Risk Assessment of Riverbank Stability Subjected to Construction Induced Vibrations

The stability of riverbanks has always been a concern for land-use planners, stakeholders as well as the Cities around the world. Construction activities can generate different types of dynamic waves and vibrations. Operations such as blasting, pile driving, dynamic compaction of weak soils, and machines with impact loads such as forge and drop hammers are the primary sources of construction or industrially induced deleterious ground vibrations leading to compromising the integrity of the soil medium and consequently, the instability of the slopes.
The research will be concentrated on performing a numerical model based on the actual case-studies in Winnipeg city using the Finite Difference Method coupled with the Limit Equilibrium Method. The field monitoring data will be used to calibrate the numerical model. The numerical model can predict the substantial aspects of liquefaction, dynamic settlement, and predominant failure patterns. Using the state of the art approaches in the risk assessment and sensitivity analysis, a new vibration threshold based on the vulnerability of intact and reinforced riverbanks slopes will be introduced.

Faculty Supervisor:

Pooneh Maghoul

Student:

Iman Jabalameli

Partner:

Vibro Impact Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

Other

University:

University of Manitoba