promotional. fessor, Robert Longer, the recipient of the NAE own biases when reporting the news.

16 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 (Continued from Page 4) reduced, but there will be two new representa- elected? Is that double your vote if you are a vot- ¥ supporting the Career Connections Expo for tives from the institutes and one new representa- ing member of an institute and your region? 10th graders $100 tive at-large for which there is no word yet on Seems like it to me. Is it reasonable that the ¥ airing commercials about civil engineering exactly how that position will be appointed?... institutes should get two of the 17 votes on the on radio $1,500 nominated?... elected?... National Board? That will be up to you to The Committee did not approve the funding So what do all of these political hijinks mean decide. of the proposal submitted by the Acadiana to you and for that matter why should you care? I am pleased to announce that the Section Branch to purchase civil engineering-related It basically boils down to your voice in national received notification on January 15, 2004 that it books for school libraries. This was due either to matters. While we have traditionally had very has been awarded a $2,100 State Public Affairs the availability of SPAG funds or the project did close alliances with the other sections in our Grant. The Acadiana Branch will receive $600 not fully meet the requirements for a SPAG. District, it has always been important to have and the New Orleans Branch will receive $1,500 The detailed actions of the Committee will someone from Louisiana involved on a regular of the Grant. This is a direct result of the initia- be delivered by letter to the Section with the ini- basis on the national level. With the new propos- tive and efforts by the respective branch presi- tial SPAG funds. The submission of the final al I feel that the Section’s ability to have a voice dents, John E. Bosh, Jr., PE, and Christopher G. report by the Section to the SPAG Committee in the ASCE national policy will be seriously Humphreys, PE, in preparing the necessary that summarizes how the Grant was spent and diminished. SPAG applications. how the projects advanced the Section’s govern- On the other hand, the voice of the newly The notice from the SPAG Committee to the ment and/or public relations goals is required and created institutes will be included. Is this rea- Section noted that the Grant approved by the due by Friday, September 3, 2004, regardless of sonable? Maybe so if you consider that the insti- Committee funded the following proposed activ- whether the projects are completed. tutes provide a significant contribution to the ities: ASCE. Again, there is no word yet on how these ¥ airing commercials about civil engineering positions will be appointed?... nominated?... on television $500 (Continued from Page 7) construction costs and time as opposed to the place concrete. The metal shell segment was driven, the mandrel is extracted from the metal reduction in settlement. The composite pile had attached to the butt end of a driven untreated tim- shell that is filled with concrete. The sequence an added 20 to 23-ft long segment consisting of ber pile via a drive shoe as shown in Figure 7 and of construction for the composite pile is shown a light gage corrugated cylindrical metal shell driven with a mandrel inserted in the metal shell in Figure 8. that served as a form to be filled with cast in that follows the untreated timber pile. Once (Continued on Page 18)

Figure 6. Foundation plan for Charity Hospital (circa 1938).

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 17 (Continued from Page 15)

ity of timber pile foundations to support major foundation loads with acceptable limits on settlement. Higher capacity piles with design load capacities of 50 to 100 tons were being used in a limited number of structures where timber pile foundations, if used, were predicted to experience more than an acceptable amount of settlement over a long period of time. These higher capacities were achieved with ¥ steel pipe piles ¥Raymond step taper piles ¥ steel H-piles, and ¥precast prestressed concrete piles. The Raymond step taper pile was limited to a maximum depth of approximately 120 ft and this would eventually limit its future application. Sections of steel pipe piles and steel H-piles could be welded together during driving operations and provide more flexibility in length. The precast prestressed concrete pile was initially limited by its length. However, the Bruns connector as shown in Figure 9 allowed the joining of two or three pile sections during driving operations to extend embedment to more than 200 ft and well into the Pleistocene. Although not uniform, the soil conditions in the New Orleans area can be described in a general manner for the purpose of this continuing discussion. Soft to compressible clay soils are Figure 7. Typical detail for a light gage corrugated cylindrical metal shell welded attachment to a encountered to a depth of 50 ft where a thin drive shoe and the drive shoe detail to form the top section of a composite pile. dense sand stratum is encountered to a depth of 58 ft to 60 ft. This sand stratum is underlain by The composite pile extended pile embed- compressed clay of the Pleistocene formation compressible clays to a depth of 75 ft followed ment to as much as 90 ft below the existing transferring the dead loads of the structure into by a medium dense to very dense sand stratum to ground surface. This allowed the driven piles to this deeper, less compressible material. The end a depth of 75 ft and 100 ft. This sand stratum is be seated either in the very dense sand or the pre- result was a marked improvement in the capabil- underlain by normally to slightly over consoli-

