Geotechnical Seismic Design Code Calibration: A probabilistic study of seismic design code safety

Seismic design codes are currently moving from a force-based design approach to a performance-based design approach. For example, in a performance-based design approach it could be specified how many lanes must be available during the lifetime of a bridge...

Application of an inverse analysis using the Ensemble Kalman Filter method to a deep excavation case: with validation of constitutive soil models

Displacement control is of utmost importance in deep excavation design and is usually based on numerical modelling, e.g. Finite Element Method (FEM). Numerical methods tend to be more conservative when analysing soil behaviour during deep excavation, whereas for practical and economic reasons this is not favoured. The inverse analysis allows for...

The influence of man-made structures on spatial variability of soft soils: A case study at the Leendert de Boerspolder

The subsurface is often modelled as multiple homogeneous soil layers. In reality, the soil properties of these layers are heterogeneous and spatially variable, making it difficult to properly deduct the engineering properties that are required in the design of geotechnical structures. This leads to uncertainty in the design. The probabilistic...

Statistical Analysis of Geotechnical Parameters in Starnmeer and Alkmaardermeer: Dike Stability analysis

The aim of this thesis report is to analyze slope stability parameters given by HHNK for the dike around a polder located in the province of North-Holland, “Starnmeer”, and a lake located to the west of it called “Alkmaardermeer”. Most of the dike has been reported to be too low in some places and plans of restoration will be implemented in 2019...

Evaluation of inverse analysis methods with numerical simulation for slope excavation

Insufficient information on soil parameters and their spatial variability pose as a main factors of uncertainty in geotechnical design. When soil response differs from the expected, the notion of inverse analysis becomes relevant; back-calculating the parameter set able to reproduce the monitored observations. Accordingly, its application...

Impact of spatial variability of subsoil stiffness on immersed tunnels

Due to increased traffic density, there is a tendency to construct larger immersed tunnels with larger tunnel elements both in transversal and longitudinal direction resulting in a more critical design of the joints. Especially for those tunnels with relatively soft foundation and high siltation, there is no mature experience for reference. This...

Numerical modelling of an experimental energy pile

Geothermal energy is a way of reducing the cost of energy. Deep geothermal energy systems extract heat from very deep soil layers where the temperatures are very high. Shallow geothermal energy systems are about 150 metres deep and they are used to store heat in the soil, to extract it later and use it for space heating. These shallow geothermal...

An Uncertainty Framework for Improbable Slope Failure

Soil properties used to determine the stability of soil structures are variable in nature. Uncertainty in soil can be attributed to its inherent variability, as well as sources of error encountered while estimating the magnitude of its properties. The modelling of these uncertainties will produce more meaningful solutions when evaluating...