4:00 PM (1.0 PDH)
Pipe Materials, Design and Installation
Presented by Ms. Palisha Sthapit
with Rinker Materials
ABSTRACT: This presentation provides guidance for pipe design and installation using national standards and specifications. The design of rigid and flexible pipe and how they react when loads are applied will be discussed. Attendees will learn the basics of proper pipe installation and how to apply this knowledge in the field. The presentation will end with a brief discussion of ways to inspect these pipes to verify performance and mitigate risks.
BIO: Palisha Sthapit is a Product Resource Specialist at Rinker Materials. She is based in Houston and covers their San Antonio, Austin, Louisiana and Houston regions, promoting their products, national standards and specifications, as well as conducting training. Originally from Nepal, Ms. Sthapit graduated in May 2021 from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering under the department of Civil Engineering.
5:00 PM (1.0 PDH)
Geoforensic Study for Exclusive Furniture, Richmond, Texas
Presented by Mr. Harry Nguyen, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE with Geotech Engineering and Testing
ABSTRACT: The Exclusive Furniture building in Richmond, Texas, is a two-story structure with tilt-up wall panels and interior columns which has experienced distress consisting of cracks in floor slabs and separations in the sheetrock.. The building foundation system consists of the drilled footings and slab-on-grade. A geoforensic study program was conducted to identify the potential causes of foundation distress and recommend repair techniques. The subsequent analysis and recommendations will be presented.
BIO: Dr. Nguyen is a project manager at Geotech Engineering and Testing (GET) with the responsibility for the daily operations of geoforensic, materials and geotechnical engineering services. He has several years of experience in fields of geoforensic, geotechnical, environmental, and materials engineering and has been involved in geoforensic studies as they relate to commercial structures, residential, slope failures, pavements, retaining walls, sewer leaks, plumbing leaks, etc. His other experience includes research and development in the field of soils, rock materials testing for slopes, retaining walls, pavements, low to high rise buildings, slope protection remedial works, deep foundations, flood control channels, community centers, office buildings, and subdivisions. He has also conducted studies in slope stability, retaining walls, groundwater and contamination modeling. His other experience includes research and development in the field of unsaturated soil mechanics (expansive soils). In addition, Dr. Nguyen is actively involved in environmental site assessment projects, including Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Studies.