The sequence of strong earthquakes in Canterbury in 2010 to 2011, most notably the devastating Mw 6.2 earthquake on 22 February 2011, the source of which was located within Christchurch, resulted in 185 fatalities and extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. Liquefaction occurred on several occasions through the…
These guidelines for Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering Practice in New Zealand were originated by a working group of the New Zealand Geotechnical Society. The idea for the working group came from a panel discussion ‘Geotechnical Seismic Design Standards’ which took place during the NZGS Biennial Symposium ‘Earthquakes and Urban…
Presented by John Wood on 10th October 2021
ABSTRACT Design engineers often require rockfall protection structures that have relatively low impact energy resistance. Proprietary catch fences are available to the designer, but these can have capacities that greatly exceed the computed demand energy, and therefore may be overly expensive to construct. At a…
ABSTRACT NZS 1170.5:2004 provides a subsoil classification system of classes A to E, which are determined by specific criteria of soil or rock characteristics. The fundamental site period, T, is a key parameter in the classification system and is particularly useful in deciding between soil…
ABSTRACT Expansive soils are present across the wider Auckland region and in many other parts of New Zealand, where residential buildings are increasingly supported on shallow slabs and footings in clay-rich soils subject to shrinking and swelling behaviour. Currently NZS3604 provides first-line guidance on the…
ABSTRACT Case histories are provided for the response to three landslide events that significantly disrupted main road networks during 2017 in the lower North Island. A large rock fall event on 11 July 2017 blocked traffic into Wellington on State Highway 1 (SH1) in Ngauranga…
ABSTRACT Tensar uniaxial geogrids are molecularly oriented polymeric grid structures developed for tension resistant inclusions in soil walls and slopes. When stressed the geogrid must be capable of sustaining the load without rupture over the design life of the structure. The earliest use of high-density…
ABSTRACT During recent construction of an overpass bridge on soft ground, piled ground improvements were used to reduce the settlement of the bridge abutments and approach embankments. The piles were installed prior to construction of the approach embankments, under which significant consolidation settlement would occur…
ABSTRACT Inner city developments generally include deep basements that require perimeter retention to facilitate the excavation. Ground anchors are readily selected as part of the retention system due to their ability to be stressed and prevent structural movement. Ground anchors comprise steel components and often…
