Danish Geotechnical Society Meeting

G t h i lM
Geotechnical
Monitoring
it i and
d th
the Ob
Observational
ti
lM
Method
th d
Copenhagen, 13-9-212

The Observational Method in Ground Engineering

g
g
- Recent UK Experience
By
y
Duncan Nicholson,
Di t A
Director,
Arup

Introduction
Background Peck 1969
Ciria Report 185 (1999) - Observational Method
OM Principles
Uncertaintyy
Design
- Predefined and OM
Design
g Codes
Rapid deterioration
Trigger
gg Criteria
Technical and Commercial Risk Management
Case Histories

History
y - Key
y dates
40 to 60s - Terzaghi and Peck
1969
- Pecks Rankine Lecture
Early 90
90s
s - Channel Tunnel, Limehouse Link
1994
1995
1996
1999
2001
2003

Geotechnique
G
t h i
Symposium
S
i
in
i Print
Pi t
EC7 OM Clause
ICE and HSE NATM publications
CIRIA OM Report No 185
Managing Geotechnical Risk
Ciria C580 Embedded Walls.

Peck ((1969)) Eight

g Ingredients
g
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

Sufficent SI to establish general nature /

properties
ti off deposits.
d
it
Assess Most Probable and Most Unfavourable
conditions.
diti
Establish Design based on Most probable.
Select Monitoring parameters and calculate
values.
Calculate values for most unfavourable conditions.
Select design Modification options.
Monitor and evaluate actual conditions.
Modify design to suit actual conditions.

Pecks
ec s O
OM applications
app cat o s
Best way
y out OM applications
pp
Cleveland Ore Terminal - soft clays stockpiles of iron ore
Cape Kennedy Causeway Hydraulic fill

Ab Initio OM applications
Harris Bank Chicago strut monitoring
Bay Transit Tunnels Volume loss

Pitfalls

Geology could be worse.

worse buried chanels
Monitoring
Exclude progressive failure and brittleness.
Reporting
p
g and interpreting
p
g Timely
y and robust
Design must vary during construction
Contract issues

Ciria Report 185 (1999)

CIRIA Report 185, (1999)

The Observational Method in ground
engineering:
principles and applications
D P Nicholson, C-M Tse, and C Penny
Ch2

Definition and History

Ch3
Concepts
Ch4
Technical Considerations
Ch5
Management Considerations
Ch6
Contractual Framework
Ch 7
7-9
9 Applications such as ::Tunnelling, Excavations, Embankments,
Environmental Geotechnics
Geotechnics, etc..
etc

CIRIA (1999) - OM Definition

The Observational Method in ground engineering is a

continuous, managed, integrated, process of design,

construction control, monitoring
g and review which enables
previously defined modifications to be incorporated during
or after construction as appropriate. All these aspects have to
b demonstrably
be
d
t bl robust.
b t The
Th objective
bj ti iis tto achieve
hi
greater
t
overall economy without compromising safety.
The Method can be adopted from the inception of a project or

later if benefits are identified. However, the Method should

not be used where there is insufficient time to implement
fully and safely complete the planned modification or
emergency plans.

The OM
Process
for Ab initio
approach

10

Concepts (Ch 3)
Uncertainty
Design

- Predefined and OM
Design Codes
Rapid deterioration
Trigger
Ti
C
Criteria
it i
Implementation of Modifications
Value Management
Talk based on Ab Initio application
Most
M t OM applies
li tto temporary
t
works
k

11

Uncertainty
U
ce ta ty in tthe
eG
Ground
ou d
Geological
eg- Complex geology and hydrogeology.
Parameter and modelling
eg- Undrained soil verses drained
drained.
Ground treatment
eg - Grouting, dewatering.
(Construction Uncertainty)
eg complex temporary work

Geological Uncertainty - Weathered Chalk

Driven piles - length variation

12

Parameter Uncertainty Undrained soil

Two props progressively modified to one

13

Ground Treatment
Uncertainty
Ground Water control
Philippines - dry dock
-Additional Well points
for drawdown

14

Construction Uncertainty - Cofferdam

D d i - dock
Dredging
d k silt
ilt and
d fill compaction
ti

15

16

C
Concepts
t (Ch 3)
Uncertainty
Design

- Product and Process

Design Codes
Rapid deterioration
Trigger Criteria
Implementation of Modifications
Value Management

The Design
g Product
The Design Product is:- Drawings, Calcs, Spec etc.
HSE CDM Regs (1994)

(Construction Design and Management)

D
Design
i
includes:
i l d
drawings,
d
i
design
d i
details,
d t il
specifications and BOQ
Address Buildability
Identify hazards
Assess
A
risks
i k Risk
Ri k register
i t

Design and construction links via:

via: Health and Safety Plan
Planning Supervisor

Stronger design and construction links

17

Predefined Design Process

Permanent works
One set of parameters
One
O design
d i / predictions
di ti
Outline of construction
method

18

The OM Process
Temporary works
Two sets of parameters
T
Two
designs
d i
and
d predictions
di ti
Integrated design and
construction methods

Contractors temp design

Methods relate to triggers

/method statement
Monitoring checks
predictions not exceeded

Comprehensive and robust

monitoring system
Review and modify process
contingency plan
improvement plan

Emergency plan

Emergency Plan

19

Design Codes - Comparison with

Pecks (1969) OM and Current Codes

Peck (1969)
OM conditions/values

UK Codes
CIRIA 580, BS 8110, BS 8002
Eurocode EC7

Most Probable
Not used

Not used
Mod conservative or
Characteristic

Most
M t
Unfavourable

Worst credible

20

Eurocode EC7 Cl 2.7

(1989 and1995)
Recognised prediction is difficult in Geotechnics

OM used
d in
i these
th
cases.

