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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

 

 

Dr. Robert M. Koerner

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:
Ling@civil.columbia.edu
Tel: 212-854-1203