MSc Students 2006-2007
Curdin Cantieni
Rock Mass Behavior from GSI and Displacement Measurements
David Fossati
The Deep Seated Gravitational Slope Deformation of Landarenca (Graubünden, Switzerland): A Geological-Geotechnical Analysis
Christian Frei
Hydrogeology of the Aknes Rockslide, Norway
It has to be assumed that the stability and future evolution (eventually failure) of the Aknes rockslide in Western Norway is strongly influenced by pore pressures and groundwater flow within the unstable rock mass. The distribution of groundwater pressures and flow within a fractured crystalline rock mass is very heterogeneous and difficult to predict: Some fractures or channels within fault zones carry high groundwater fluxes, pore pressures can dramatically change across faults and the locations of the groundwater tables are affected by topography, geologic structure and unloading phenomena. In this project we want to contribute as much as possible to the understanding of these hydrogeological conditions of the Aknes rockslide. The project is based on several weeks of field work during the period of July to September 2007, and could include hydraulic borehole tests, tracer tests and hydrogeologic field mapping. Data analysis will be based on this new data set, geophysical and geological borehole logs carried out by ETH and NGU, and long term pore pressure and climate monitoring data supplied by partners. The data will be integrated within a numerical groundwater flow model.
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Marco Ghelfi
Hydrogeology of the Ursprung Spring, Kanton Nidwalden, Switzerland
Loggers for hydraulic pressure, water temperature, and specific electric conductivity will be installed at the points of emergence of spring water and at points of expected creek water infiltration. Student work could include the analysis of time series measurements. Eawag will analyze the water for environmental and noble-gas tracers. Student work could include the analysis of the tracer results. Eawag will complement the federal efforts of analyzing the chemical water composition with water from other springs and from the creeks. The student could get involved in the chemical analysis and interpretation of ground water. Bacteriological analyses will be performed by Eawag, using their flow-cytometer instrument. As the functioning of this instrument is managed by a postdoc, the student could get involved in the modern interpretation of bacteriological information of ground water that is used as drinking water. Thus some field work is included in the study, lab work is optional, and quantification of the resultant data is mandatory.
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Tobias Jörg
Failure Mechanisms and Predisposition Factors of the Medji Rockslide
This project is part of a large SNF project dealing with the development of slope instabilities in large fractured rock masses. The purpose of the thesis is to determine the failure mechanism(s) and predisposition factors responsible for the failure of the Medji rock slope in the Matter Valley. The work will involve a detailed analysis of the data collected before the final collapse of the slope (geological descriptions, displacement monitoring data, groundwater conditions, precursor events,…). The existing data will be supplemented by field investigations to collect information about the geometry of the failure surface, about the geological and geomechanical characteristics of the rock mass, etc… The analysis of the resulting dataset will then be used to develop hypotheses about the failure mechanisms and kinematics of the movements. These assumptions might be validated through a back-analysis of the failure using the discrete element code UDEC.
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Michael Schweizer
Groundwater Management at Weinfelden (Thur Valley, Switzerland)
Benjamin Sutter
Fracture Patterns and Fracture Genesis in the Grimsel Pass Area
In this project we would like to deepen our understanding on the properties and genesis of fractures in the Grimsel Pass area. The Grimsel Pass area is selected for various reasons, one being that this area is suitable for detailed surface mapping and offers the chance to combine data from surface mapping with observations made in underground excavations from KWO. Another reason for selecting this area is the occurrence of famous large unloading fractures that, that will be a key element of the entire fracture pattern. Mapping will include also bedrock (Aar Granite) fabrics and ductile fault zones.
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Reto Thöny
Hydrogeology of the Aknes Rockslide, Norway
It has to be assumed that the stability and future evolution (eventually failure) of the Aknes rockslide in Western Norway is strongly influenced by pore pressures and groundwater flow within the unstable rock mass. The distribution of groundwater pressures and flow within a fractured crystalline rock mass is very heterogeneous and difficult to predict: Some fractures or channels within fault zones carry high groundwater fluxes, pore pressures can dramatically change across faults and the locations of the groundwater tables are affected by topography, geologic structure and unloading phenomena. In this project we want to contribute as much as possible to the understanding of these hydrogeological conditions of the Aknes rockslide. The project is based on several weeks of field work during the period of July to September 2007, and could include hydraulic borehole tests, tracer tests and hydrogeologic field mapping. Data analysis will be based on this new data set, geophysical and geological borehole logs carried out by ETH and NGU, and long term pore pressure and climate monitoring data supplied by partners. The data will be integrated within a numerical groundwater flow model.
Download extended abstract: Download(PDF, 13 KB) (PDF, 13 KB)