NZ GEOMECHANICS NEWS NZ GEOMECHANICS DECEMBER 2009 issue 78 Experience. Innovation. Performance. NZ GEOMECHANICS NEWS Newsletter of the New Zealand Geotechnical Society Inc. ISSN 0111–6851 // INVESTIGATION // ACCESS // SLOPE STABILISATION // DESIGN // DRILLING // GROUTING ABBOTSFORD 30 th ANNIVERSARY ■ Historical Special Feature Historical Special Feature ■ Student Awards Student Awards ■ Rockslide Summer School // ROCK ANCHORING // CATCH FENCES // ROCKFALL NET // SOIL NAILING // SHOTCRETE // BLASTING ABBOTSFORD ■ th AVALON GEOTECHNICAL Debris Flow Barriers 30 ANNIVERSARY Avalon is the industry leader in difficult/high access slope investigation and hazard remediation. Pioneers within the rope access field, Avalon has an experienced team that has been working within the industry since the late 1980’s. Neil McHugh the company director is a qualified Engineering Geologist (B.A M.Sc.Oxford) and has extensive geotechnical experience, working for consultants and contractors internationally. Drawing on a wealth of experience Avalon has been at the forefront in New Zealand since 1995, developing and implementing successful geotechnical solutions and setting the industry benchmark for safety and work Historical Special Feature practises. Reinforcing this Avalon was invited to help establish OSH and AS/NZS Standards. DECEMBER Avalon Industrial Services is the team for in-depth knowledge and high quality cost effective geotechnical engineering problem solving on steep slopes and rock faces. Student Awards Call 07 846 1686 or visit us online at www.avalonltd.co.nz. Avalon Industrial Services Ltd. Experience, Innovation, Performance. 2009 Rockslide Summer School issue 78 Debris Flow Barriers PH. 07 846 1686 / FX. 07 846 1016 PO. BOX 5187 / FRANKTON / HAMILTON 3242 / NEW ZEALAND AVALON NZGS WWW.AVALONLTD.CO.NZ // ROPE ACCESS SERVICES NEW ZEALAND GEOMECHANICS NEWS CONTENTS DECEMBER 2009, ISSUE 78 118 31 89 66 Chairman’s Corner .............................................. 2 Waihi Landslide ............................................ 81 Editorial ................................................................... 3 International Summer School on Rockslides ..................................................... 85 The Secretary’s News .......................................... 4 Newmarket Viaduct Replacement Project .. 88 Editorial Policy 5 ...................................................... Technical Note International Society Reports Debris Flow Barriers .................................... 92 ISSMGE ......................................................... 6 Technical Articles ISRM .............................................................. 7 Tarawera Landslide ....................................... 96 IAEG ............................................................ 10 Pile Foundations in Liquefiable Soil ......... 101 NZGS Branch Activities ...................................... 12 Upper Harbour Bridge Duplication ......... 111 Historical Special Feature on Abbotsford Photo Competition The 1979 Abbotsford Landslide ................. 24 “What we do best” Winner ....................... 116 An Engineering Geologists Observations... 46 Forriegn Correspondant Media and residents recollections ................ 47 Steve Crook – Doha, Qatar ...................... 118 Commission of Inquiry Recollections ........ 52 Reprint from Geomechanics News ............. 56 Company Profiles Book Reviews ....................................................... 58 ICE Construction ...................................... 119 Pattle Dalamore Partners .......................... 121 Standards, Law and Industry News Review of NZ Standards 4404 and 3604 ..... 62 IAEG2010 Congress Report ........................ 63 Member Profiles 45th Terzaghi Lecture .................................. 64 Pierre Malan - T&T ................................... 123 YGP Report .................................................. 65 Kori Lentfer - Coffey................................ 124 Conference Report Eygpt - International YGP ......................... 72 New Zealand Geotechnical Society Inc Awards Information .......................................................... 126 Student Awards 2009 ................................... 73 Advertisers Directory .......................................... 127 Southern Region Abstracts .......................... 74 Events Diary ........................................................ 128 Northern Region Abstracts ......................... 77 Membership .......................................................... 129 Project News New Zealand Geotechnical Society Rock Dilatometer ........................................ 79 Inc Publications ................................................... 131 Geonet Landslide Response Advertising Information ...................................... 