4:00 PM (1.0 PDH)
Basics of Hydro Demolition
Presented by Ms. Belin Wills and Mr. Ronnie Wills with Aggregate Technologies
BIO: Belin Wills, the Head of Education & Marketing at Aggregate Technologies, is a certified Texas teacher with a degree in education from Louisiana State University. She is the passionate presenter of The Basics of hydro demolition lunch-and-learn sessions. To date, this engaging class has been delivered to over 2,000 engineers and contractors across the United States.
Ronnie Wills, president of Aggregate Technologies for over 27 years, has dedicated his career to excellence in the concrete cutting and removal industry. He enjoys complex projects that cause him to “think outside the box.” He will co-present with Belin and assist in answering technical questions as they transpire.
ABSTRACT: With decades of experience in the concrete cutting industry, Aggregate Technologies is a leading concrete removal and hydro demolition contractor in the United States. Hydro demolition is the only real choice when the job requires rebar to be left intact. It is ideal for removal of waterproof membranes, roughening concrete for various types of overlays, or the removal of concrete where vibrations or sparks are not permitted. This 60-minute interactive class will provide practical insights tailored for projects with strict timelines and demanding specifications where traditional concrete removal methods may be inefficient or impractical.
5:00 PM (1.0 PDH)
Typar BioBarrier as a Root Barrier Solution
Presented by Mr. Gerard J. Duhon, P.E., of Texas Home Engineer
BIO: Mr. Gerard J. Duhon, P.E., is a graduate of Southwestern Louisiana University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He began his professional journey by joining the Air Support and Aviation Foundation (ASAF), where he served as an instructor pilot. With a robust career spanning 18 years in the oilfield industry, he excelled as an engineering manager and design engineer. Gerard further expanded his expertise as a forensic engineer, specializing in fire and explosion investigations and traffic accident reconstructions. His career took an intriguing turn toward materials science before he returned to Houston in 2000, focusing on foundation measurement and reporting. In the late 2000s, Gerard served as the prime field inspector for the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), where he inspected and reported on over 500 properties, ensuring peer-reviewed findings. Following the TRCC's closure, Gerard established a structural engineering business, primarily dedicated to foundation investigations. Today, his business specializes in forensic foundation investigations, damage etiology and repair, moisture source identification and remedies, and various residential problems and solutions. In addition to providing plans and permits, the business also manages crews for heavy structural repairs and remodels. Currently, two field engineers conduct the investigations while Gerard personally writes around a thousand foundation reports annually, with approximately 70% being diagnostic and all advisory.
ABSTRACT: P.G. Biddle's book on the effect of trees on foundations offers an extensive analysis that largely aligns with current engineering practices. It emphasizes that while deductive reasoning rules based on established principles are vital, they must be complemented by inductive reasoning rules derived from experience to create an accurate behavioral model. Offering warranties for engineering advice can effectively garner feedback, facilitating model refinement. Biddle's research outlines the predictable ways trees affect foundations, noting differences between newer and older foundations in terms of damage, response, and recovery potential following tree effect removal. Classifying trees into types can aid in behavior prediction, and the Biobarrier, distinct from other root barriers, has shown success with a specific implementation protocol. While removing tree effects can lead to foundation recovery, the recovery process is inherently complex.