Effect of cyclic wetting and drying on soil erodibility

Cyclic wetting and drying impact the integrity of cohesive clay materials in geotechnical engineering applications. Boom Clay, frequently used in erosion protective layers, presents a critical case study due to its widespread application and the environmental conditions it endures. This research delves into the effects of repeated wetting and...

Back analysis of deep excavation for the New Terneuzen Lock: An investigation conducted using a Python-Plaxis application and monitoring data from the field

The case study of the outer lock head of the New Terneuzen Lock is considered to investigate the behavior of the Boom Clay and to develop an automated method for improving the deformation predictions in a deep excavation format. The initiative to perform this study was the uncertainty in modeling the Boom Clay behavior during the design and the...

Sensitivity Analysis and Validation of Advanced Soil Model for OC Clays

<br/>This research has shed light on the capability of the HASP model in reproducing the dilatant behaviour of OC clays in drained and undrained conditions. The model is formulated by employing a combined hardening rule and uses the void ratio as a state variable while maintaining the simplicity of the MCC model. However, a sensitivity analysis...

Technical feasibility of a Dutch radioactive waste repository in Boom Clay: Geomechanical validation

OPERA-PU-TUD321d<br/>Radioactive substances and ionizing radiation are used in medicine, industry, agriculture, re- search, education and electricity production. This generates radioactive waste. In the Netherlands, this waste is collected, treated and stored by COVRA (Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval). After interim storage for a...

Technical feasibility of a Dutch radioactive waste repository in Boom Clay: Tunnel crossings

OPERA-PU-TUD321b<br/>Radioactive substances and ionizing radiation are used in medicine, industry, agriculture, re- search, education and electricity production. This generates radioactive waste. In the Neth- erlands, this waste is collected, treated and stored by COVRA (Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval). After interim storage for a...

Technical feasibility of a Dutch radioactive waste repository in Boom Clay: Thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour

OPERA-PU-TUD321c<br/>Radioactive substances and ionizing radiation are used in medicine, industry, agriculture, re- search, education and electricity production. This generates radioactive waste. In the Neth- erlands, this waste is collected, treated and stored by COVRA (Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval). After interim storage for a...

Technical feasibility of a Dutch radioactive waste repository in Boom Clay: Plugs and seals

Radioactive substances and ionizing radiation are used in medicine, industry, agriculture, re- search, education and electricity production. This generates radioactive waste. In the Neth- erlands, this waste is collected, treated and stored by COVRA (Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval). After interim storage for a period of at least 100...

A numerical and reliability-based investigation into the technical feasibility of a Dutch radioactive waste repository in Boom Clay

OPERA-PU-TUD311<br/>The Onderzoeks Programma Eindberging Radioactief Afval (OPERA) is the third national research programme for the geological disposal of radioactive waste in the Netherlands, operating during the period 2011 to 2016. This document is the final report of Work Package 3.1, where the principal technical feasibility of the current...

Geotechnical modelling of a deep tunnel excavation in the Boom Clay formation

In this study a deep tunnel excavation in the Boom Clay (BC) formation, in the context of constructing a repository for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste in the Netherlands, is investigated by means of numerical modelling. First the selection of a constitutive soil model, that captures adequately the known aspects of the...

Appraisal of stickiness of natural clays from laboratory tests

Excavation of clayey soils by mechanical tools is often hindered by the stickiness of the clay on metal parts. Hindrance may occur at the cutting tool itself, or during the subsequent transport of the soil through the excavation system. The effects of stickiness were also experienced in a recent tunnel boring project carried out in The...