Improved embedded beam with interaction surface (Poutre incorporée améliorée avec surface d’interaction)

Finite Element Analysis of serviceability limit states (SLS) and bearing capacity (ULS) of piled foundations involves the modelling piles in the soil, including pile-soil interaction. Embedded beams are an efficient way to model multiple piles for complex practical applications. Following initial work of Sadek & Shahrour (2004) on embedded...

Advanced Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical modelling features for practical applications in energy geotechnics (Sur la modélisation Thermo-Hydro-Mécanique avancée pour des applications en Géo-énergie)

Thermal and Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) analysis is at the core of a broad range of geotechnical engineering applications. In this context, an implicit fully coupled formulation has been implemented in the Finite Element software PLAXIS to perform robustly THM analyses. Advanced constitutive models can be easily defined and implemented with...

Comparison of new memory surface hardening models for prediction of high cyclic loading (Comparaison de nouveaux modèles de surface de mémoire à durcissement pour la prévision de fortes charges cycliques)

This paper presents an objective comparison between two recent constitutive models employing the concept of the hardening memory surface to predict the high cyclic loading behaviour of granular soils. The hardening memory surface is applied to the well-known Severn-Trent sand and the SANINSAND04 constitutive models. While the addition of the new...

A CFD approach for the flotation analysis of pipelines in liquefied sand (Une approche CFD pour l’étude de la flottation des pipelines dans les sables liquéfiés)

Submarine buried pipelines may often interact with shallow layers of loose sand that are particularly prone to liquefaction. When liquefaction is triggered by environmental loading and/or mechanical vibrations, the soil tends to behave as a viscous solid-fluid mixture and the pipeline to undergo either flotation or sinking. While a few...

Input of advanced geotechnical modelling to the design of offshore wind turbine foundations (Apport de la modélisation géotechnique avancée au dimensionnement de fondations d’éoliennes offshore)

The offshore wind sector is skyrocketing worldwide, with a clear trend towards wind farms installed in increasingly deep waters and harsh marine environments. This is posing significant engineering challenges, including those regarding the design of support structures and foundations for offshore wind turbines (OWTs). Substantial research...

Eemdijk full-scale field test programme: ground dike and sheet pile dike failure test (Programme d’essai terrain à taille réelle Eemdijk: essais de déformation et de rupture pour une digue standard en terre et une digue renforcée avec palplanchesitre)

Dikes in the Netherlands have traditionally been constructed with soil. Climate change and subsidence requires heightening and or reinforcing these existing dikes. Traditional reinforcements demand additional space, which in some cases conflicts with existing buildings. Applying sheet pile walls in dikes allows for strengthening while minimizing...

Eemdijk full-scale field test programme: sheet pile pullover tests (TProgramme d’essai terrain à taille réelle Eemdijk: essais de déformation et de rupture de murs palplanches)

Dikes in the Netherlands have traditionally been constructed with soil. Climate change and sub-sidence requires heightening and or reinforcing of these existing ground dikes. Traditional reinforcements de-mand additional space, which in some cases conflicts with existing buildings. Applying sheet pile walls in dikes allows for strengthening...

Developing correlations between the soil fines content and CPT results using neural networks

Knowledge of the fines content is necessary for all soil classification systems and an important factor in the evaluation of soil strength in liquefaction and seismic settlement analysis. This paper presents the application of cone penetration test, CPT data for estimating the soil fines content. The correlation can be used either as a first...

Understanding the natural consolidation of slurries using colloid science

Many projects (Marker Wadden, Kleirijperij) have recently been initiated in the Netherlands that involve the reuse of dredged material from silted channels. This dredged material is deposited in large ponds, and left to consolidate. When its dewatering and strength development is found to be adequate, the consolidate slurry is used as...

Impact of the Eemdijk full-scale test programme (Impact du programme d'essais à grande échelle Eemdijk)

Levees in the Netherlands have traditionally been constructed from soil. Climate change and land subsidence require heightening and/or reinforcing these existing levees. Traditional reinforcements demand additional space, which in some cases conflicts with existing buildings. Applying sheet pile walls in levees allows for strengthening while...