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 8. Installation sequence for a composite pile. (a) Metal shell is placed on top of driven timber pile. (b) A close-fitting, heavy pipe mandrel is inserted in the metal shell. (c) The timber pile and metal shell are driven into place with the mandrel bearing on the drive shoe. (d) The mandrel is extracted and the shell is filled with concrete.

18 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 Figure 9. Details of the Belden precast Brunspile and the patented wedge connecter. dated clays to a depth of 140 ft to 160 ft. This ering the soil conditions encountered at the site. However, the modifications in pile manufactur- sand stratum replaces the first Pleistocene hori- Because of the pile breakage experience with the ing and driving techniques developed over the zon previously discussed in most downtown multi-section precast prestressed concrete pile course of the project were successful and suc- areas of New Orleans. The second Pleistocene during the early stages of this project, it was pos- cessfully used on future projects. horizon is encountered at a depth of 140 ft to160 sibly not the model to encourage the future use of ft and is underlain by the third and fourth multi-section precast prestressed concrete piles. (Continued on Page 20) Pleistocene horizons as previously discussed.

Plaza Towers The skyline of the City of New Orleans began to change significantly in the 1960s. The first high rise structure constructed was the Plaza Towers in 1964. It was a 45-story building supported on a mat foundation. Considering the loading conditions, it became apparent that pile lengths in excess of 100 ft would be necessary to minimize settlement and develop the desired design load capacity of 200 tons per pile. The pile selected for the project was a three- section prestressed concrete Brunspile shown in Figure 9 and manufactured by Belden Concrete Products, Inc. The lower section of the pile had 3 a 12 ⁄4" octagonal cross section and the 2 upper sections had a 14" octagonal cross section. The sections were connected butt-to-tip during driving operations with a Brunspile wedge connector also shown in Figure 9 and the pile was driven to a tip embedment of 177 ft below the existing ground surface. The pile sustained a load of 450 tons under load tests but the structural limits of the pile limited the design load capacity to 200 tons per pile using a factor of safety of 2. This was the first application of a major driven multi- section prestressed concrete pile in New Orleans. Pile breakage became a concern during the initial driving of the permanent job piles. To reduce the potential for pile breakage, greater quality control measures were implemented dur- Figure 10. The estimated settlement contour diagram for the One Shell Square tower on — and ing manufacture and modified pile driving tech- adjacent to — the construction site. niques were developed to install the piles consid-

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 19 (Continued from Page 19)

Figure 11. Partial foundation plan for the Superdome showing the column location configuration around the playing field.

