Lowering ECI/MPG value by implementing sustainable foundations for houses

This research addresses the environmental impact of foundations in lightweight housing units, focusing on BAM's timber house concept, FLOW. While the engineered timber superstructure is environmentally conscious, the foundation's contribution is often overlooked. The study aims to minimise the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI) of FLOW houses by...

Probabilistic assessment of inner slope stability in dikes: Gaining insight in the difference between the semi-probabilistic and probabilistic estimates of the reliability index for inner slope stability with overtopping

After overtopping, the most common failure mechanism in the world that leads to a dike breach is the instability of the inner slope. Two stability calculations are required for the semi-probabilistic assessment of inner slope stability. One calculation is without significant overtopping and the other calculation is with significant overtopping...

Comparison of design methods for quay walls: Based on measured deformations in Eemshaven Groningen

The aim of this research is to investigate which design method results in the best approximation of the deformations of a quay wall consisting of an anchored combined wall with relieving platform, looking at the elastoplastic method and the finite element method. The elastoplastic method is performed with the program D-Sheet Piling and the...

Soil-Structure Interaction Modelling of High-Rise Building Settlements due to Compressible Soil Layers below Foundation Level

In the field of structural and geotechnical engineering, a uniform approach to predict and model foundation settlements during the design phase of a high-rise building appears to be missing. In the Netherlands, pile foundations of tower structures underlain by compressible soil layers are challenging to model due to different stiffness and load...

Influence of quay wall defects on the structural response

Inner–city quay walls fulfil a number of very important functions where the retention of water is the most important one observed from a structural perspective. Despite their importance, not all of these structures are very well maintained, especially the older ones. Each municipality has their own maintenance regime, depending on the allocated...

The relationship between soil index properties and the cyclic shear strength from undrained cyclic tests

Offshore wind power structures are subjected to cyclic loading. Several loads like wind and wave loading are acting on the structure and therefore its foundation. It is important to involve the impact of this cyclic loading into the design of the structure. A cyclic load influences the strength and deformation characteristics of the soil. Due to...

The remaining capacity of the timber foundation of a historical quay wall with relieving platform: With the Maaskade as a case study

The increased loading and decreasing strength of historical quay walls calls for remedyand has drawn the attention of many Dutch municipalities, Rotterdam being oneof those. In order to set up proper assessment methods that result in an economicaland ecological policy for renovation or replacement of these structures the Port of Rotterdamhas...

Risks of structural failure of navigation locks due to drought: A probabilistic analysis

The summer of 2018 was one of the hottest and driest summers since the start of measurements by the Dutch weather service in 1900. This lead to forest fires, problems for farmers and extreme low water levels. The Rhine at Lobith recorded an all-time low water level and also the Ijssel an Meuse rivers recorded extreme low water levels. This...

Development of a new CPT averaging technique and review of existing CPT based methods for the calculation of total pile capacity

Over the last couple years, a number investigations into the α factors used for the cone penetration test (CPT) based calculation methods for the base and shaft capacity of driven piles have been carried out. These investigation, express different concerns and limitation of the currently used CPT based calculation methods. Prompting the need for...

Evaluation of sheet pile behavior based on Eemdijk monitoring data

From the 3500 kilometers of primary flood defenses in the Netherlands, a third does not comply with the current standards. As a result, over 700 kilometers will be strengthened in the upcoming years. Traditional strengthening of dikes consists of strengthening with soil and requires space that is often not available. Further strengthening of...

Compressed Air Tunneling: Exclusion of Groundwater

For the first time in the Netherlands, the construction method top-down cut-and-cover with compressed air will be applied as primary construction method for the construction of two tunnels in deltaic soil conditions. Nowadays a low degree and a short period of disturbance is more and highly valued when it comes to construction methods. Cut-and...