GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEEING

The projects requires you to undertake the following tasks: 1. Review the results from a site investigation for a specific site and derive a Ground Model and geotechnical parameters for design. 2. Evaluate design options with a view to sustainability criteria bearing in mind the nature of the structure and prepare a Sustainability Assessment. 3. Design the geotechnical structure detailed in Section 3 below in compliance with Eurocode 7. 4. Apply relevant software tools for the analysis of the geotechnical structure detailed in Section 3 below. 5. Review and evaluate your calculations and design solution. 6. Present your calculations and design solution in a written report. 7. Prepare a Designers Risk Assessment You has been appointed to undertake a Category 2 check to validate the design of a steep excavation associated with the construction of the Tokomak Assembly and Preparation Building (TAPB) as part o the construction project International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Due to the phasing of the wider construction works the TAPB will be under construction at the same time that critical components are delivered to the site. The TAPB will be constructed with 2 levels of basement using a bottom up construction process. As a consequence the building shall be constructed within an 8m deep excavated pit. Due to the location of the pit the crest shall be adjacent to the haul road used for the delivery of critical components. It is required to ensure that the excavated slopes remain stable as the components are transported on the haul road. 3. Category 2 Check requirements The check you shall undertake is considered a Category 2 check whereby an independent analysis is undertaken with reference to the original design. The check shall incorporate the following elements: 1. Review of ground model relevant to the TAPB location 2. Derivation of geotechnical parameters for use in design 3. Review and estimation of applied surcharge loading 4. Design of soil nailed embankments 5. Comparison of design with proposed Contractor design 3 The Contractor’s design used the commercial software program TALREN (Version V5.05). The analysis undertaken in this design check uses the SNAP_2 program developed by the US Federal Highways Administration (FHWA). Project tasks (full details will be provided later) 6. Development of ground model and design parameters 7. Design of nailed slope 8. Use of software tools You have several options with regard to software tools. We are able to offer stability analyses with Oasys and PLAXIS 2D both of which are acceptable. However it is recommended that you download and install SNAP_2 (Soil Nail Analysis Program) developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). SNAP_2 evaluates maximum nail loading along the length of each nail based on applying the Coulomb active earth load uniformly at the back of the wall facing. The program uses the nail head strength determined from the facing analysis, the nail tendon strength entered by the user, the grout-ground pull-out strength entered by the user, and the factors of safety entered by the user to generate a nail support diagram for each nail (Figure 3). SNAP_2 then uses the nail support diagram for each nail in the global stability calculations.