Pile research activities approximately 50 percent of the yield stress. ing the load test indicating a design load capacity While the Plaza Tower was being construct- Based on this and other load tests performed at of 360 tons. However, its structural limits of the ed, 1010 Common was being designed. Because the site, the New Orleans Building Code was pile limited the design load capacity to 280 tons of the initial performance of the multi-section changed to allow the use of a minimum yield per pile. precast prestressed concrete pile at the Plaza stress of up to 50 ksi and a maximum design Final settlement analyses were performed to Tower, a 14" steel H-pile was selected to support stress of 50 percent of the yield stress for steel determine not only the settlement of the mat but this structure. At this time, the yield stress of the piles. also its influence on the adjacent parking garage, steel was 36 ksi and the New Orleans Building plaza area, and the Masonic Temple building Code limited the design stress to approximately One Shell Square located across the street from the construction 33 percent of the yield stress. Therefore, the 14" One Shell Square became a reality in site. Using a dead load pressure intensity of steel H-pile used was severely limited in load car- November 1969. It is a 52-story tower, 686' in 5,800 psf in Westergaard’s influence coefficient, rying capacity. A pile length of 200 ft below the height, with a base dimension of 175' 207'. the settlement of the rigid mat of the tower struc- existing ground surface was selected for settle- Adjacent to the tower is a 10-story parking ture was estimated to be 4" to 5". The settlement ment considerations. However, even though the garage having an area of 120' 240'. A plaza estimated for the garage structure was 0.5" to 3". pile load test provided an ultimate load in excess area provides the main entrance to the tower on For the entrance plaza, it was1" to 3", and for the of 400 tons, the design load was limited to 168 the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Poydras Masonic Temple building it was 0.5" to 2". The tons per pile. Street. estimated settlement contour diagram for the Recognizing that the steel H-pile was severe- Based on preliminary engineering analyses, tower site is shown in Figure 10. ly handicapped by the New Orleans Building the structural engineer determined that a mat It was decided that the settlement induced by Code design criteria, the American Iron and Steel foundation would be used to support the tower One Shell Square on the Masonic Temple build- Institute employed Walter E. Blessey, PE, to per- structure. Although the test pile program consisting could be tolerated but that it should be moni- form a test pile program. The purpose of this test ed of 13 piles, only two types of piles were con- tored during construction. To minimize the pile program conducted at the Civic Center site sidered for the mat foundation of the tower; the potential differential settlement between the near the corner of Loyola Avenue and Poydras 14" steel H-pile and 18" octagonal Brunspile. garage and the tower, the same 18" octagonal Street using steel piles with a 50 ksi minimum These piles were driven to depths varying concrete pile supporting the mat foundation of yield strength was to verify that 50 percent of the between 200 ft and 223 ft below the existing the tower structure was used in the first row of yield stress could be used safely for the design ground surface. All of the initial test piles were piles supporting the garage structure and immedi- stress. This test pile program initiated in 1967 driven with a Vulcan 80C hammer developing a ately adjacent to the tower. The remainder of the included 6 test piles and 4 reaction piles being driving energy of 24,500 foot-pounds per blow. garage structure was supported by 14" square driven, and 4 soil borings drilled up to 300 ft However, because of the extremely hard driving prestressed concrete piles driven to a tip embed- below the existing ground surface revealing the conditions — 100 to 200 blows per foot — ment as deep as 150 ft below the existing ground existence of the typical soil conditions previous- encountered during the installation of the first surface. Because of the light loads of the ly described. prestressed concrete test pile, an additional pre- entrance plaza, it was supported by timber piles One test pile — a 12BP53 steel H-pile — cast concrete test pile was driven with a Vulcan seated into the sand at 50 ft. It was agreed that was driven to a tip embedment of 186 ft below 140C hammer developing a driving energy of the damage to the plaza area because of future the existing ground surface. It sustained an ulti- 36,000 foot-pounds per blow. It provided a driv- settlement would have to be repaired in the future mate load of 400 tons and a soil failure was expe- ing resistance of 60 blows per ft or less to pene- and that this was an acceptable solution. rienced during the attempt to reach 425 tons. The trate to an embedment of 223 ft below the exist- Settlement records of the tower were main- design load was recorded as 200 tons with a fac- ing ground surface. Based on the results of the tained for 7 years indicating a total settlement of tor of safety of 2. The ultimate load of 400 tons load test, the prestressed concrete pile was select- 7.1" to 7.5" of the mat foundation at two different produced a pile stress of 25.7 ksi which is ed. The test pile sustained a load of 720 tons dur- locations. This compares favorably with the pre-

