On the design of bank revetments at inland waterways subjected to ship-induced water level drawdown: A probabilistic infinite slope analysis

To protect embankments along German inland waterways against local slope sliding failure caused by ship-induced water level drawdown, they are mainly secured by bank revetments. Often, large embankment sections are designed on the basis of a limited number of field and laboratory tests. Thus, uncertainties arise with regard to the mechanical and...

Comparison of 1D and 2D liquefaction assessment methods considering soil spatial variability

1D soil column techniques are widely used to evaluate the potential of liquefaction in a system of soil layers. This approach generally leads to large inaccuracies since (1) soil layers are hardly homogeneous and perfectly horizontal and (2) horizontal effects are neglected. To demonstrate the limitation of 1D strategies and the need for 2D...

Uncertainty Tracking and Geotechnical Reliability Updating Using Bayesian Networks

Bayesian networks are proposed as a tool to integrate reliability and influential variables relating to the slope stability of an idealized embankment. The site investigation (extent) and slope geometry, as well as the material properties and their spatial variability, are considered within a Bayesian network. The random finite element method ...

Modified Semi-Analytical Method for 3D Slope Reliability

An improved method for the reliability analysis of 3D slopes has been proposed based on the semi-analytical method of Vanmarcke (1977). Comparing the predicted responses of an idealised 3D slope obtained by the more general, albeit computationally intensive, random finite element method (RFEM), and the original semi-analytical method showed that...

Computing the Reliability of Shallow Foundations with Spatially Distributed Measurements

In many geotechnical projects, field data is used to determine the soil parameters. In most instances, however, the statistical analysis is performed ad hoc and the spatial distribution of this data is not (expclitly) accounted for. A more formal statistical approach allows to make better use of the data and combine it in a consistent manner...

System Failure Probability of c-φ Soil Slope Stability using Vertical Random Fields

The need for system failure probability, pf , of soil slope stability that takes into account the spatial variation of soil properties has been acknowledged by the geotechnical profession. The spatial variations of cohesion and friction angle for a c-ϕ soil slope were modeled by one dimensional vertical random field respectively. The cross...

Probabilistic Slope Stability Analysis using RFEM with Non-Stationary Random Fields

Using recently obtained deterministic results as a benchmark, probabilistic slope stability analyses have been performed on an undrained slope using the random finite element method (RFEM). Non-stationary random fields have been generated with linearly increasing mean undrained strength and a constant coefficient of variation. The influence of...

On reducing piping uncertainties: A Bayesian decision approach

Dikes and levees play a crucial role in flood protection in deltaic areas such as the Netherlands. Internal erosion piping or under-seepage is a major cause of levee failures and a main contributor to the probability of failure of river levees due to the large (mostly geotechnical) uncertainties. The present thesis investigates how geotechnical...

The Weakest Link: Spatial Variability in the Piping Failure Mechanism of Dikes

Piping is an important failure mechanism of flood defense structures. A dike fails due to piping when a head difference causes first the uplift of an inland blanket layer, and subsequently soil erosion due to a ground water flow. Spatial variability of subsoil parameters causes the probability of piping failure to increase, often to unacceptable...