Geotechnical Society

About this network

We cater for all those involved in:

• Geotechnical engineering
• Engineering geology
• Soil and rock mechanics
• Ground investigations
• The geosynthetics industry
• General civil engineering

We also provide our members with a professional and social network for learning and developing potential business opportunities. Members can network with their peers and with representatives from associated industry groups at events organised by the society.

We aim to support the continuing development of geotechnical engineering in Ireland by:

• Organising regular lectures
  
• Organising semi-regular conferences and seminars
• Creating a framework for communication and review of topics of interest
  
• Developing a Ground Investigation standard
• Supporting Eurocode 7 development
• Informing our members of national and international conferences

We have partnerships with local and international societies, including:

• The International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE)
• The International Association for Engineering Geology and the enviroment (IAEG)
• The British Geotechnical Association (BGA)
• The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS)
• The Northern Ireland Geotechnical Group (NIGG)
  

Who can join?

The Geotechnical Society network is of particular relevance to those working, studying or researching in the geotechnical or civil engineering sector.

However, membership is open to all members of Engineers Ireland.

How to join

If you are already a member of Engineers Ireland, you can join any number of Regions, Divisions and Societies in our Members Area

• Use our discussion forum
• Post comments on articles and blogs
• Join the Contacts Network to locate and send messages to other professionals

Events

All our events allow members to make contacts and network with their peers and industry representatives, and contribute to their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

We run 8 to 10 lectures each year, including annual joint lectures with the West Region and the International Association of Hydrogeologists, and occasional joint lectures with:

• The Geophysical Association of Ireland
• The Civil Division
• The Structures and Construction Division

The majority of our evening lectures are broadcast live as webcasts on Engineers TV or are available to download as recordings from the website.

We also run an annual papers competition for Young Geotechnical Engineers, and fund trips for the first and second prize-winners to either the European Young Geotechnical Engineers’ Conference or the International Young Geotechnical Engineers’ Conference.

Chairman

Sean MacEoin
Chartered Engineer
   Email:  sean.maceoin@aecom.com

Secretary & Liaison Committee Representative

Michael Lacy
Chartered Engineer
   Tel:  0502 82325
   Mob:  086 1733895
   Email: mlacy@blpge.com

PRO & Treasurer 

Michael Looby
   Tel:  01 6301590
   Mob:  087 2210604
   Email:  mlooby@blpge.ie

Vacuum consolidation in peat

Date:  9^th February 2012
Time:  6.00pm
Venue:  Engineers Ireland, 22 Clyde Road, Dublin 4
Admission:  Free.  All Welcome!

About the speakers: 
Dr Eric R Farrell, Chartered Engineer and Senior Geotechnical Consultant/Director of AGL Consulting and adjunct senior lecturer in Trinity College, 29years lecturer and researcher in Trinity College, with wide consultancy experience.
Dr Brendan O’Kelly, Chartered Engineer and Associate Professor in Trinity College with extensive research and practical experience in geotechnics 
Juan Pablo Osorio-Salas, former PhD student at Trinity College and currently lecturer at Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia.

About the event:
Vacuum consolidation is a ground improvement technique to induce settlement and increase shear strength by applying a vacuum pressure to the ground.  A pilot vacuum consolidation field trial, covering a 10x10m area, has been completed at Ballydermot bog, County Offaly, in order to study the behaviour of a peat deposit under vacuum consolidation.  The test area was heavily instrumented and the test was carried out over an eleven months period.  The project was part of a research project into the improvement and upgrade of rampart roads, which was sponsored under the NRA Research Fellowship Programme.

This presentation describes the principles of vacuum consolidation practice and the extent of its current application worldwide.  Details will be given of the construction and instrumentation of the field trial at the Ballydermot site and of the geotechnical properties of the peat and underling glacial till.  Experimental results of the field trial will be presented along with the practical aspects concerning the application of this technique for peat deposits.  The field response under vacuum consolidation will also be compared with that estimated by finite element modelling using laboratory-derived soil parameters.

Download event flyer

Can’t attend?  Watch it live!

Link:  https://engineersireland.webex.com/engineersireland/onstage/g.php?d=844580145&t=a

Password:  GeotechFeb9

Contact:  David Green, Geotechnical Society
E:  davidgreen@igsl.ie

More events for our members in the Geotechnical Society will be posted here as the programme develops - watch this space!

For a full listing of Engineers Ireland events, please visit the Events Calendar

Limerick Tunnel Approach Road

Date:  8th December 2011

Presented by:  Fintan Buggy, Roughan & O'Donovan (Dublin) and Eamon Curran, Lagan Construction (UK)

Synopsis
Limerick Tunnel PPP required 10km of dual carriageway plus two toll plazas to be constructed predominantly on embankments typically 3-8m high on deep soft alluvium soils in the tunnel approaches.  The soft alluvium comprises mainly organic silt/clay to depths of up to 13m, being underlain by deposits of glacial tills and/or limestone.  