1) Establish limits of behaviour.

2) Acceptable probability actual behaviour within limits.
3) Monitoring plan, response times and contingencies.
4) Contingencies adopted if real outside acceptable
range.

1 iin 1000
1 iin 20

Most Pro
M
obable

moderately conserrvative

Charracteristic mate
erial prroperty
(used
d in structural engine
eering)

Mo
ost Unfa
avourab
ble

No
o of Re
eadings

21

UK Design Codes - Soil Strength Parameters

Soil Strength Parameter Results

1 iin 2

(Eg Undrained strength, SPT etc)

Ideal EC7 Predicted versus Measured

Performance

22

Predicted most
probable value

No
o. of read
dings

GREEN
"Ideal" distribution of
measured deflections

AMBER

Predicted EC7
Characteristic
Value (SLS)

RED

Most
U f
Unfavourable
bl
(ULS)
5%

Deflection ( )

23

Trigger Criteria
Traffic light conditions include:include:

Green

= Safe site condition.

Amber = Decision stage

Red

= Implement planned modifications

Emergency
(Not normally part of OM. Required under CHSW Reg (1996).
Relates to Ultimate Limit State.)

24

Trigger Criteria Example : Tunnelling

ULS
( adjacent
buildings &
project
structure )

Emergency Trigger

RE
ED

Without modification

SLS
( adjacent
buildings )

Discovery
AMBER
A

Red trigger

GREE
EN

M
Monitored
value
eg Tun
nnel Conv
vergence or Surfac
ce settlem
ment

Emergency
g
y plan
p
implementation

With planned modification

Amber trigger

Behaviour

Decision

Implementation

T d rate
Trend
t important
i
t t
Time

25

Multi stage
Construction

OM Limitation - Rapid Deterioration

...... the Method should not be used where there is insufficient
time to implement fully and safely complete the planned
modification or emergency plans..... (CIRIA, 1999)

D
Deterioration
i
i rate depends
d
d on:
- Ground conditions (ductile/brittle soil behaviour)
- Groundwater conditions (rainfall/burst water mains)
- Temporary
p
y surcharges
g
- Construction sequence and programme

26

27

Implementation of the OM
Co
Construction
st uct o Implementation
p e e tat o

Peck,
Peck (1969)
Starts with most probable ( MP )
conditions

CIRIA Report 185, (1999)

Starts with characteristic ( Moderately
Conservation) conditions.
Progressive Modification to Most Probable

Failure
characteristics
Mobilised
strength

Ductile behaviour

Significant displacement to mobilise peak

strength => possible warnings
e.g. Soft clays, Sands, Ash, Previous
failures (residual strength mobilised)
Cyclic loading creep
Also seasonal changes (wetting/drying)

OM applicable
Displacement

Brittle behaviour
Mobilised
strength

P k
Peak

Rapid, run-away failures

Low displacement to mobilise peak
g => Minimal warning
g
strength
e.g. Stiff clays
Residual

Displacement

28

Also high
high rainfall - slope flooding
flooding

OM not applicable?

Technical & Commercial

Risk Management

OM Technical Balance

29

Technical & Commercial

Risk Management

OM Commercial Project Risks

30

31

Contractual (Ch 6)
Types
yp of Contracts.
Contractual Difficulties using OM.
Contractual Risks.
Risks
Strategies.
Traditional Contracts
VE Clauses
Novation
Partnering

Design and Build

Strong Interface Manager.

32
52

T
Tunnels
l
(ch 7)
(ch.
Mainly
y NATM
Design and Planning
JLE NATM tunnels Post
Heathrow

LUL JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION CONTRACT 102

ARUP Balfour Beatty

50

Monitoring
Review process

ARUP Balfour Beatty

Excavations
(Ch 8)
Cuttings
Slopes
Soil Nails
Contingencies dewatering
Retaining walls
Cantilever
Multipropped
Contingencies:Berms and soft propping
p pp g

33

34

Other Applications (Ch 9)

Crack

Without compensation grouting,

excessive settlement leading to
cracking.
g

Ground

Treatment
Grouting
Dewatering
Deep compaction

Embankments
Soft clays

Acceptable level
of Settlement

Settlement without
compensation
grouting
GROUND TREATMENT
UNCERTAINTY -

Final grouting

Settlement Control
using Compensation Grout

Environmental
E i
t l
Containment
Clean up
p

Structures
Bridges and Dams
Tunnelling effects

Initial grouting

NATM
Tunnel
PARAMETER UNCERTAINTY
con ergence monitoring
convergence
lining pressure

GEOLOGICAL UNCERTAINTY
- tunnel face logged
ground
- variable g
scour holes

Compensation Grouting

Conclusions (Ch10)
The CIRIA Report has achieved the following objectives:

Established a definition of the OM Process.

Clarified Uncertainty and Risk Management.

Integrated OM into design codes and site control

procedures.

Provided technical, managerial and contractual

guidelines for the team.

Summarised applications/case histories.

35

36

Thank you for your Attention

Attention.