20 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 dicted settlement of 4" to 5" considering that the without some of them meeting refusal. Refinery initial settlement estimates did not include the Therefore, it was accepted by the design team 1920 First settlement records made - Hibernia elastic deformation and creep that occurred in that these piles would meet refusal at an embed- Bank Building the prestressed concrete piles. ment of 100 ft to 110 ft below the existing 1920 First use of composite timber pile ground surface in a portion of the southwest 1922 First treated timber pile use - Dinwiddie Place St. Charles quadrant of the dome and piles in the remaining Hall, Tulane University Another example of the use of high capacity portion of the structure would be driven to 1937 Louisiana WPA foundation study piles was Place St. Charles that is 50+ stories in greater depths. The difference in the elastic 1940 Karl Terzaghi investigates Charity height. The column configuration is significant- deformation and creep in the piles under the dif- Hospital foundation ly different from that used in One Shell Square. ferent soil support conditions will result in dif- 1946 Introduction of high capacity pile Place St. Charles has individual heavily loaded ferential settlement. 1964 Walter Blessey conducts pile research exterior columns as well as an interior core area. A test pile program was conducted in each program This core area is supported on a mat approxi- quadrant considering 14" square precast concrete 1964 First major use of the precast Brunspile - mately 68’ 130’ supporting 98,200 kips for a piles, 16" diameter open-end steel pipe piles, and Plaza Towers pressure intensity of 11 kips per square foot. The 14 73 steel H-piles driven to a tip embedment exterior columns had loads varying between of 165 ft below the existing ground surface to Abbreviations 7,200 kips and 22,000 kips. Adjacent to the high control settlement. The 14" square prestressed el - elevation in feet from the mean sea level rise was a lightly loaded two-story entrance area. concrete pile was chosen with a design load datum The design engineer immediately deter- capacity of 175 tons. To account for any differ- ft - foot or feet mined that the prestressed concrete piles would ential settlement that may occur in the structure, kip - kilopound not provide sufficient design load capacity to a continuous steel tension ring was constructed ksi - kilopounds per square inch support the individual elements and also mini- where the Superdome’s walls met its roof line. If psi - pounds per square inch 1 mize settlement. Therefore, a 20" diameter, ⁄2" differential settlement occurs in any footing, the psf - pounds per square foot thick wall open-end steel pipe pile was driven to loads are transferred through the superstructure, ' - foot or feet a tip embedment of 238 ft below the existing up through the tension ring, and then back down " - inch or inches ground surface into the third Pleistocene horizon. to the adjacent pile caps. Settlement records This pile was load tested to failure at 720 tons were maintained during construction. At the end thus providing a design load capacity of 360 tons of construction, the maximum differential settle- per pile using the new allowable stresses provid- ment between any two individual pile caps was ed in the New Orleans Building Code that result- 0.5" and the maximum total settlement observed ed from the aforementioned research. in a pile cap was 1". Settlement analyses using Westergaard’s — net surfing— stress distribution methods were performed Conclusion using computer software that considers all of the Today’s geotechnical engineer has more ASCE national organization: individual loads to estimate their cumulative technology available than ever before to evaluate http://www.asce.org effect on individual soil strata. The final settle- in situ soil conditions and provide predictions ments estimated are 3.5" to 4.5" for the center regarding pile installation and foundation behav- Note: Most ASCE-related pages can also be core area, 2.5" to 3.5" for the exterior heavily ior. The cone penetrometer test provides a con- addressed through links at this website. All loaded columns, and 2" to 2.5" for the lower tinuous measurement of end bearing and sleeve section and branch officers are listed at: level columns outside of the tower section. It friction in the soil that can be converted into the http://www.asce.org/gsd/localofficers was assumed that the columns outside of the estimated skin friction. The pile driving analyz- ASCE Acadiana Branch: tower section would be supported by 14” square er provides invaluable information regarding the http://www.asceacadiana.net prestressed concrete piles driven to a tip embed- condition and load carrying capacity of driven ment of 170 ft below the existing ground surface. piles. Even with this technology, additional ASCE Baton Rouge Branch: No settlement readings were recorded during the research is deemed necessary to verify the http://branches.asce.org/batonrouge/ construction of the building. assumptions used in the design settlement esti- index.htm mates for deep pile foundations. Except for the ASCE New Orleans Branch: settlement records at One Shell Square, very lit- http://www.asceno.org Superdome tle information is available regarding long-term The Superdome structure, impressive in size, performance of driven piles and the load distri- Louisiana Tech ASCE Student Chapter: is a stadium and two adjacent parking garages. bution on piles that ultimately produce long-term http://www.latech.edu/tech/orgs/asce/ The major loads are carried to the foundation by settlement. There is an apparent need for the UNO ASCE Student Chapter: columns placed in an oval configuration around geotechnical engineers, structural engineers, http://www.uno/~engr/asce/asce.html the periphery of the playing field as shown by the architects, and owners in the New Orleans area to partial foundation plan in Figure 11. The soil partner and invest in developing this information ULL ASCE Student Chapter: conditions are similar to those previously dis- to advance the understanding of — and reliabili- http://www.engr.usl.edu/cive cussed except that the second Pleistocene hori- ty in — the design processes for deep pile foun- Tulane ASCE Student Chapter: zon was encountered at a depth of 140 ft in the dations. http://www.tulane.edu/~asce southwest quadrant. In a portion of this quadrant, the sands that are normally encountered at a LSU ASCE Student Chapter: depth between 75 ft and 100 ft extended to 130 ft Chronology of events http://www.ce.lsu.edu/~asce below the existing ground surface. 1849 Spread footing foundation - Pontalba ASCE Louisiana Section: Because of the depth of the sand, predrilling Building http://www.lasce.com operations could not sufficiently penetrate the 1897 First pile foundation - Central Power Louisiana Engineering Society: sand strata to allow prestressed concrete piles to Station http://www.les-state.org be driven through them and jetting was not an 1906 First geotechnical recommendation for option. Also, considering the thickness of the pile foundation - Hotel DeSoto Louisiana Professional Engineering and sand strata, it was highly probable that steel H- 1920 First large pile foundation - American Land Surveying Board: piles and open end steel pipe piles could not pen- Sugar Refinery http://www.lapels.com etrate these sands in the southwest quadrant 1920 First pile load test - American Sugar

