Technical Shortcomings Causing Geotechnical Failures: Report of Task Force 10, TC 302

Abstract

A selection of around 100 geotechnical failures, from Asia, South America and Europe, have been analysed to establish the primary shortcoming causing the failures. In broad terms, some half of the failures were caused by shortcomings in design, about a fifth were caused by inadequate site investigation, about a fifth were due to unforeseen phenomena and occurrences and about a seventh were caused by shortcomings in construction. In order to limit the future occurrence of such failures, the following is recommended:

• Carrying out a desk study on every project, which includes identifying an outline geological and geomechanical framework.

• Ensuring adequate funding is available for site investigation.

• Improving the education and training of engineers.

• Ensuring designs are completed by competent engineers who appreciate the limits of their own knowledge and experience.

• Ensuring that all designs are checked by a suitably qualified professional and preferably subject to an independent peer review.

• Ensuring appropriately qualified professionals manage engineering risk and monitor quality during construction.

• Ensuring construction methods are selected by appropriately qualified people who appreciate the limits of their own knowledge and experience.

• Carrying out independent peer reviews of chosen construction methods.

• Publishing and learning from case histories of past failures.

• Increasing investment in investigation, testing, instrumentation, monitoring and research.

Appendix

See Tables 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3.

Table 19.1 Task force 10: Technical shortcomings causing geotechnical failures (Region—Europe)

Table 19.2 Task force 10: Technical shortcomings causing geotechnical failures (Region—South America)

Table 19.3 Task force 10: Technical shortcomings causing geotechnical failures (Region—Asia)