Filter Design History and a One-Step Design Process

The Webinar consists of two basic parts:

• A history of filter design practice including theoretical design considerations
• A step-by-step design process with criterion for the design of a critical filter for one example soil type

The primary topics covered in the first part of the Webinar are:
1. Early filter designs that addressed only interparticle seepage and piping.
2. The historical research performed by Sherard et al to develop critical filters for soils with defects (cracks, etc.) in the soil.
3. The basis for regrading soils that contain considerable coarse-grained particles (gravels).

The primary topics covered in the second part of the Webinar are:

1. A simplified, step-by-step process for designing filters that will comply with most agency design criteria.
2. A step-by-step detailed example of a filter design for one of the four base soil categories.
The step-by-step process is related to the most common agency design criteria and steps, including those of the USACE, Reclamation, and the NRCS.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Danny K. McCook, P.E. is an independent consulting engineer specializing in the geotechnical analysis and design of small earthen embankments. In his 41 year career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (he retired from there in October 2008), he prepared geotechnical design reports for hundreds of embankment projects across the US, He is the author of a variety of NRCS publications and training manuals on geotechnical topics. He has presented papers at 16 previous ASDSO National and regional meetings. He presented two webinars for ASDSO on review of embankment projects and common problem soils and conditions. He received a BS degree from Texas Tech University in 1965 and a MS degree from the University of Nebraska in 1967. He is a registered PE in Texas and a member of ASCE and ASDSO.

James R. Talbot is a registered professional engineer with over 52 years of experience in design, construction, and rehabilitation of dams and hydraulic structures. For the past 17 years, he has been a senior in-house consultant on design and construction of dam and water resources projects while working part time for several consulting engineering firms and as a self-employed independent consultant. For 35 years, Mr. Talbot worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service (SCS) [now Natural Resources Conservations Service (NRCS)]. The last 17 years of his time with SCS, he served as Chief Geotechnical Engineer in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Talbot was involved in research projects on filters for earth dams when he worked with eminent earth dam consultant, the late James L. Sherard. He has worked extensively in the area of seepage and piping control for embankment dams. Mr. Talbot was one of three co-authors who received the ASCE Norman Medal in 1985 for the paper; “Filters for Silts and Clays” resulting from the research on filters for earth dams.

Mr. Talbot is a frequent speaker at technical seminars and universities. He was one of four instructors for the ASDSO Advanced Technical Seminar on Seepage for Earth Dams He received a B. S. Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah in 1960, and Completed Arthur Casagrande’s Special Masters Degree Program in Soil Engineering from Harvard University in 1968. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Oregon, Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

Relevant Government Agencies

Army, Dept of Energy, Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of the Interior, Other Federal Agencies, State Government, County Government, City Government, Municipal Government, FEMA, Federal Government, State & Local Government