132 Cover image: Abbotsford , couresty of The Otago Daily Times New Zealand Geomechanics News CHAIRMAN’S CORNER Your Management Committee has been hard at work this Philip is a Senior Geotechnical year and I would like to take the opportunity to highlight Engineer at Golder Associates some of the events, courses and seminars we have organized based in Nelson. Philip graduated and to acknowledge some of the achievements of our more than 20 years ago from the Members. University of Natal, Durban, Professor Michael Davies has begun his term as the with a BSc in Civil Engineering. ISSMGE Vice President for Australasia. After working in the field of The 2008 NZ Geomechanics Award was presented civil/geotechnical engineering for to Misko Cubrinovski for his contributions to the paper a few years, Philip returned to “Psuedo-static analysis of piles subjected to lateral spreading” study at the University of California, Davis leaving with a the other authors were Kenji Ishihara and Harry Poulos. MSc in Geotechnical Engineering and a focus on earthquake The YGP’s have done an excellent job in promoting engineering. Philip is a Member of the Institution of the Student Prize this year and we have had a good Professional Engineers New Zealand and a Chartered response from student members. The Student Awards for Professional Engineer (CPEng). He has been involved in 2009 have just been completed as this goes to press and the design and construction of major infrastructure projects in we congratulate all the participants and winners for both New Zealand, California, Hong Kong and Southern Africa. regions. Philip’s project experience ranges from planning and managing After some period of time finalisation of the 2008 subsurface exploration programs including onshore/offshore Student Award has been determined, congratulations to drilling and sampling and in situ testing through site evaluation Justin Wyatt and James Arthurs who shared the North to the design of deep and shallow foundations, major Island Student Award for 2008. Jennifer Haskell was the earthworks, fill embankments and retaining structures. Philip recipient of the Southern Region Student Award for 2008 is particularly proud of his contribution to the San Francisco- and best wishes for her studies in England. Oakland Bay Bridge East Span Seismic Safety Project and The NZGS has provided input into the development construction of Pier 400 Container Wharf at the Port of Los of engineering knowledge by hosting (together with the Angeles. When not working Philip spends most of his time University of Canterbury) a series of seminars by Colin chasing after his 7 year old daughter. Smith, Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield UK, Visiting Erskine Fellow, University of Canterbury on “Advances in Geotechnical Limit Analysis and its Practical Application in Limit State Design”. about coordinating a series lectures by Tom O’Rourke the A subcommittee of the NZGS completed the “NZ 2009 Rankine Lecture recipient. As you all know we will Geotechnical Seismic Design Guidelines” this year and a proudly be hosting the 11th Congress of the International few members have provided input into earthworks aspects Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment of the NZS4404 revision and Standards NZ revision of (IAEG), in Auckland in September 2010. Ann Williams and NZS3604:1999. her team are working hard on preparing for more than 600 We also hosted Dr Chris Haberfield who presented his delegates, and I have every confidence that it will exceed very interesting Nakheel Tower and EH Davis Memorial all expectations. Lecture to our Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch The year’s hard economic pressures have had an effect branches. on many of our members. The Management Committee In early November, Clyde Baker kindly agreed to present has agreed to keep our Membership Dues at the same his Terzaghi Lecture entitled “Uncertain Geotechnical rate at the 2008/2009 level. Here’s hoping the economy Truth and Cost Effective High Rise Foundation Design” improves next year. to the NZGS and later in the month, a 1-day short course series was offered on the “Design and Analysis of Deep Happy Holidays! Excavations” with Professor Wong Kai Sin, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. In December, Philip Robins Warwick Prebble has kindly offered to present a short Chairman, NZGS course on field mapping. Email: [email protected] Our plans for Next Year are similarly audacious. We have been talking to the local ICE representatives and the AGS 2 Newsletter of the New Zealand Geotechnical Society Inc. New Zealand Geomechanics News EDITORIAL In this issue of Geomechanics News we look back 30 years to the Abbotsford Landslide - a seminal