Risk Assessment in Geotechnical Engineering

by Fenton, Gordon A.; Griffiths, D. V.

• ISBN13: 9780470178201
• ISBN10: 0470178205
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-09-02
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

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.

Author Biography

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.

Table of Contents

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

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.