WEDA to Hold Two Part Webinar on Slurry Transport

Sape Miedema,
Dr.ir. Sape A. Miedema (November 8th 1955) obtained his M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering with honors at the Delft University of Technology (DUT) in 1983. He obtained his Ph.D. degree on research into the basics of soil cutting in relation with ship motions, in 1987. From 1987 to 1992 he was Assistant Professor at the chair of Dredging Technology. In 1992 and 1993 he was a member of the management board of Mechanical Engineering & Marine Technology of the DUT. In 1992 he became Associate Professor at the DUT with the chair of Dredging Technology. From 1996 to 2001 he was appointed Head of Studies of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology at the DUT, but still remaining Associate Professor of Dredging Engineering. In 2005 he was appointed Head of Studies of the MSc program of Offshore & Dredging Engineering and he is also still Associate Professor of Dredging Engineering. In 2013 he was also appointed as Head of Studies of the MSc program Marine Technology of the DUT.

Dr.ir. S.A. Miedema teaches (or has taught) courses on soil mechanics and soil cutting, pumps and slurry transport, hopper sedimentation and erosion, mechatronics, applied thermodynamics related to energy, drive system design principles, mooring systems, hydromechanics and mathematics. He is (or has been) also teaching at Hohai University, Changzhou, China, at Cantho University, Cantho Vietnam, at Petrovietnam University, Baria, Vietnam and different dredging companies in the Netherlands and the USA.

His research focuses on the mathematical modeling of dredging systems like, cutter suction dredges, hopper dredges, clamshell dredges, backhoe dredges and trenchers. The fundamental part of the research focuses on the cutting processes of sand, clay and rock, sedimentation processes in Trailing Suction Hopper Dredges and the associated erosion processes. Lately the research focuses on hyperbaric rock cutting in relation with deep sea mining and on hydraulic transport of solids/liquid settling slurries.

Robert Ramsdell, Principal, Dredging Resources, LLC
Robert Ramsdell has been in the dredging industry for 33 years. His first 31 years were with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock company. He spent ten years in the field, supporting, planning, and managing dredging projects. This time included hydrographic surveying, dredge operations planning, working closely with crews, working with clients, and dredge performance optimization. Robert also spent twenty-one years in the Production Department, where he developed tools (software) and procedures for estimating, operations analysis, research, optimization, and troubleshooting. He has worked on US domestic and international projects (up to $500M in revenue) with all types and sizes of dredging plant.

In addition, Robert was the Director of R&D at GLD&D, working closely with researchers in government and academia to support their work and advance dredging knowledge. Working with colleagues at GLD&D and in the dredging industry, he has contributed to research of pipeline transport of solids, cutter suction dredge spillage, safety, the mechanical properties of clay, and more. Robert is currently a dredging consultant and Principal at DredgingResources.net, where he works with ports and the USACE on project planning, and provides training and software services to dredging contractors.

PDH Credit:
A certificate for one (1) professional development hour will be available for all participants who attend these webinars or view the recorded webinars online. A total of two (2) pdh’s are available.

Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you online soon!

~ WEDA Education Commission