Prognosis of Discrete Layer Boundaries for Synthetic Geological Models and Their Influence on Geotechnical Structures

Considering related subsoil uncertainties in geotechnical analysis is a key factor for robust and sustainable designs as the subsoil is the main load-bearing domain. Consequently, a holistic framework is proposed that integrates a conceptual geological model, stochastic stratigraphy simulations, and parametric Finite Element analyses to evaluate the geotechnical zone of influence as a metric to identify areas where the geological uncertainty significantly impacts geotechnical structures. In a synthetic case study, the methodology is demonstrated, highlighting that the propagation of geological uncertaintyto geotechnical analysis is nonuniform over the investigated domain. Additionally, the holistic framework enables the optimization of site investigations and allows for the assessment and improvement of geotechnical design robustness.