Published on: 2026-06-30
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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Conference. Speech by Denis Korablyov
Representatives of the St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering took part in the 6th Betancourt Readings, held on June 26 at the St. Petersburg House of Architects. The Betancourt Readings are an annual scientific and technical conference dedicated to the memory of an outstanding engineerAugustine Betancourt.The event traditionally brings together architects, builders, and designers to discuss advanced engineering and structural solutions.
The initiator, organizer, and host of the Betancourt Readings is a graduate of the Leningrad Engineering and Construction Institute (LESI, now SPbGASU), Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, professor, laureate of the Russian Federation Government PrizeAleksey Shashkin.Today, he combines scientific and design-survey activities with teaching at our university.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Unique Design Solutions.” The scientists’ meeting was dedicated to the memory of an outstanding engineer, a laureate of State Prizes.Anatoly Vladimirovich Shapiro.
The Department of Geotechnics of SPbGASU was among the organizers of the conference, together with the Saint 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 (Saint Petersburg), and the N. M. Gersevanov Scientific Research Institute of Foundations and Underground Structures (NIIOPS). The Head of the Department of Geotechnics at our university, Doctor of Technical SciencesAnatoly Osokinjoined the organizing committee of the conference. As an invited honorary guest, the Vice-Rector of SPbGASU for Scientific Work, Doctor of Technical Sciences, participated in the conferenceEvgeny Korolev.The focus was on geotechnical issues in construction.
At the opening of the conference, the professor of the Department of Geotechnics at SPbGASU, Doctor of Technical SciencesRashid MangushevOn behalf of a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, Deputy Chairman of the RAACS Scientific Council on Geotechnics, he awarded the RAACS Gold Medal in the category “For the best scientific and creative works in the field of architecture and construction sciences.” It was awarded to the professor of the Department of Industrial and Civil Construction at Saint Petersburg Mining University, Doctor of Technical Sciences.Andrey Ponomaryovas a member of the team that prepared the set of books “Geotechnical Engineer’s Handbook” (Geotechnical Engineer’s Handbook: Foundations, Foundations and Underground Structures / Edited by V. A. Ilyichyov and R. A. Mangushev. – Moscow: ASV, 2014).
Representatives of SPbGASU presented scientific reports at the conference.Anatoly Osokin, Rashid Mangushevand senior lecturer of the departmentPhilipp Kalachjointly withby Alexander Zheliostov(LLC “PSB ‘Zhilstroy'”) spoke about their project for the arrangement of the underground space in the building of the former Music Hall in St. Petersburg to adapt it for modern use. An advanced solution using titanium piles was applied here, resulting in the strengthening of the historic foundations that allowed the basement to be deepened to 3.5 meters. The piles, manufactured by the company “Geoizol”, became the first experience of import substitution in this field.
Postgraduate student at SPbGASUKonstantin Shashkin(Institute “Georeconstruction”) and master’s student at SPbGASUFyodor Shashkinpresented the report “Methodology for calculating cylindrical enclosing structures of excavation pits constructed using the ‘diaphragm wall’ technology,” and a doctoral student from our universityVsevolod Shashkin(also an employee of the “Georeconstruction” institute) – a report titled “The Cathedral in Kaliningrad: Seven Centuries of History Despite Geotechnical Laws”.
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Geotechnics, Candidate of Technical SciencesIvan Bashmakovgave a presentation titled “Experience in Applying the Results of Triaxial Consolidated-Drained Tests in Designing Excavation Retaining Structures in Saint Petersburg.”
Graduate students of SPbGASU also talked about their scientific work. A graduate student and assistant of the geotechnics departmentDenis Korablyovdedicated the presentation to the calculations of foundations of structures under conditions of uneven occurrence of permafrost soils, and a postgraduate student and assistant at the departmentDarya Paskachyovareported on the study of the mechanical properties of weak silty-clayey soils for the design of buildings and structures.
The active participation of SPbGASU representatives in the conference is yet another confirmation of the highest authority of our university’s geotechnical school.
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