The evolving role of materials in geotechnical infrastructure systems

AbstractAs increasing operational demands are placed on geotechnical infrastructure systems, the need to achieve higher performance levels in the face of unprecedented engineering challenges continues to evolve. These new demands are due to the desire to increase maintenance intervals, the need to develop and adopt more sustainable materials and the need for increased hazard resilience. Many of these emerging demands are the result of climate change and other unprecedented associated natural phenomena. To address these challenges, materials are emerging at the core of some of the most innovative science and engineering developments. This paper presents several examples such as the development of multifunctional geosynthetic materials. The manner in which insights gleaned through the use of microscale experimental and numerical simulation tools, in conjunction with techniques such as 3D printing, can provide a robust basis for performance evaluation and prediction. The importance of innovating at field-sca...