Forensic examination of critical special geotechnical measures

Mike G Winter1, Ian M Nettleton2, Michelle Duffy-Turner3, Gillian Butler4, Philip Liew5

The Highways England Strategic Road Network (SRN) relies upon a wide range of Special Geotechnical
Measures (SGMs) to strengthen or enhance the natural geological materials or engineering materials derived
from them to form earthworks. There are currently almost 100 SGM techniques, and the design, specification
and application of many of these techniques is based on limited studies. Many of these techniques have been
in service for periods approaching their predicted design lives (typically 60 years) and it is considered timely
to validate the predicted long-term performance of these SGMs.

res over and above general earthworks construction required to; mitigate
geotechnical risk associated with ground related hazards or remediate geotechnical defects that may have
resulted from the presence of geo-hazards. Similar techniques implemented to facilitate widening or other

Planned SRN major projects and operational renewals present a significant and innovative opportunity to
undertake forensic examination, including exhumation of elements, to determine the validity of the existing
design, specification and application guidance. This presents a unique opportunity to determine their in-service
performance against that predicted and relied upon in terms of design life. A number of cases, both on and off
the SRN, have come to light where the selection, design, specification orapplication of some SGMs have had
issues that affect their performance and designlife.

s of resilience, reliability, redundancy and recovery it is essential

that SGMs are themselves reliable in terms of performance and life; resilient to external conditions such as
earthworks deterioration and extraordinary conditions (e.g. climate change).This phase of the project will:

Identify SGMs on which the SRN is/or has the potential to become critically reliant in the following
categories: extent of application; criticality of location; insufficient guidance / understanding in the
industry; and emerging techniques.
Assess for these categories where forensic checks/challenges would be warranted in future project
phases, to compare design with the performance that is achieved for prioritised SGMs.
Evaluate the adequacy of design, specification and construction guidance available.
Develop a system to prioritise the selected SGMs for further investigation and assessment as
opportunities arise for forensic exhumation and examination.
nt to Highways England Geotechnical

Motorway Projects and Complex Infrastructure Projects. This was corroborated using SGM statistics produced
from a project delivered by Atkins on Geotechnical Asset Performance Whole Life Assessment. Other asset
owners including Network Rail and transport Scotland were also consulted. The survey specifically sought
information on SGMs that were viewed to be problematic and could be evidenced as such.
This list was the subject of discussion with Highways England and was reduced to the following SGMs that
are considered to be of paramount importance:

Counterfort drains.
Soil Nails.
Gabion and Block Walls.
Geogrids and Metallic Reinforcement.
Regrades.
Geogrids and Metallic Reinforcement as components of reinforced earth were not rated as being problematic
based on the questionnaire results; however, these two SGMs have been highlighted by Highways England
as being of particular concern to the network by the Geotechnical Advisors and therefore they have been
included as SGMs to consider for further consideration.

Regrades were highlighted in the questionnaire results as being of interest, making up 15% of the 52 examples
of SGM given; however, these had not been flagged as a major problem within work on whole life cost and
they are not perceived to be an issue internally within Highway England. Discussions with Highways England
are ongoing as to whether this SGM should also be included.

This first phase of the project is due to report by the end of 2019/20 and subsequent phases will be targeted
at the exhumation and examination of the pre-selected SGMs to determine the Technology Readiness Level
(TRL), to assess whether reliance on particular SGMs is justified and to attempt to validate (or otherwise)
design assumptions.

It is anticipated that outcomes could follow a wide range of possibilities including that some SGMs have the
potential to maintain or transition towards DMRB/MCHW status; others may need further work in terms of the
development of specification and/or design guidance before that transition becomes a possibility. Other SGMs
may need to have that status further reviewed, including those that have limited to no potential for future use
on the SRN (e.g. for technical, environmental, safety reasons), and/or existing applications may need to be
reviewed with a view as to their longer-term suitability. In the latter case, advice will be provided on the potential
need for decommissioning of SGMs, the performance of which has been found to be inadequate relative to
the assumptions made at the design stage.

The work will enable Highways England to appropriately employ (or otherwise) the selected SGMs on the SRN
and to assess the future budget requirements for upgrading or replacing SGMs nearing their end of life. The
work will help innovation, aligning with Highways England KPIs and will alsobenefit external stakeholders.