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 21 PROFESSIONAL LISTINGS

AILLET, FENNER, JOLLY & McCLELLAND, INC. CONSULTING ENGINEERS _ CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AFJMc is a Leading Engineering Firm specializing in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management and Surveying.

Top candidates are encouraged to forward their resume to:

Matthew J. Wallace, President & C.E.O. Aillet, Fenner, Jolly & McClelland, Inc. 1055 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101 318-425-7452 / 318-425-4622 fax [email protected] www.afjmc.com

Telephone: 504-831-2251 Facsimilie: 504-831-2981 http:/www.bh-ba.com SOIL TESTING ENGINEERS,INC.

Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, GEOTECHNICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL & MATERIALS Inc. CONSULTANTS Consulting Engineers & Land Surveyors Alexandria Baton Rouge 3330 West Esplanade Avenue 318-448-0888 225-756-4206 Suite 201 Baton Rouge / Lake Charles / New Orleans Metairie, Louisiana 70002 (225) 752-4790 (337) 474-1340 (504) 835-2593 Ruston E-mail:[email protected] Natchitoches

22 THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 PROFESSIONAL LISTINGS

Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc. 7120 Perkins Road, Suite 200 Baton Rouge, LA 70808 CDM Tel: 225-757-7200 [email protected] listen, think, deliver.

Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc. Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc. 2021 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 110 3330 Marshall Street, Suite 920 New Orleans, LA 70122 Shreveport, LA 71101 Tel: 504-832-7272 Tel: 318-227-1064 [email protected] [email protected]

GOTECH,INC. 8388 BLUEBONNET BLVD. BATON ROUGE, LA 70810

RHAOUL A. GUILLAUME, P.E. PRESIDENT

[email protected] • OFFICE: (225) 766-5358 CELL: (225) 413-9515 • FAX: (225) 769-4923

WWW.GOTECH-INC.COM

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER / FEBRUARY 2004 23 SERVICES AND SUPPLIERS

Water . . . Wastewater Equipment . . . Sludge . . . Air Systems . . . Solutions

7731 Office Park Boulevard Telephone: (225) 295-1200 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809 Fax: (225) 295-1800 Website: www.etec-sales.com E-Mail: [email protected]

For ASCE member address corrections, call (800) 548-2723 or visit http://www.asce.org For listing and advertiser address corrections, call (504) 280-5414 or e-mail: [email protected]

THE LOUISIANA CIVIL ENGINEER NONPROFIT Journal of the Louisiana Section-ASCE U. S. POSTAGE Norma Jean Mattei, PE PAID 134 Ridgeway Drive BATON ROUGE, LA Metairie, LA 70001 PERMIT NO. 1911