Predictable subsoil for infrastructure
The challenge
You are no doubt familiar with them. Bumpy, potholed roads because the main body of the road has subsided in an irregular way. The soft subsurface in our country makes this a frequently recurring problem. If the differences in subsidence are so large that the comfort and safety of road users suffers, then whoever is responsible for managing the road must carry out maintenance work. Carrying out more frequent maintenance is not only more expensive, but soon leads to greater disruption on our intensively-used road network as well. The challenge for governments, designers and construction companies is therefore rapid construction of affordable and low-maintenance roads. To this end, these parties are working together with knowledge institutes in the Delft Cluster project ‘Roads that remain level’. The project is primarily focused on construction and widening of roads outside towns and cities.
The interest
This subject is of substantial interest for the entire sector, as was apparent during our well-attended first symposium ‘Residual subsidence requirements: achievable and affordable?’ There is a clear need for more substantiated requirements that fit in with design options and project location. Subsidence measurements must be used more widely to reduce uncertainty. And cost comparisons based on lifespan are needed to ensure a broad application of innovative low-subsidence methods. These conclusions are being used to give demand-driven direction to the project.
Products of knowledge
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What is it?
A great deal of residual material from the soil, roads, and hydraulic sector which has always been regarded as waste can in fact be satisfactorily used as a construction material. Recycling that is increasingly being laid down as government policy. Every year, some 10 million cubic metres of spoil is dredged in the Netherlands and is stored in large depots. At the same time, large quantities of primary building materials are extracted for use in the soil, roads and hydraulic sector. We are creating added value for the Netherlands by using dredged spoil as a construction material.
What can we use this for?
One application of dredged spoil as a construction material is the concept of the ‘Dredged Spoil Mattress’, an idea from Deltares and dredging company Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster. By adding a foaming agent, a stabiliser, and a catalyst, a sustainable and light-weight road structure can be achieved using contaminated dredged spoil as the base building material.
Who will be interested?
Road and rail industry.
More information
Joris.vanruijven@deltares.nl
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What is it?
The MSettle program incorporates an improved settlement model. This model offers the possibility to model loading and re-loading behaviour of the subsurface more accurately, and to elevate a soft subsurface in a controlled way.
What can we use this for?
Little is known about the loading and re-loading behaviour of soft soil. The improved settlement model can be used to predict the loading and re-loading behaviour more accurately. This reduces uncertainties in settlement forecasts, and gotechnical risks can be managed more effectively.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants and building contractors.
More information
marcel.visschedijk@deltares.nl
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What is it?
A two-day PAO course with background information.
What can we use this for?
• Learn to evaluate whether a piled-mattress system has added value in comparison with other systems. What are the limitations?
• Learn how to use the various design rules for construction of the mattress and the geotextiles.
• Learn which mechanisms determine the design, and which aspects must be given particular attention.
• Learn to design the piles in relation to NEN 6740 / 43.
• Learn to used the software tool MPiledRoad when designing the piles and mattress reinforcement.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants and building contractors.
More information
suzanne.vaneekelen@deltares.nl
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What is it?
These recommendations facilitate the integration of road building expertise and geotechnical aspects in the design of hardened surfaces.
What can we use this for?
We are able to integrate road building expertise and geotechnical aspects with road design. This integrated approach ensures optimisation of the road design throughout the life cycle.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants and building contractors.
More information
arjan.venmans@deltares.nl
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What is it?
A tool to rapidly balance road and road widening construction methods against the criteria of cost, construction, time, and hindrance.
What can we use this for?
MRoad makes the geotechnical risks transparent for principals via the translation into cost and construction time. For those carrying out the contract, MRoad is a design tool that enables feasible construction methods to be rapidly weighed against one another.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants, principals, and building contractors.
More information
arjan.venmans@deltares.nl
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What is it?
MStab is a tool to determine the stability of slopes using slope stabilisation (tensile elements with a grout envelope).
What can we use this for?
Slope stabilisation enables us to construct more rigid slopes more quickly. This reduces construction time, minimises the space required, and lessens the impact on the surroundings. We use this tool to design slope stabilisation in accordance with valid calculation methods.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants and building contractors.
More information
mario.weinberg@deltares.nl
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What is it?
The guideline provides a handhold on a risk-driven soil investigation plan, from the survey phase through to implementation.
What can we use this for?
By choosing the type and quantity of soil investigations in a risk-driven way, the soil investigation is put to optimum use and the risks are managed to a maximum. This guideline offers a sound basis for making correct choices.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants, principals, and building contractors.
More information
joris.vanruijven@deltares.nl
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What is it?
Longitudinal levelness is one of the most important comfort- and safety requirements for roads, and is mainly determined by the behaviour of the subsurface. This set of requirement provides a guideline for road design based on realistic levelness requirements
What can we use this for?
Using this set of requirements, the requirements for levelness can be realistically defined and the relationship between the subsurface and levelness requirements is guaranteed in the design. A PAO course ‘Lasting level roads’ is being prepared.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants, principals, and building contractors.
More information
arjan.venmans@deltares.nl
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What is it?
A tool to design piled-mattress systems in accordance with valid Dutch and international standards.
What can we use this for?
Low maintenance roads can quickly be constructed using piled-mattress systems. This design tool facilitates the design of piled-mattress systems in accordance with valid standards.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants and building contractors.
More information
suzanne.vaneekelen@deltares.nl
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What is it?
Level-crossing structures and points are the most maintenance-sensitive parts of the rail network. This assistance offers the possibility to make selective choices for low-maintenance level-crossing structures.
What can we use this for?
Making a focused choice for a level-crossing structure enables us to limit rail maintenance and to reduce hindrance for passengers.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants and building contractors.
More information
ad.verweij@deltares.nl
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What is it?
The guideline for piled-mattress systems is the Dutch design guideline for piled-mattress systems.
What can we use this for?
Low maintenance roads can quickly be constructed using piled-mattress systems. A guideline is now available for the Dutch situation, enabling piled-mattress systems to be designed safely.
Who will be interested?
Engineering consultants, principals, and building contractors.
More information
suzanne.vaneekelen@deltares.nl
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