The embankments employed a range of geotechnical solutions from full or partial excavation and replacement of soft alluvium soils to surcharged, multi-stage construction using prefabricated vertical drains and basal geosynthetic reinforcement.  Temporary surcharge fill heights and hold durations were designed to reduce long term creep settlement and the embankments were fully instrumented to monitor both stability and settlement performance.  Construction commenced in June 2006 and was successfully completed in July 2010.  

Earthworks required the importation of over 3 million m³ of fill and careful sequencing of temporary surcharge fill materials to achieve an efficient reuse of fill materials. A short 600m section of the road was constructed on a rock fill causeway built over Bunlicky Lake. Data on the performance of pore pressures, horizontal deformations and vertical settlements plus basal reinforcement strains are included in the paper.

Download paper

New Irish Geotechnical Standards and Selection of Characteristic Parameter Values

Date: 24th November, 2009

Presented by: Trevor L. L. Orr, Trinity College, Dublin

Content:

• New Irish Geotechnical Standards
• Background
• Existing British standards
• Eurocode 7 and new CEN standards
• Implementation of CEN standards as Irish Standards
• Effect on existing British standards
• Selection of Characteristic Parameter Values
• Eurocode 7 Design Process and geotechnical parameter values
• Definition of the characteristic value
• Selection of characteristic values

Download New Irish Geotechnical Standards and Selection of Characteristic Parameter Values (pdf)

Tunnelling and Geotechnics – New Horizons

Date: May, 2009

Presented by: Professor Robert Mair, Cambridge University

Content:

• Ground movement control
  • Advances in earth pressure balance  (EPB) tunnelling machine technology
  • Recent developments in compensation grouting
• Time-dependent ground movement and tunnel lining behaviour
• Effects of tunnelling on buried pipes
• Advances in fibre optic technology for field monitoring

Download Tunnelling and Geotechnics – New Horizons (PDF 6.08 mb)

Geo-engineering properties of municipal treatment plant sludges

Date: March, 2009

Presented by: Dr Brendan O’Kelly Chartered Engineer FIEI, Geotechnics Research Group, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin

Content:

• Background
• Test materials
• Index and physiochemical properties
• Compaction and air-drying
• Shear strength
• Compressibility
• Consolidation properties
• Design calculations
• Study of the effect of biodegradation on geo-engineering properties of sewage sludge
• Summary

Download Geo-engineering properties of municipal treatment plant sludges (PDF 2.08 MB)

Determining the Coefficient of Permeability for a Glacial Aquifer

Date: January, 2009

Presented by:

• Eric R Farrell, Trinity College, Dublin.
• Kathy Mac Carthy, formerly of Trinity College, Dublin

Content:

This paper discusses the reliability of ground investigation methods in predicting the dewatering requirements for a major excavation by using the Kildare Town Bypass as a case history. The permeability values estimated from PSDs, from variable head tests and from pumping tests carried out during the ground investigation are presented and compared with those interpreted from the measured groundwater response during the excavation.

The theoretical limitations in the methods used to derive these values are explored. The advantages of using various methods of designing dewatering systems are discussed, from simple flow models to time varying finite element
modelling of the aquifer using FEFLOW.

Download Determining The Coefficient Of Permeability For A Glacial Aquifer (PDF 2.11 MB)

Challenges facing geotechnical engineers in Ireland

Date: December, 2008

Presented by: Michael Creed, University College Cork

Content:

• Public procurement practices - are they fit for purpose
• Implementing Eurocode 7 - some personal views

Download Challenges facing geotechnical engineers in Ireland (183KB)

Design and construction of metro stations and underground structures to Eurocode 7 - with case histories

Date: November, 2008

Presented by: David Beadman, Byrne Looby Partners

Content:

• The Eurocodes and Eurocide 7
• Jubilee Line, London - North Greenwich Station
• Jubilee Line, London - Canary Wharf Station
• Copenhagen Metro - Eurocode 2
• Copenhagen Metro - Observational Method

Download Design & construction of metro stations & underground structures to Eurocode 7 (2.88MB)

Design and construction of a reinforced soil embankment on soft soil

Date: October, 2008

Presented by: Russell Jones, Golder Associates and Gareth Swift, University of Salford

Content:

• Background
• Site details
• Design philosophy
• Construction issues

Download Design and construction of a reinforced soil embankment on soft soil (8.05MB)

Engineering characterisation of the glaciofluvial gravels of Cork city

Date: January, 2008

Presented by: Michael Long, University College Dublin and Toby Roberts, WJ Groundwater Ltd

Content:
A review of the history and ground conditions in central Cork confirms that the area is underlain by a complex series of
alluvial and glaciofluvial deposits. From an engineering point of view the most important strata are the high permeability loose
to medium dense sands ands gravels. Although the nature of the material is similar across the area its density varies and this
may be related to the site history. Case histories are presented which show significant pumping effort is required to dewater
excavations. Settlements of adjacent buildings due to under-drainage of alluvial soils, overlying the gravels, are of significant
concern. Site experience suggests permeability may actually decrease appreciably with depth. This and the general variation of the deposits across the city warrant further study. More recent site investigation techniques such as cone penetration testing and geophysical methods may be useful in this regard.

