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Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction

Decision-focused perspectives for owners, contractors and engineering teams.

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Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction

8 insights

Existing and deepened berth comparison showing quay wall response, dredge level and scour protection

Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction7 min read

Deepening a Berth Changes the Quay: Why Dredging, Stability and Scour Must Be Designed Together

Increasing berth depth for larger vessels can fundamentally change the behaviour of an existing quay. Lowering the seabed may reduce passive resistance, increase exposed wall height and alter structural demand, while the new design vessel may simultaneously increase propeller- and thruster-induced scour. Berth deepening should therefore be assessed as an integrated geotechnical, structural and hydraulic problem.

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Foundations for Industrial and Energy Facilities — settlement, vibration and soil-structure interaction

Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction8 min read

Foundations for Industrial and Energy Facilities: How Do You Control Settlement, Vibration and Soil–Structure Interaction?

Heavy industrial and energy facilities combine large static loads, vibration-sensitive equipment, variable ground conditions and tight alignment requirements. This article explains how settlement, dynamic response, soil–structure interaction, foundation selection and construction verification should be integrated into one geotechnical performance strategy.

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Exterior of a modern data centre facility, illustrating mission-critical infrastructure for a geotechnical article on foundations and settlement.

Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction8 min read

Data Centre Foundations: How Do You Control Settlement, Differential Movement and Construction Risk?

Data centres place demanding serviceability requirements on foundations, slabs and buried infrastructure. This article explains how settlement criteria, ground variability, foundation selection, ground improvement, construction control and monitoring should be integrated into a performance-based geotechnical strategy.

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Geotechnics Plus cover image showing multiple quay wall systems for ports, including blockwork gravity, caisson, anchored sheet pile, combi-wall, open piled berth and diaphragm or relieving platform systems.

Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction11 min read

Quay Wall Systems for Ports: How Do You Choose the Right Solution?

Ports can use fundamentally different quay and berth systems—from blockwork gravity walls and caissons to sheet piles, combi-walls, diaphragm walls, relieving platforms and open piled berths. This practical guide compares the main systems, where each fits best, and the ground, dredging, deformation, loading, seismic, constructability and whole-life factors that should drive selection.

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Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction10 min read

How Should Pile Foundations for Marine Terminals Be Designed for Ground, Water and Operational Loads?

Marine terminal piles must do more than carry axial load. A practical geotechnical framework for assessing lateral response, scour, dredging, downdrag, pile-group interaction, cyclic loading, seismic deformation and construction effects.

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Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction10 min read

What Controls the Performance of Quay Walls and Marine Structures?

What really controls the performance of quay walls and marine structures? A practical geotechnical framework for understanding dredging, surcharge, water levels, soil–structure interaction, anchors, scour, seismic effects and construction-stage risk.

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Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction9 min read

How Much Ground Movement Is Acceptable Near Existing Infrastructure?

How should allowable ground movement be established near buildings, utilities, tunnels, bridges and other existing infrastructure? A practical geotechnical framework for linking predicted and measured movement to asset tolerance, consequence and construction response.

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Geotechnics Plus soil-structure interaction cover showing building foundation, excavation support, ground conditions and groundwater.

Advanced Analysis & Modelling10 min read

When Does Soil–Structure Interaction Matter in Geotechnical Design?

Soil–structure interaction matters when foundation movement changes structural demand, structural stiffness changes ground response, or imposed ground deformation controls performance. This article explains when simplified springs are enough—and when more advanced coupling is justified.

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Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction

Foundations & Soil–Structure Interaction

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