Presenter:

Robert B. Gilbert, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, NAE - The University of Texas at Austin

The practice of geotechnical engineering is guided by lessons learned from failures and successes. This talk will describe recent case histories in forensic geotechnical engineering, including a landfill cover slope failure, a pile foundation failure and success, and a natural slope failure. The lessons learned from these case histories include the importance of designing for interim conditions during construction, the importance of collaborating with versus working for structural engineers, and the importance of considering and communicating risk and uncertainty clearly.

Our presenter:
ROBERT B. GILBERT P.E., Ph.D., D.GE, M.ASCE is Chair of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He joined the faculty in 1993 after practicing as a geotechnical engineer for five years with Golder Associates Inc. His technical focus is the assessment, evaluation and management of risk for civil engineering systems. Recent activities include analyzing the performance of offshore platforms and pipelines in Gulf of Mexico hurricanes; managing flooding risks for levees in Texas, California, Washington and Louisiana; and performing a review of design and construction for the new Bay Bridge in San Francisco. Dr. Gilbert has been awarded the Norman Medal from the American Society of Civil Engineers and an Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.