Thermo-mechanics of energy piles: fine-grained soils, cycles, and interfaces

In the serviceability lifespan of thermo-active geo-structures such as energy-piles, soils surrounding these structures are exposed to a combination of mechanical and thermal loads. These loads are often complex (including cycles) and, depending on the state of the soils, the response of the surrounding soil to these loads may differ. Since the...

The Random Material Point Method for assessment of residual dyke resistance: Investigating the influence of soil heterogeneity on slope failure processes

Flood protection infrastructure requires constant investments to cover the increasing flood risk. However, due to over-conservatism in (dyke) safety assessments, poorly targeted investments can be made. Over-conservatism can be avoided by understanding the entire failure process, from the initiation of failure until flooding. Dyke slope...

Stabilised Material Point Method for Fluid-Saturated Geomaterials

Large deformations in fluid-saturated geomaterials are central to numerous geotechnical applications, such as landslides and dam failures, pile installations, and underground excavations. An in-depth understanding of the soil's hydromechanical behaviour during large-deformation processes is essential for quantitative predictions about such...

Investigation of MPM inaccuracies, contact simulation and robust implementation for geotechnical problems

The material point method (MPM) is a numerical technique which has been demonstrated to be suitable for simulating numerous mechanical problems, particularly large deformation problems, while conserving mass,momentum and energy. MPM discretises material into points and solves the governing equations on a background mesh which discretises the...

Constitutive modelling of cyclic sand behaviour for offshore foundations

The wind energy industry has gained a key role in the global fight against greenhouse gas emissions. Although fossil fuels have still the largest share in the global energy mix, the production of wind energy, especially offshore, has rapidly grown since the 1990s. According to the International Energy Association, Europe targets offshore wind to...

Geotechnical uncertainties and reliability-based assessments of dykes

This thesis utilises the random finite element method (RFEM) to provide practical guidance and tools for geotechnical engineers to account for the influence of soil spatial variability. This has involved: (a) practical insight and guidance on the choice of characteristic soil property values and scales of fluctuation; (b) a robust approach to...

Dykes and Embankments: a Geostatistical Analysis of Soft Terrain

This thesis presents an investigation of the use and applicability of statistical methods in site investigation and subsequent analyses of dykes and embankments. This comprises a comprehensive site investigation via Cone Penetration Tests (CPTs) and laboratory experiments on sampled material, a large scale field test, and statistical analysis of...

Assessing Liquefaction Flow Slides: Beyond Empiricism

The liquefaction flow slide is an important failure mechanism for under water slopes composed of sand.<br/><br/>The failure of the sand body is the result of liquefaction of loosely packed sand, which suddenly looses a large part of its strength and starts behaving as a fluid. Liquefaction flow slides occur unexpectedly and develop at a very...

Reduction of uncertainty in stability calculations for slopes under seepage

<br/>

Reliability of long heterogeneous slopes in 3d: Model performance and conditional simulation

Highway embankments, river dykes and sea dykes usually have a uniform cross-section and extend for a long distance in the third dimension. These long soil structures are generally characterised by spatially varying soil properties, i.e. soil heterogeneity. Slope stability failures of these structures may have significant economic and societal...

Slope failure analysis using the material point method

Dynamic Finite Element Investigation of Wave Attack on Sea Dikes: A Coupled Approach using Plate and Volume Elements

Approximately 400 kilometres of Dutch sea dikes are protected by bituminous concrete revetments to prevent damage from erosion and repeated wave attacks during storms. The numerical analysis of sea dikes subjected to cyclic wave loading needs to consider the behaviour of the bituminous concrete revetment, and the behaviour of the subsoil...

Backward erosion piping: Initiation and progression

Backward erosion piping is an internal erosion mechanism during which shallow pipes are formed in the direction opposite to the flow underneath water-retaining structures as a result of the gradual removal of sandy material by the action of water. It is an important failure mechanism in both dikes and dams where sandy layers are covered by a...

Large Strain Analysis of Electro-Osmosis Consolidation for Clays

Consolidation of soft clay creates a lot of problems in foundation engineering, because of the very low clay permeability and high compressibility. Primary consolidation takes a long time to complete if the material is left consolidating under atmospheric evaporation, and traditional dewatering techniques, such as surcharge preloading, vacuum...