ABOUT THE SHORT COURSE

Technical Presentation at UNITEN Testing Site
a) Presentation of the Manual Pressuremeter and the GEOPAC® pressuremeter
b) Set-up of a GEOPAC® pressuremeter calibration test using a GEOBOX®, and comparing the main differences with the standard pressuremeter equipment
c) Comparison between manual Pressuremeter and GEOPAC® calibrations tickets
d) Shallow drilling with a typical solid stem auger
e) Placement of the pressuremeter probe and performance of two GEOPAC® automatic pressuremeter tests with comparison of the manual test procedure.
f) Demonstration of STAF® drilling procedure (undisturbed quick procedure)

Introduction to software GeoVISION®
by Mr. Damien Brechot, Mr. Serge Varaksin and Mr. Richard Ong Tiam Hwa
 
a) Use the GeoVISION® software to import readings from the previous tests and readily get automatic calculation of corrected pressuremeter data.
b) Explanation and demonstration of the software GeoVISION® in various options such as NF versus ISO Standard, results of slight movements of points P1 and P2, how to input lithology, submitting the test records, generating a whole log diagram, etc.
c) History and Overview on the use of the pressuremeter parameters pLM an EM for the design of shallow or deep foundations by Serge Varaksin.
d) Application of pressuremeter techniques on and off shore in South East Asia by Richard Ong.


ABOUT THE PRESENTERS 

(1) Mr. Serge Varaksin
Born in 1943 in Belgium. After completing his civil engineering degree he was admitted on a work-study program at Northwestern University Evanston, USA. He completed his master’s degree under Professor Jorg Osterberg and published his research on relative density below groundwater table in the ASTM, STP 523, Book.  He joined the Menard France in 1973 and since then, devoted his career in creating the present network of companies of Menard around the world, applying the ideas of Louis Menard and Jean-Marie Cognon, as Overseas Manager and later Deputy General Manager of this group. He has recently retired but continues to act as adviser of the president, expert on ground improvement projects and lecturer.

(2) Ir. Dr Ooi Teik Aun
Graduated in Civil Engineering in 1966 from Auckland, New Zealand and obtained his Master degree from the same University in 1968. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Geotechnical Engineering from Sheffield University in 1980. He is an Honorary Fellow of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Hon. FIEM), Fellow of The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (FMIArb) and Fellow of The Institution of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom (FICE). He is an ASEAN Engineer, APEC Engineer, International Professional Engineer, ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer, Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate (Malaysia), Accredited Checker (Geotechnical Engineering) and Chartered Engineer (C.Eng.), United Kingdom. He is a Specialist Engineering Consultant, an Arbitrator, an Adjudicator, an Accredited Checker and Expert Witness.  He joined Public Works Department, Malaysia (PWD) in 1968 and held the post of Engineer, Senior Executive Engineer and Assistant Director respectively, in charge of the PWD Headquarters Soils and Materials Laboratories in the Design and Research Branch.  In 1982, he let PWD to join Promet Construction Sdn Bhd, and was Project Manager for Wisma Saberkas in Kuching, Sarawak.

(3) Mr. Richard Ong Tiam Hwa, Grad. IEM
Graduated in civil engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and later obtained a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Since graduating in 2000, he has worked in the field of geotechnical engineering, particularly on slope stability, reinforced soil structures, ground improvement and geosynthetics. Currently, he is the Regional Technical Director for Menard Asia overseeing the design and construction of ground improvement projects such as vacuum consolidation, dynamic compaction, dynamic replacement, controlled modulus columns, stone columns, etc. Richard is also active in professional bodies serving as committee member for IEM’s Geotechnical Engineering Technical Division and treasurer for International Geosynthetics Society (Malaysia Chapter).