Introduction to seismic pile design

This full-day course will help designers and engineers from different backgrounds to gain a wider and deeper understanding of the most important aspects of pile design and analysis of piled foundations as a result of seismic loading.

Effects of earthquakes and seismic loadings are an important aspect of the design of piled foundations, and many approaches have been utilized, ranging from very simplistic methods to extremely complex computer analyses to consider such effects. This course will approach this topic based on sound, proven and robust methods which are neither too simplistic nor too complex. 

The objective of the course is to discuss systematic but simplified approaches which allow the sound analysis and design of single piles in seismic regions.  Emphasis is placed on methods that do not require complex software, or which employ sophisticated soil models in which the meaning of the key parameters is unclear.

The course will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to fundamental considerations that should be addressed in seismic pile designs for single piles.
• Pile analysis and design for axial loading, including the possible effects of soil liquefaction.
• Pile analysis and design for lateral loading where soil liquefaction does not occur.
• Pile analysis design for lateral loading where soil-liquefaction does occur.
• Measures to mitigate against liquefaction effects.
• This course does not cover pile constructability details and pile verification/ testing

Is this course for you?

It is recommended that participants are familiar with the fundamental concepts of axial and lateral analysis and design of single piles. The course ‘Pile design fundamentals’ is suitable as a general introduction but is not a pre-requisite to attend this course.

• The course is designed for engineers and construction professionals interested in the fundamentals of pile design and analysis under seismic loading conditions.
• Participants should be familiar with fundamental geotechnical and structural pile design and analysis principles to enhance the learning outcome.
• Suitable as a ‘refresher’ for more experienced designers and engineers.
• Suitable as an introduction to those with limited or no experience in the analysis and design of single piles under seismic loading.
• Design engineers (structural, civil or geotechnical) from junior to senior level, researchers and technical/ engineering professionals from contracting firms, asset owners and/ or government agencies may find the course content relevant for their specific fields.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• understand and apply the basic principles of axial and lateral pile behaviour under seismic loading conditions (single piles)
• assess how liquefiable ground conditions affect the pile analysis and design and how the loss of soil strength of the liquefied soil in combination with large ground movements affects the pile performance (single piles)
• understand the basic requirements of geotechnical site investigation and testing which are required for a meaningful pile analysis under seismic loading in liquefiable and non-liquefiable soil conditions
• assess the general behaviour of piles during soil liquefaction and lateral spreading with the relevant geotechnical parameters which influence their performance
• describe the effects of different pile head connection details on the performance of the piles during earthquake shaking, and considerations that should be given to this.

Course format

This highly practical course is presented ‘live’, either face-to-face or online, which allows a close interaction with the presenter.

You’ll cover the most relevant aspects of the axial and lateral analysis and design of single piles under seismic loading. Example calculations and case studies to demonstrate selected applications of the course content will be discussed and worked through.

Presenter information

Dr Martin Larisch is an Independent Geotechnical and Civil Engineer (Director of Larisch Consulting Ltd) and a Fellow with Engineering New Zealand. He has been involved in the design, construction and verification of a large number and variety of different ground retention systems for more than 25 years across New Zealand, Australia and Germany.

Prior to starting his own consultancy firm, he held various technical and operational positions for some of the leading geotechnical contracting and consultancy firms in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.

Throughout his professional career (which he started as a carpenter in Germany) he gained in-depth understanding and a holistic perspective of the different life cycle requirements and the risk profile of various retaining walls, deep basement, shafts and temporary excavation systems from feasibility stage to project delivery. He has also been involved in the assessment of defective retention systems and the remediation of such defects.

Martin has published more than 30 technical papers for international journals and conferences, and he was involved in the review and development of various best industry guidelines for deep foundations in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.

He was appointed Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland (Brisbane) from 2014 until 2021 and facilitated numerous lectures and seminars related to ground engineering.

Martin is currently representing the New Zealand Geotechnical Society (NZGS) in Technical Committee TC212 ‘Deep Foundations’ at the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). He has been a member of the expert panel for the development of NZGS/ SESOC Piling Specification and the NZGS ‘Tiered Retaining Wall’ Practice