Geotechnical Surprises—Or Are They? 1: The 2004 H. Bolton Seed Lecture
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 8
Abstract
The nature and scope of geotechnical engineering are such that the problems and projects we deal with are a never ending source of both challenge and excitement. In most cases we do very well in defining the problems and developing suitable solutions resulting in successful completed projects. Unfortunately, however, there remain far too many cases in which something goes wrong. Often a failure or other bad outcome comes as a complete surprise. However, in a significant number of cases perhaps the unexpected or surprise outcome might have been anticipated. Three illustrative case histories are reviewed and then examined to see if what went wrong might reasonably have been anticipated. The first involves a well-known and much studied stability failure along the composite double liner system of a hazardous waste landfill. The second is concerned with unusual soil types that were the cause of major difficulties during earthwork construction of a large embankment dam. The third is about a very large, slow-moving landslide that caused major distress to a roadway and impacted the safety of a large bridge. Several reasons why unexpected adverse outcomes may occur are stated and some possible means for reducing their frequency and severity in the future are proposed.
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Acknowledgments
This paper is the written version of the 2004 H. Bolton Seed Lecture Award, presented by the writer at the February 2006 ASCE Geo Institute GeoCongress in Atlanta. The original motivation for the work formed the basis for Failed Expectations, the 1989 Woodward Lecture, presented by the writer at the Silver Anniversary Symposium of the Professional Development Program of Woodward-Clyde Consultants (now a part of URS, Inc.). The writer is indebted to Professor Vern Schaefer, Iowa State University, for providing updated information on the stabilization work and its effectiveness at the Forest City Bridge.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 8 • August 2009
Pages: 998 - 1010
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 3, 2008
Accepted: Jul 18, 2008
Published online: Jul 15, 2009
Published in print: Aug 2009
Notes
Presented at the ASCE Geo Institute Geo Congress, February 2006, Atlanta, Ga.
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