Considering the uncertainty and complexity of the influencing factors, the present study focused on the multi-level and multi-index evaluation system for analyzing rock slope stability. Quantitative ...analysis of the influence degree of the evaluation index on the rock slope stability was carried out by extension theory. The most significant factors affecting rock slope stability and the corresponding evaluation index were obtained. Further, the study presents a concept about the instability characterization coefficient of the key block, which is an important factor controlling slope stability. With this coefficient implemented into the search module of key blocks in the program Geotechnical Structure and Model Analysis-3D (GeoSMA-3D), developed by the corresponding author’s team, a further determination and visualization of key blocks were achieved. However, in many previous studies, there was no good correlation between the theoretical key blocks and the actual rock slope engineering, which led to derailment between theoretical analysis and practical engineering. Hence, this paper proposed the characterization safety factor of rock slope stability that combined the instability characterization coefficient with the weight of key blocks. The influence degree of each key block on rock slope stability was determined by the size of the instability characterization coefficient of key blocks. The weight of each key block on the slope stability was determined by combining this coefficient with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The key block information was applied to characterize the rock slope stability. The present study proposed a convenient and feasible evaluation method regarding rock slope stability. For the specific rock slope engineering, the significance of each evaluation index was determined and the most significant index was obtained. The determination and visualization of key blocks and the judgment of the slope stability were investigated, which verified the applicability and feasibility of this evaluation method.
This study aims to address how efforts spent in geotechnical site investigation can link to the final design dimensions of a geotechnical structure. An example of pad foundation design supported by ...boulder clay (developed by European Technical Committee 10) is used as a demonstration. Three aspects of geotechnical information are addressed: variety of in-situ and laboratory tests, precision of the tests, and local experiences in soil properties that permit reduction of transformation uncertainties between test indices and design parameters. Three design methods (allowable stress design ASD, partial-factor design PFD, and reliability-based design RBD) are considered. Among these methods, RBD is found to be most responsive to the availability of geotechnical information, whether in the form of site investigation efforts and/or local experiences. It is accurate to say that RBD can fill a critical gap in current geotechnical design practice, namely to monetize the value of geotechnical information in the form of increase/reduction of construction costs associated with changes in the design dimensions.
Traditionally, the maintenance and management of road geotechnical structures have been based predominantly on measures taken after regular inspections, a process called “post-maintenance”. However, ...there are growing efforts to reduce life cycle costs (LCC) by considering the preventive conservation of public structures. However, the deformation and degradation mechanisms of earthen structures are not fully understood, and no clear methodology for maintaining and managing them over time has been established. In this study, we propose a new approach and specific practical methods for preventive conservation of road geotechnical structures. Specifically, by considering practicality in actual operations, we propose the enhancement of regular inspections, optimization of LCC, and degradation prediction methods. Furthermore, we propose methods for evaluating the effectiveness of maintenance (life-extension measures), considering different environmental conditions, and the longevity (life prolongation) of structures through improved component performance.
The Railway Technical Research Institute has been researching a variety of technologies related to railway structures. These include technologies for maintenance (inspection, diagnosis, prediction, ...repair, renewal), earthquake countermeasures, construction and environmental impact assessment. This review gives some overview of recent research and development trends in maintenance and construction technologies for "geotechnical structures" (earth retaining walls, soil structures and tunnels) conducted at the Railway Technical Research Institute.
With the increased global interest in greenhouse gas reduction, many countries around the world have been making a range of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Ministry of Environment ...suggested a goal of 37% reduction relative to the expected greenhouse gas ‘business as usual’ (BAU) for all industries; thus, greenhouse gas reduction in the construction industry is also inevitable. To reduce greenhouse gas, the effects of a construction project on the environment need to be minimized, and an integrated evaluation that involves various kinds of environmental pollution (e.g., resource usage, water, air, and soil) as well as greenhouse gas is required. Therefore, in this study, for a reasonable and objectively valid evaluation of the environment-friendliness of a tunnel facility (a geotechnical structure), a life cycle assessment was performed based on existing cases following the ISO 14040 series standard. The purpose of this study is to suggest an environmental load evaluation technique that statistically analyzes the effects of work processes, input materials, and energy sources during tunnel work by suggesting the estimation equation for 8 impact categories that affect environmental load.
This chapter describes the analysation of the system behaviour in situ and if possible, in real time, under consideration of all interactions between ground and construction process. It includes the ...behaviour of the system resulting from the ground and tunnelling process. The new versions of ÖNORM EN 1997‐1 (Eurocode 7) 226 and DIN 1054 74 prescribe the observation method for complex geotechnical structures. The chapter describes the partial processes of the shield tunnelling machine and their interaction for the example of an earth pressure balance shield. It describes data management, which is the most important element of a process controlling system and includes the entire reporting and all essential indicators for design and construction. The chapter deals with target‐actual comparison considering all significant process‐related and geotechnical parameters. The computer‐based results are compared with the design specification, and made available to the responsible geotechnical specialists in evaluated and visualised form.
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