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unanimous. It shows the generic potential of the geotechnical tools. A more close
inspection on the role of facilities was worked out for the four geotechnical field:
(1) transportation infrastructure, (2) foundation engineering, (3) hydro-geotechnics,
and (4) geo-ecology. From more than 200 geotechnical aspects, 22 specific aspects
were selected by ranking and the corresponding appropriateness of the various
experimental facility applications were evaluated by counting votes. Details are
given per geotechnical field in the previous tables.
From about 100 facilities in total 6 specific unique experimental model-facilities
and 1 for field data & monitoring were selected, relevant for further evaluation.
experimental
model-facilities
LET: large element tests; heterogeneous and coarse materials
DET: dedicated element tests; small strain, dynamic and cyclic properties
BIN: comprehensive and compact facilities for testing and calibrations
SHA: shaking tables for dynamic and earthquake research
CEN: centrifuge models; small- and large-capacity facilities
TES: test sites and portable in-situ labs
field data &
monitoring
MON: intelligent monitoring systems; extensive, on-line, and automatic,
related to projects or maintenance of structures
Each participant assigned per aspect not more than two facilities as most
appropriate. The result is shown in Matrix B. By multiplying the aspect priority,
given to the specific problem or innovation for each main field, with the number of
votes given to the selected facilities, a balanced weight is found to evaluate the
usefulness of the various facilities. For example, the results show that geo-
centrifuges are required mostly for investigation in the field of transportation
infrastructure for embankments, landslides and tunnelling, in foundation
engineering for deep foundation and coupled structure-foundation behaviour, in
hydro-geotechnics for underwater slopes, cyclic and dynamic interaction, and in
geo-ecology for stability of waste disposal, two phase flow and behaviour of
contaminated soils.
MATRIX B
SHA
BIN
LET
DET
CEN
TES
MON
main geotechnical field
experimental unique model-facilities
projects
transport infrastructure
0
4
12
12
17
25
30
foundation engineering
2
3
7
21
18
16
33
hydro-geotechnics
12
6
7
16
23
12
24
geo-ecology
1
8
12
7
14
23
35
total (facilities)
5%
7%
14%
20%
26%
28%
-
The general results are expressed in percentages per geotechnical field in Matrix
B. The bottom row shows the scientific score for the various experimental model-
facilities. Field data and monitoring are also involved during the construction
process and structural maintenance, and as such not quite a model-facility. In fact,
field monitoring focuses on the serviceability state (function), while modelling
commonly on ultimate limit state (failure). In general, about 1/3 of the geotechnical
effort should be devoted to field data collection and structure monitoring, and 2/3
to experimental modelling by unique facilities. A well-balanced geotechnical
laboratory should be equipped for test-sites (28%), centrifuge testing (26%),
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