GEOTECHNICAL DIVISION

Technical Meetings

Geotechnical Computer Programs for Common Applications

Date, Time & Venue
31 March 2001 (Saturday); 8:30am for 9:00 am Start, Finish around 12:30pm; HKIE Seminar Room (Refreshments and a coffee break will be included).

Programme Highlights
The speakers will talk on the features of different geotechnical computer programs and present some typical runs for SLOPE 2000, SLOPE/W, FLAC (for 2D excavation), SEEP/W, Piling Design, Oasys FREW, SLOPE, VDISP and MODFLOW. After each talk, there will be a short session for open discussion in which the participants are encouraged to ask questions about the programs. Before the talks, an introduction on how to judge the merits of a computer program, especially on validation/verification, will also be given.

Speaker
Dr Y.M. Cheng worked on the design and construction of the MTRC Island Line, Eastern Harbour Crossing and the viaduct designs of the Island Eastern Corridor. He joined HK PolyU in 1986 and has been working mostly on geotechnical research. He occasionally participates in construction projects requiring specialist advice in areas including pile foundation, deep excavation and slope stability.

Dr L.G. Tham obtained his Bachelor and Doctoral Degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Hong Kong in 1977 and 1981 respectively. After spending over a year at the University of Western Ontario as a Croucher Foundation Fellow, he joined the Department as a lecturer in 1982 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1991. His current research interests include computational mechanics, soil-structure interaction, rock engineering and soil-nailed wall.

Dr Limin Zhang received his PhD degree in Geotechnical Engineering in 1989 from Sichuan University and subsequently taught at the University for five years. He then spent a half year in Karlsruhe University, Germany, and three years in the University of Florida, USA, as a post-doctoral research associate before joining HKUST. He is currently an assistant professor of the Department of Civil Engineering, HKUST. His main interests include physical modelling and numerical analysis of foundations and slopes.

After graduating in Australia Dr Jack Pappin completed a PhD at Nottingham University where he investigated granular road base course materials. He joined ARUP Geotechnics in London in 1980 and was transferred to Hong Kong in 1993. He is mainly involved with analysis and design of geotechnical problems with particular emphasis on basements, deep excavations and foundations, movement prediction and developing numerical analytical techniques. He has done a significant amount of the development of the Oasys GEO Suite and is responsible for seismic hazard assessment and geotechnical earthquake engineering in Ove Arup and Partners worldwide.

Dr Jimmy Jiao obtained his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Hydrogeology from China University of Geosciences, China and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK in 1993. From 1994-1996, he worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Alabama, USA. He joined the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor in 1997.

Book Prizes
Up to two Book Prizes will be awarded to young members who submit reports on the meeting to Ir Dr J-H Yin and judged by the Geotechnical Division Committee to be of sufficient merits.

Registration and Enquiry
Prior registration is required. Those who would like to attend should return the Standard Reply Form by fax to Ir Dr P L R Pang at Fax No.: 2714 0275 before 16 March 2001. Registration will be on a first come first served basis. Successful applicants will be notified. For enquiry, please contact Ir Dr P L R Pang, Tel.: 2762 5362.

Photos (taken by Dr HC Chan)

Presentation in HKIE

Dr Jiao (right) received a souvenir from Dr YC Chan (left), assistant director of GEO

Dinner after the talk (from left to right): Mr Ian Askew, Dr HC Chan, Dr JJ Jiao, Dr CK Lau, Dr Jack Pappin, Dr R Pang, Mr PA Chao,