Conference. Presentation by Denis Korablev
Representatives of the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering took part in the VI Betancourt Readings, held on 26 June at the Saint Petersburg House of Architects. The Betancourt Readings is an annual scientific and technical conference dedicated to the memory of the outstanding engineer Augustin Betancourt. The event traditionally brings together architects, builders, and designers to discuss cutting-edge engineering and design solutions.
The initiator, organizer, and presenter of the Betancourt Readings is Aleksey Shashkin, a graduate of the Leningrad Civil Engineering Institute (LISI, now SPbGASU), Doctor of Geologo-Mineralogical Sciences, Professor, and laureate of the Russian Federation Government Prize. Today, he combines scientific and design-survey activities with teaching at our university.
This year's conference theme was "Unique design solutions." The meeting was dedicated to the memory of the outstanding engineer and State Prize laureate Anatoly Vladimirovich Shapiro.
The SPbGASU Department of Geotechnics was among the conference organizers, along with the St Petersburg Union of Architects, the Russian Society for Soil Mechanics, Geotechnics and Foundation Engineering, the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association, the Technical Committee "Geotechnical Infrastructure of Megacities and New Capitals" (ISSMGE), the Georeconstruction Institute (St Petersburg), and the N.M. Gersevanov Research Institute of Foundations and Underground Structures (NIIOSP). Anatoly Osokin, Head of the Department of Geotechnics at our university, DSc in Engineering, joined the conference organizing committee. Evgeny Korolev, SPbGASU Vice-Rector for Research, DSc in Engineering, participated in the conference as an invited guest of honor. The conference focused on geotechnical issues in construction.
At the opening of the conference, Rashid Mangushev, DSc in Engineering, Professor at the SPbGASU Department of Geotechnics, as a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences and Deputy Chairman of the RAACS Scientific Council for Geotechnics, presented the RAACS Gold Medal in the nomination "For the Best Scientific and Creative Work in Architecture and Construction Sciences." The award was given to Andrey Ponomarev, DSc in Engineering, Professor at the Department of Industrial and Civil Engineering at the St Petersburg Mining University, as a member of the team that prepared the set of books "Geotechnics Handbook" (Geotechnics Handbook: Bases, Foundations, and Underground Structures / Edited by V. A. Ilyichev and R. A. Mangushev. - Moscow: ASV, 2014).
Representatives of SPbGASU presented scientific papers at the conference. Anatoly Osokin, Rashid Mangushev, and senior lecturer Philipp Kalach, together with Aleksandr Zheliostov (OOO PSB Zhilstroy), presented their project to convert the underground space of the former Music Hall in St Petersburg for modern use. A cutting-edge solution was employed, using titanium piles, which reinforced the historic foundations and allowed the basement to be deepened to 3.5 meters. The piles, manufactured by Geoizol, represent the first example of import substitution in this field.
SPbGASU doctoral student Konstantin Shashkin (Institute "Georeconstruction") and SPbGASU master's student Fedor Shashkin presented a report "Methodology for calculating cylindrical enclosing structures of pits made using the "wall in the ground" technology", and our university doctoral student Vsevolod Shashkin (also an employee of the Institute "Georeconstruction") presented a report "The Cathedral in Kaliningrad: seven centuries of history contrary to the laws of geotechnics".
Senior lecturer at the Department of Geotechnics, PhD of Engineering Sciences Ivan Bashmakov presented a report "Experience in applying the results of triaxial consolidated-drained tests in the design of pit fencing in St Petersburg."
SPbGASU graduate students also presented their research. Denis Korablev, a PhD student and assistant at the Department of Geotechnics, spoke about the calculations of structural foundations under conditions of uneven permafrost, while Daria Paskacheva, a PhD student and assistant at the Department, reported on a study of the mechanical properties of soft silty clay soils for the design of buildings and structures.
The active participation of SPbGASU representatives in the conference is further confirmation of the high authority of our university's geotechnical school.
