Group Dinner Meeting
Risk Assessment in Geotechnical Engineering
Dr. D.V. Griffiths, PhD, DSc, PE, CEng, FICE, D.GE, F.ASCE
Professor, Colorado School of Mines
Vaughan Griffiths is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. His primary research interests lie in the application of finite element and risk assessment methodologies in civil engineering. He has written over 300 research papers, including some of the most highly cited in the geotechnical engineering research literature. He is the co-author of three textbooks on finite elements, risk assessment and numerical methods that have gone into multiple editions including the Chinese language. He gives regular short-courses for practitioners on risk and finite element applications in geotechnical engineering both in the US and overseas, with courses recently given in Canada, Australia, Colombia and Norway. Dr. Griffiths is a former ASCE Director and recently Chaired the ASCE/G-I Specialty conference Geo-Risk 2017 in Denver. He is currently an Editor of Computers and Geotechnics, on the Advisory Panel of Géotechnique. He was the recent recipient of the 2017 H. Bolton Seed Medal at the Geotechnical Frontiers conference in Orlando.
Wednesday, September 6th, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm at The Old Spaghetti Factory in SW Portland
Abstract: Geotechnical engineering has seen a rapid growth of interest in risk assessment methodologies. This seems a logical evolution, since soils and rocks are among the most variable of all engineering materials, and geotechnical engineers must often make do with materials they are dealt with at any particular site. A probabilistic analysis may lead to a "probability of failure", as opposed to the traditional "factor of safety", representing a fundamental shift in the way engineers need to think about the suitability of their designs. The seminar will review some of the benefits and potential pitfalls of these different approaches, and describe some introductory methods of probabilistic analysis.
If RSVP-ing via email, please include one of the following meal options per registrant: (1) Chicken Marsala, (2) Spaghetti with Italian Sausage, (3) Spaghetti with Marinara. Guests may also order coffee or tea paid for by the group. Late registrations will be accepted up to Monday, September 4th at noon, but a $10 late fee ($5 for students) will be assessed for any reservation made after Friday. Cancellations within 10 days of the event will incur a fee equal to the registration fee.