SYNOPSIS

This workshop will start with the brief background on Eurocode for Geotechnical Design EN1997 (i.e.EC7), and highlight the main differences between British Code (BS code) and the EC7. It will focus on the explanation of various key components of EC7 – i.e. Design approaches, Partial factors, Characteristic values, and Design values for Action, Material and Resistance, Analysis Methods etc. Discussion on how to obtain relevant soil parameters from SI work will also be done. This workshop will also cover a detailed explanation on the application of EC7 design code in shallow and deep foundations, followed by an in-depth discussion on foundation testing specified in EN ISO 22477.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

1. DR CHEW SOON HOE

Dr. Chew Soon Hoe, a Professional Engineer, graduated with PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, USA. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore. He was the Deputy Director of the Centre for Protective Technology (CPT), a research and development centre jointly formed by the Ministry of Defence, Singapore, and NUS.

His research interests include various aspects of ground treatment, deep excavation and tunneling, land reclamation, geosynthetics applications, as well as geotechnical seismic analysis. He is actively involved in research and consultancy relating to various applications of geosynthetics in Singapore and this region. In addition, he was the Principal Investigator for the Singapore Government funded industrial research on Jet Grouting for ground improvement and tunnelling works. Dr Chew has many practical experiences based on research and consulting experiences on pile design, excavation project, ground investigation works, Tunnelling (Soil and rock), and Ground improvement via grouting methods (including jet grouting, permeation grouting, TAM grouting, fissure grouting and low pressure grouting etc.). He has been involved in a number of MRT constructions – acting as technical advisor in reviewing station and tunnel design, as well as acting as technical advisor for QP Supervision.

Dr Chew published very extensively on geosynthetics, soft clay, ground improvement and rapid pile load test and related topic.

He was awarded “Defence Technology Prize”, from Chief Defence Scientist, Ministry of Defence, Singapore in 2006. He was also the recipient of the “Minister Innovative Awards (Excellent)” from Ministry of Transportation, 2011. He was also awarded with “Friends of Waters” by PUB, the water agency in 2013. He was again awarded with “2015 Minister’s Awards (Team)” by the Ministry of National Development. He and his research team, jointly with HDB, has recently won the “2021 IES Prestigious Engineering Award and “2021 ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award for year 2021”.

He was elected to be a council member of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore, IES 2006-2011, 2011-2013, 2014-2016, and 2016-2018. He is also currently the President of Southeast Asia chapter of International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), and a President of Singapore Chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He also serves as member of three BCA’s technical task force (i.e. Rapid pile load tests, Piling industry accreditation scheme, and Ground improvement accreditation scheme).


2. DR ENG ZI XUN

Dr. Eng Zi Xun, graduated with PhD from National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, after completing a research project on dewatering of fine-grain slurry with geotextile tube. He was a Design Engineer in geosynthetic industry before pursuing his PhD in NUS. Upon the Ph.D. conferment, he became a Research Fellow with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, involved in collaboration study with HDB in varies innovative field ground improvement techniques and testing methods. His research interest and working area includes geosynthetic, soil improvement, slope engineering, and geo-environmental engineering. He also actively involved in different field instrumentation works in soil medium, geosynthetic materials, piles and etc. Dr. Eng Zi Xun has also published papers in several well-known industry publications, including ASTM, International Stresswave Conferences, and etc. Serving as the General Manager at Geonamics (M) Sdn. Bhd., Dr. Eng Zi Xun plays a major role in developing strategies designed to improve the business competitiveness and profitability of the testing services including the development and management of action plans to ensure corporate objectives are achieved. He also actively involved in activities liaison with local, regional and international research and academic institutions particular in geotechnical engineering. Through his commitment to this role, he has helped Geonamics (M) Sdn. Bhd. develops a wide spectrum of testing services in geotechnical engineering in this region.


3. Ir. FRANKIE CHEAH

Frankie is a registered Professional Engineer in Malaysia and an ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer. He has closed to 20 years’ experience in large scale mass transit, railway design and construction projects in Singapore, Malaysia and across Asia region. His areas of expertise include deep foundations and underground earth retaining structures for both top-down and bottom-up construction in Malaysia and Singapore, involving the impact and interaction with existing development/infrastructure inside the central business district. Existing infrastructure consists of an existing rail structure, a substantial building with a basement, an underground structure, and an existing rail tunnel. Core experiences in consultancy for various project around Asia region, Frankie able to gain vast skill to produce a competent geotechnical element design that incorporate safety and economic aspect. He also promotes to enhance his skill and knowledge in technical writeup on his completed projects. He was the key geotechnical engineer for AECOM for both the Klang Valley MRT–Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line (Line2) and Klang Valley MRT–Sungai Buloh– Kajang Line (Line1). More recent projects that he provided geotechnical technical support included the detailed design of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, and the KVMRT Line 3 tender preparation together with few other designs and built contract support with Asia region. He is also actively involved in promoting tunnelling and underground space with IEM as Deputy Chair of The Tunnelling and Underground Space Technical Division (TUSTD) of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia. He also actively involved in promoting International Tunnelling and Underground Space (ITA-AIES) event such as WTC 2020, 46th ITA general and Symposium of Young Tunnellers of Asia (SYTA).