Risk Assessment in Geotechnical Engineering

The increasing sophistication of buildings and bridges demand new analytical techniques. Reliability-based design is a well established technique in the structural and mechanical engineering communities that is now gaining momentum among geotechnical engineers. This book introduces an innovative reliability-based method for risk assessment in geotechnical engineering that allows engineers to create a better model for analyzing the properties and possible failure of a slope, mine shaft, foundation, embankment, or surface soil. By better modeling the spatially variable nature of soil and rock in the real world, the method presents a more accurate simulation which leads to safer designs. The book offers nine examples of the method in practice, utilizing the included software to demonstrate its use in the evaluation and design stages.

Gordon A. Fenton, PhD, PEng, is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Mathematics at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a core member and past chair of the American Society of Civil Engineers Geo-Institute Risk Assessment and Management Committee. He is also a core member, past acting chair, and secretary of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Risk Assessment and Management Committee. Finally, he serves on the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code Foundations Committee and is currently developing reliability-based geotechnical design provisions for the next edition of that code.

D. V. Griffiths, PhD, DSc, PE, is Professor of Civil Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He is a Fellow and Governor of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of the British Institution of Civil Engineers. He is the coauthor (with I.M. Smith) of two successful texts, Programming the Finite Element Method, Fourth Edition (Wiley) and Numerical Methods for Engineers, Second Edition.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Theory
Review of Probability Theory
Introduction
Basic Set Theory
Probability
Conditional Probability
Random Variables and Probability Distributions
Measures of Central Tendency, Variability, and Association
Linear Combinations of Random Variables
Functions of Random Variables
Common Discrete Probability Distributions
Common Continuous Probability Distributions
Extreme-Value Distributions
Discrete random Processes
Introduction
Discrete-Time, Discrete-State Markov Chains
Continuous-Time Markov Chains
Queueing Models
Random Fields
Introduction
Covariance Function
Spectral Density Function
Variance Function
Correlation Length
Some Common Models
Random Fields in Higher Dimensions
Best Estimates, Excursions, and Averages
Best Linear Unbiased Estimation
Threshold Excursions in One Dimension
Threshold Excursions in Two Dimensions
Averages
Estimation
Introduction
Choosing a Distribution
Estimation in Presence of Correlation
Advanced Estimation Techniques
Simulation
Introduction
Random-Number Generators
Generating Nonuniform Random Variables
Generating Random Fields
Conditional Simulation of Random Fields
Monte carlo Simulation
Reliability-Based Design
Acceptable Risk
Assessing Risk
Background to Design Methodologies
Load and Resistance Factor Design
Going Beyond Calibration
Risk-Based Decision making
Practice
Groundwater Modeling
Introduction
Finite-Element Model
One-Dimensional Flow
Simple Two-Dimensional Flow
Two-Dimensional Flow Beneath Water-Retaining Structures
Three-Dimensional Flow
Three Dimensional Exit Gradient Analysis
Flow Through Earth Dams
Statistics of Flow Through Earth Dams
Extreme Hydraulic Gradient Statistics
Settlement of Shallow Foundations
Introduction
Two-Dimensional Probabilistic Foundation Settlement
Three-Dimensional Probabilistic Foundation Settlement
Strip Footing Risk Assessment
Resistance Factors for Shallow-Foundation Settlement Design
Bearing Capacity
Strip Footings on c-ø Soils
Load and Resistance Factor Design of Shallow Foundations
Summary
Deep Foundations
Introduction
Random Finite-Element Method
Monte Carlo Estimation of Pile Capacity
Summary
Slope Stability
Introduction
Probabilistic Slope Stability Analysis
Slope Stability Reliability Model
Earth Pressure
Introduction
Passive Earth Pressures
Active Earth Pressures: Retaining Wall Reliability
Mine Pillar Capacity
Introduction
Literature
Parametric Studies
Probabilistic Interpretation
Summary
Liquefaction
Introduction
Model Size: Soil Liquefaction
Monte Carlo Analysis and Results
Summary
Appendixes
Probability Tables
Normal Distribution
Inverse Student t-Distribution
Inverse Chi-Square Distribution
Numerical Integra
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Risk Assessment in Geotechnical Engineering

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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