On the interdependency between geotechnical and structural design.

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Abstract

The design of civil engineering structures increasingly takes into account the complex interaction between the structure and the ground. The dependence between structural design and geotechnical design is two-sided. On the one hand, a carefully tailored geotechnical solution, which uses, for example, better foundation techniques or advanced ground improvement methods, often make it possible to achieve significant benefits with regard to the structure, such as lower construction cost, shorter construction time, reduced CO² emissions or elimination of specific technical risks. On the other hand, design alternations made to the engineering structure can also open the way for the implementation of a new geotechnical solution, otherwise not feasible, that may lead to similar benefits. Although it can be expected that structural design will eventually be fully merged with geotechnical design, the separation of the two design scopes still prevails in current practice. Therefore, the key to exploiting the described opportunities to optimise structural and geotechnical solutions is an effective collaboration between the geotechnical and the structural designer. Examples of completed own projects are presented and discussed, illustrating the process of collaboration and arriving at the final combined solutions using advanced design tools, and the benefits achieved are indicated.

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Short Curriculum

Michał worked 40 years at the Technical University of Gdańsk in Poland, where he became full professor in 2004. In 1982-87 he worked as a research fellow at the Institute of Soil and Rock Mechanics in Karlsruhe. At the TU Gdańsk he was vice-Dean and Dean of The Faculty of Hydro-Engineering in 1990-96, and Head of Marine Civil Engineering Dpt. in 2002-2007. Michal joined Keller in 1996 and developed Keller Poland. In 2007- 2013 he was Business Unit manager for North-East Europe, and in 2013-2015 Director for Large Projects in Keller Holding GmbH. After retirement he is Senior Technical Adviser and Professor Emeritus. Michal is co-author of four books and author of >200 papers. He is professional engineer since 1989, designer and consultant of numerous major projects and member of TC211 Ground Improvement.