Geotechnical Engineering and Dredging (WSE/HECEPD/10/e)

A basic knowledge of soil mechanics

• Present, process and apply geo engineering aspects of all different hydraulic engineering activities. Structure soil interaction, foundation methods. Present standard soil mechanical calculation methods.
• Learn about the use of sheet piling in quay wall design, learn to apply analytical end numerical methods used in designing a sheet pile.
• Know the technical and contractual aspects of geomarine investigations, be able to set up and organise a survey programme.
• Be familiar with the need of dredging, project phasing, soil investigation and production, survey systems, cost estimating and pricing, tender procedures and contracts.

Geo-Engineering A (J. Brinkman)
Earth retaining structures; gravity wall, analysis of sliding and overturning and allowable soil pressures; sheet pile wall, analytical and (Winkler) spring models, screwed anchors, grout anchors, anchor walls, struts, and anchor piles. Shallow foundations, calculations of bearing capacity under vertical and inclined loads according to Prandtl-Buisman’s and Meyerhof’s theory, settlement calculations, allowable deformations, mutual influencing of foundations. Deep foundations, overview of piling systems, determination of end bearing capacity and of positive and negative friction. Slope stability, according to Bishop’s theory including the effect of an earthquake load and groundwater flow.
Geo-Engineering B (J. Brinkman, W.F. Heins, H.M. Kruse)
General exercise with a cantilever wall, a sheet pile, a shallow- and a pile foundation and slope stability of an embankment. Detailed analysis is made on a specific topic.
The calculations are analytical and some numerical by use of the Delft Geosystems software.
Exercise Sheet Pile Design (J. Brinkman, W.F. Heins)
For the design of quay walls the knowledge of sheet piling gained in Geo-Engineering A and B is deepened and extended. Several mechanisms are dealt with in detail: piping, Kranz stability, heave, anchorage and special load cases. An overview of the different kind of quay walls and examples of repair and upgrade of existing structures is given and lessons learned are presented. In the assignment a quay wall is designed: sheet pile length, strength, deformation and anchorage. In the assignment, analytical and numerical methods (computer program MSHEET) are used.  
Marine Geotecnical Investigations (J. Mollé)
Characteristics of marine geotechnical investigations, geotechnical requirements, critical-path items, project planning, desk studies, existing sources, available geotechnical data, specification for engineering geophysics and/or ground investigation, geotechnical hazards identified by desk studies, marine engineering geophysics, positioning, side scan sonar technique, seismic reflection magnetometer survey, marine ground investigations, investigation techniques, working platforms, seabed in-situ testing techniques, downhole in-situ testing techniques, seabed and downhole sampling techniques, common pitfalls, integration into contracts.
Dredging Seminar (F.H. Cammel, various lecturers from IADC)
The seminar focuses on the need of dredging, project phasing, soil investigation and production, survey systems, cost estimating and pricing, tender procedures and contracts. The programme includes various workshops on identifying the need for dredging, preparation of a dredging and landfill project and preparing in competing groups a tender bid for a dredging contract as well as two field visits to the execution of a dredging and reclamation project and a yard of a dredging contractor (contractor’s logistics).

• Lubking, 2004. Soil mechanics – ln0174/04/
• Brinkman, 2006. Geo-Engineering 1 Earth Retaining Structures and Stability of Soil Mass – ln0190/06/
• Van der Veen, Brinkman 2005. Geo-engineering: Shallow foundations.
• Lubking P.: Sheet pile design - Lecture notes
• Lubking P.: Details of the design for cantilever wall, sheet pile and anchor wall - Hand outs
• Peuchen J.:  Marine Geotechnical Investigation, Lecture notes.
• Dredging Seminar Handbook, 2010, IADC

• H.J.M. Bijnsdorp, MSc
• Ir. J. Brinkman
• J. Peuchen