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2005 BURMISTER LECTURE
Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
Columbia University
New York City
Analysis and Design of Veneer Cover Soils
Emeritus Professor, Drexel University
Director, Geosynthetic Institute
October 13, 2005 (1:30-2:30 pm)
Room 825, Mudd Building
ABSTRACT: Cover soil sliding on slopes
underlain by geosynthetics is obviously an unacceptable situation and,
if the number of occurrences becomes excessive, can eventually reflect
poorly on the entire technology. Steeply sloped leachate
collection layers and final covers of landfills are situations where
incidents of such sliding have occurred. Paradoxically, the
analytic formulation of the situation is quite straightforward.
This paper presents an analysis of the common problem of a veneer of
cover soil (0.3 to 1.0 m thick) on a geosynthetic material at a given
slope angle and length. The paper then presents different
scenarios that create lower FS-values than the gravitational stresses
of the above situation, e.g., equipment loads, seepage forces and
seismic loads. As a counterpoint, different scenarios that create
higher FS-values also are presented, e.g., toe berms, tapered
thicknesses and veneer reinforcement. In this latter category, a
subdivision is made between intentional reinforcement (using geogrids
or high strength geotextiles) and nonintentional reinforcement (cases
where geosynthetics overlay a weak interface within a multilined
slope). A standard numeric example is used in each of the above
situations to illustrate the various influences on the resulting
FS-value. In many cases, design curves are also formulated.
Suggested minimum FS-values are presented for final closures of
landfills, waste piles, leach pads, etc., which are the situations
where veneer slides of this type are the most serious. Hopefully,
the paper will serve as a vehicle to bring a greater awareness to this
situation so as to avert such slides from occurring in the future.
Dr. Robert M. Koerner’s
(Emeritus Professor at Drexel University and Director of the Geosynthetic
Institute) interest in geosynthetics spans twenty-five years of teaching,
research and writing. It followed a twenty year period of geotechnical
teaching, research, and writing. He holds his Ph.D. in Geotechnical
Engineering from Duke University. He is a registered Professional
Engineer in Pennsylvania, an Honorary
Member of ASCE, and a member of the National Academy of
Engineering. Bob has authored and co-authored over 600 papers on
geosynthetics and geotechnical topics in journals and at national and
international conferences. His most widely used publication is the fifth
edition of the textbook entitled Designing with Geosynthetics.
check also the Koerner Symposium
Questions: Hoe I. Ling
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 212-854-1203