Geotechnical assessment of marginal soils for sustainable infrastructure

土木基础设施的可持续（成本效益、环境友好和社会可行）管理取决于对支撑土壤的工程特性的清晰了解。 **边缘土质材料（膨胀粘土和湿陷性淤泥）与不断变化的气象**条件的相互作用对不间断使用埋地公用设施提出了严峻的挑战。 TransGas Limited 提供**天然气（14,000 公里长的管道）以及分配**网络（69,000 公里的干线和 390,000 条单独服务）的系统完整性评估和服务。与埋地管道相关的主要问题是**可变的岩土管道故障率，范围从 40 次/年到 110 次/年。为了支持公司的**管理战略，这项合作研究的主要目标是了解和改善边缘土壤的**岩土工程行为。这是该公司首次参与对本土土壤沉积物的综合岩土工程评估。根据详细的研究计划**（使用实验室调查和数值模型），将开发一个科学框架来处理萨斯喀彻温省的膨胀性和塌陷性沉积物**。将使用**自然和压实条件下饱和和非饱和土力学的基本概念来研究土壤特性。**由此产生的创新技术（表征协议和计算预测）对于土木基础设施系统的设计、施工、运营和修复将至关重要**。 TransGas Limited 了解和改善当地边缘土壤的预期经济效益是最大限度地减少泄漏调查的数量并优先考虑网络内的脆弱区域。同样，由于减少管道破裂和气体泄漏而带来的环境**和安全效益将确保公众对天然气**分配系统的信心。研究结果对于公司正在进行和未来的管道**网络扩张至关重要。最后，预期的技术专业能力发展、高素质专业人员的招聘以及多学科互动对里贾纳大学来说是重要的好处

The sustainable (cost effective, environmentally friendly, and socially viable) management of civil**infrastructure depends on a clear understanding of the engineering properties of the supporting soils. The**interaction of marginal earthen materials (expansive clays and collapsible silts) with changing meteorological**conditions poses serious challenges to an uninterrupted use of buried utilities. TransGas Limited provides**natural gas (14,000 km long pipeline) as well as system integrity assessment and service for the distribution**network (69,000 km of mains and 390,000 individual services). The main issue associated with buried pipes is**the variable geotechnical pipe failure rate that ranges from 40/year to 110/year. In support of the company's**management strategy, the main objective of this collaborative research is to understand and improve the**geotechnical behavior of marginal soils. This is the first time that the company is participating in a**comprehensive geotechnical evaluation of indigenous soils deposits. Based on a detailed research program**(using laboratory investigation and numerical modeling), a scientific framework will be developed to work**with expansive and collapsible sediments in Saskatchewan. Soil properties will be investigated using**fundamental concepts of saturated and unsaturated soil mechanics under natural and compacted conditions.**The resulting innovative technology (characterization protocols and computational predictions) will be pivotal**for the design, construction, operation, and rehabilitation of civil infrastructure systems. The expected**economic benefits of understanding and improving local marginal soils for TransGas Limited are minimizing**the number of leak surveys and prioritizing vulnerable areas within the networks. Likewise, the environmental**and safety benefits due to reduced pipe ruptures and gas leaks will ensure public confidence in the natural gas**distribution system. The research results will be critical for the company for ongoing and future pipeline**network expansions. Finally, the expected capacity development in technical expertise, recruitment of highly**qualified professionals, and multi-disciplinary interactions are important benefits for the University of Regina