Download Engineering characterisation of the glaciofluvial gravels of Cork city (2.19MB)

Deep excavations in Dublin - recent developments

Date: December, 2007

Presented by: Michael Looby, Byrne Looby Partners and Dr. Mike Long, University College Dublin

Content:

A number of Deep Excavations up to 23m in depth have recently been completed in Dublin. Different approaches including propped and unpropped, Secant and Contiguous Pile Wall Solutions have been employed on various projects. The paper updates a database for propped and cantilevered wall supported excavations in Glacial Tills. A comment and interpretation of recorded wall movement versus retained heights and wall stiffness is provided. Modelled predications are also discussed. A number of case histories of deep basement excavations including Spencer Dock in the Docklands, 14m excavation at Westgate (Heuston Square) and other projects are presented and discussed.

Download Deep Excavations in Dublin - Recent Developments (5.17MB)

What is failure and why do failures occur?

Date: June, 2006

Presented by: John Atkinson, City Universsity, London

Download What is failure and why do failures occur?(PDF4.89MB)

Ground improvement using the vibro-stone column technique

Date: March, 2007

Presenters:

• Bryan A. McCabe, Department of Civil Engineering, NUIG
• James A. McNeill, Keller Ground Engineering, Belfast
• Jonathan A. Black, School of Engineering, University of Plymouth

Content:

The Vibro Stone Column technique is one of the most widely-used ground improvement processes in the world, although its potential for improving Irish sites has yet to be fully exploited. Historically the system has been used to densify loose granular soils, but over the past 35 years, the system has been used increasingly to reinforce soft cohesive soils and mixed fills. This paper describes the technique, applicable soil types, settlement and bearing capacity calculations, recent research areas and an Irish case study.

Download Ground improvement using the vibro-stone column technique (641 KB)

Remediation of the former gasworks site at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin

Date: January, 2006

Presented by: Tony Brown and John Crowther, Mouchel Parkman

Content:

• Site characterisation
• Quantified risk assessments and remediation strategy
• A novel contractor-designed hybrid perimeter cut-off retaining wall
• Accomodation of a large existing preserved chimney
• Waster management licences:applications, management and surrender
• Use of remediation technologies including gravel jet washing, thermal treatment and soil washing
• On site water treatment
• Odour control and air quality monitoring
• Site records and validation

Download Remediation of the former gasworks site at Sir John Rogerson Quay (PDF 521KB)

Development of shaft friction on driven piles in sand and clay

Date: October, 2005

Presented by: Kenneth Gavin and David Gallagher, School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering, University College Dublin

 Download Development of shaft friction on driven piles in sand and clay (PDF 277K)

Kildare town bypass design and construction

Date: November, 2004

Presented by: John Coppinger, Kildare County Council and Eric Farrell, Trinity College, Dublin

Content:
The 13.2 km long Kildare Town Bypass generated considerable public interest during its design arising from the possible impact of dewatering for a cut section on the internationally significant Pollardstown Fen which was about 5km from the proposed route. Apart from this aspect, the Bypass also included several major cuts, a 3.2km embankment section that crossed the Monasterevin bog and major drainage works. This paper discusses the design and construction aspects of the project and describes the innovative engineering concepts that were developed to overcome environmental and engineering challenges.

Download Kildare Town Bypass - Design and Construction (739KB)

Implications of Eurocode 7 for Geotechnical Design in Ireland

Date: November, 2002

Presented by: Trevor L.L. Orr, Trinity College Dublin

Content:

The objective of this paper is to assess the implications of introducing Eurocode 7: Part 1 for geotechnical design in Ireland. The paper examines the main features of Eurocode 7, including the limit state design philosophy and the three Design Approaches with different sets of partial factors. In order to illustrate the effects of the using the different Design Approaches, three examples, consisting of a spread foundation, a pile foundation and a retaining wall, are presented. This paper also
examines the information that will need to be provided in the Irish National Annex, such as which Design Approach or Approaches are to be used and the values of
the partial factors, in order to introduce Eurocode 7 in Ireland.

Download Implications of Eurocode 7 for Geotechnical Design in Ireland(PDF236KB)

Soils of Dublin

Date: October, 1990

Presented by: Eric Farrell, Senior Lecturer, Trinity College Dublin and Denis Wall, Senior Structural Engineer, Dublin Corporation

Content:
This paper discusses the distribution of the different soil and rock types that occur on the Dublin City area and their geotechnical properties, principally in regards to foundation design and construction.

Download Soils of Dublin (2.54MB)