2008 Peck Lecture: The Observational Method: Case History and Models
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VIEW THE ORIGINAL ARTICLEPublication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 10
Abstract
The observational method was used to design and construct an embankment over a deposit of soft sludge. The first part of the paper describes the case history of the project. The second part describes the use of analytical models as part of the observational method. The finite-element method and one-dimensional consolidation solution were used as prediction models. Bayesian updating was used to revise the material properties with observed performance. Advantages and limitations of updating are presented.
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Acknowledgments
The I-670 embankment was a project of the U.S. DOT, the Ohio DOT (ODOT), Franklin County, and the City of Columbus. The embankment was designed by STS Consultants (STS) and Gale-Tec Engineering (GTE). The latter also provided monitoring and evaluation during construction. Measurement and analysis of performance were done jointly by ODOT, STS, GTE, and Ohio State University (OSU). The work at OSU was partly supported by ODOT and U.S. DOT. The author thanks S. M. Gale, who provided important details on deliberations and decisions during design and construction; many former graduate students, particularly S. Z. Zhou and P. Narsavage, for their contributions to data collection and analysis; and W. F. Marcuson, P. J. Fox, and the journal reviewers for help and suggestions on the manuscript. The author is fortunate to have the late Ralph B. Peck as his teacher and mentor while a graduate student at the University of Illinois. For this stimulating experience, he is indeed grateful.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 10 • October 2011
Pages: 862 - 873
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 16, 2010
Accepted: Jan 11, 2011
Published online: Sep 15, 2011
Published in print: Oct 1, 2011
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