Basal-reinforced pile-supported embankments, dealing with risks and safety (co-authors: Duijnen, P. J. & Schweckendiek, T.).  

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Abstract

For the safe and cost-effective design and construction of geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS)embankments, four components are essential: (1) A well-validated design model that closely aligns withmeasurements (2) A model factor that transforms the results of this design model into ‘characteristic’values, ensuring that the results of the model are on the safe side in over 99.7% of the cases, (3) A set ofpartial factors, calibrated in such a way that the required safety level is achieved and (4) Experience andlessons learned. This lecture guides the reader along these four components. The lecture shows that theConcentric Arches model offers the closest match to measurements and explains the determination ofthe model factor and the set of partial factors. The lecture concludes with some examples of lessonslearned from cases involving failures or near-failures.

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Short curriculum

Suzanne van Eekelen is an adviser and researcher in geo-engineering.  She is expert in the field of geosynthetic reinforcement, in particular piled embankments. She also specializes in laboratory experiments and field monitoring. She received her MSc and PhD at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Suzanne won several awards, including the IGS Award of the International Geosynthetics Society for her research on geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS) embankments. Currently, she is involved in various consultancy and research projects, concerning retaining walls, industrial areas, various applications of geosynthetics and forensic engineering. Suzanne is chairing the Dutch Design Guideline working groups ‘Geosynthetic-reinforced Pile-supported Embankments’ and ‘Retaining walls of reinforced soil’.