4:00 PM (2.0 PDH)
Shallow Foundation Design: PTI vs Finite Element Method of Design and Performance for a Typical 40x70 Slab-on-Ground Foundation Design
Presented by Ms. Anna Olveda, MSCE, and Dr. Florian Aalami, Ph.D.
BIO: Anna Olveda is an expert in the design of floor vibrations in composite floor systems and concrete tilt wall panels. As the VP of Engineering at Wafflemat, a Slab Works company, she leads the team in assessing and optimizing the efficiency and resilience of shallow foundation designs. Prior to joining Wafflemat, Anna gained over nine years of experience specializing in the structural design of diverse structures across commercial, industrial, multifamily, and residential sectors. Anna holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, both from Texas A&M University – Kingsville, TX. She is actively involved in professional organizations, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Post Tension Institute (PTI), Structural Engineering Association of Texas (SEAoT), where she has held various leadership roles and contributed to advancing industry standard and practices. Additionally, Anna has led and participated in outreach initiatives, inspiring students of all ages to pursue STEM-related fields.
BIO: Dr. Aalami is an expert in AEC software development and the design and construction of post-tensioned concrete structures. As Principal of PT-Structures, he leads the firm’s engineering consulting practices in new design, forensic investigations and BIM services. Florian is also the co-Founder of BIM software companies Visicon and BuildTrue that develop innovative solutions for 3D model review and validation. Prior to PTS, he was CEO of ADAPT Corporation, the developer of post-tensioning design software. Florian earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and both a master's degree in structural engineering and a doctoral degree from Stanford University’s Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE), the leading think tank on Building Information Modeling (BIM). He is a voting member of the PTI DC-110 Building Information Modeling (BIM) Committee.
ABSTRACT: This presentation explores the application of the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the design of shallow foundations, specifically focusing on a void form slab-on-grade foundation. The live example will outline the principles of FEA, a computation technique used to simulate and analyze the behavior of slab on grade foundations under various loads and soil conditions. By employing FEA, this research aims to provide a more accurate and reliable design method for void form slab-on-grade foundations, compared to traditional empirical approaches. The analysis includes the modeling of soil-structure interaction, load distribution, and the effects of varying soil conditions. The results demonstrate that FEA offers enhanced precision in predicting the performance of shallow foundations, enabling engineers to optimize designs for safety, durability, and cost-effectiveness. This study contributes to the advancement of foundation design practices by integrating modern computational tools with traditional engineering principles, offering valuable insights for both academic research and practical applications.
