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CLIFFS launch meeting 26 October 2005, Holywell Park, Loughborough University BIOLOGICAL AND ENGINEERING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SLOPES (BIONICS) Stephanie Glendinning
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BIONICS Overview of project Information/research needs addressed Information/research needs identified
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BIONICS - BACKGROUND Earthworks slopes constitute major part of the infrastructure asset (£20B of a total £60B for highways alone) Failures cost significant £ (£50m for highway maintenance in 1988/9) Maintenance costs a fraction of emergency repairs (£emergency = 10 x maintenance)
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Climate change predicts: Hotter, drier summers shrinkage, cracking, loss of vegetation Followed by: More intense periods of rainfall swelling, infiltration, increased water pressure, erosion, (flooding)
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THE PROBLEM!
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STAKEHOLDERS & FUNDING 11 industrial partners, including –Network Rail –Railway Safety and Standards Board –Metronet Rail SSL (London Underground) –Highways Agency –British Waterways 6 Universities £1.1m project; £900k from EPSRC through BKCC
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Stakeholder Uncertainties and Information Needs Prediction, planning and preparation or What, when and how? Cost
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AIMS OF BIONICS 1.Establish a world-class facility for engineering and biological research 2.Improve basic understanding of the effects of climate on slopes 3.Improve modelling capability to examine long- term impacts
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ENGINEERING OVERVIEW Construct an embankment 90m long, 6m high, with climate control Simulate road and rail construction Monitor biological, hydrological and geotechnical conditions and their interaction Produce a database of performance data
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EMBANKMENT DESIGN 5m 29 m 2 1 6m Plastic lining into draining channel 0.5m topsoil
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RAINFALL SIMULATION
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MODELLING OVERVIEW Produce a hybrid computer model for design and prediction Validate against data from: –The embankment –Centrifuge models and –Real slopes Develop a methodology to identify at risk sections of the infrastructure
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INFORMATION/RESEARCH NEEDS ADDRESSED Test facility with known subsurface and history Climate control Up-to-date climate scenarios Modelling to look at long term, mechanisms, influence of soil type, construction method, age etc Cross-disciplinary academic collaboration Some Stakeholder-defined aims and deliverables
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INFORMATION/RESEARCH NEEDS IDENTIFIED Stakeholder: Lack of information about the networks (historical and current) Lack of higher-level engagement Insufficient resources Research: Need to incorporate more complex soil models Need to be less guarded with research – more collaboration required
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For more information……. www.ncl.ac.uk/bionics
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