Bernadette G.H.M. Wichman
Dr. Bernadette Wichman is an expert and a leader of research projects in the field of geo-engineering and the engineering of water defences. She also gives practical advises that are related to this research. She has gained a broad experience as well as a profound understanding on topics as: consolidation of soft soil (PhD topic was the consolidation of gaseous dredged material in large scale disposal sites), modelling of groundwater flow, stability of dike revetments and ecological friendly dike design methods.
Bernadette started her carrier in applied physics and carried out a successful research on laser spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy (nano-technology), that resulted in several research papers.
Currently, she is involved as an expert in large dike strengthening projects and monitoring, for dikes as the Afsluitdijk, Houtribdijk (both in the Dutch IJssellake region), Grebbedijk (at the river Rhine near Wageningen). She has collaborated with ecologists and hydraulic engineers on the design of
an ecological friendly dike concept (using soft materials and vegetation), which is under consideration in the project “strengthening of the western Markermeerdijk”.
She also carries out a large research program on asphaltic dike revetments, see https://www.deltares.nl/en/projects/sound-management-and-maintenance-for-older-asphalt-revetments/. Part of this research is a series of scaled wave attack experiments and numerical modelling.
Several years before, she was the leader of an innovative project: underheightening of road bodies, i.e. lifting the pavement by injecting light weight suspension under the road construction.
She was successful as a teacher at University (Master courses and Bachelor courses) and course leader. She has collaborated with several Universities, such as the University of Delft, Oxford University, University of Karlsruhe, Polish Academy of Sciences and the VU University in Amsterdam.
Working experience
| 2008-present | Deltares | Senior advisor/researcher |
| 1998-2008 | Rijkswaterstaat | Projectleader / advisor |
| 1991-1998 | Rijkswaterstaat | Researcher / projectleader |
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Research on asphalt dike revetments
The Netherlands, 2005-present
Positions held: overall coordinator and researcher.
Main project features: This research comprises the development of a reliable probabilistic calculation method to determine the resistance of asphalt revetments to wave attack. The research also comprises the development of an adequate monitoring method in order to determine the quality of the asphalt and to determine the remaining lifetime, considering aging processes.
Activities performed: (co-)designer and guidance of (the analysis of) laboratory testing, field investigations, FEM modeling, review of research documents, the writing of several final research reports and publications on the semi-probabilistic safety assessment in WTI-2017. Organization of one day workshops (once in 1 to 2 years).
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Several projects on the modeling and monitoring of (unsaturated) water pressures in dikes.
The Netherlands, 2000-present
Positions held: advisor
Main project features: Several projects on the modeling and monitoring of (unsaturated) water pressures in dikes: peat kay wall research, monitoring of the Grebbedijk (near the river Rhine, close to Wageningen), study of pore pressures due to creep.
Activities performed: design of monitoring system, analysis, review of research reports, groundwater flow calculations, member of the study group on the large scale dike failure test at Bergambacht.
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The development of an ecological friendly dike concept as an alternative in for example the project “strengthening of the western Markermeerdijk and the Houtribdijk project.
The Netherlands, 2009-present
Positions held: expert on dike safety and project leader.
Main project features: the projects aimed to find a synergy between the ecological goals in the Markermeer region and a safe and economical design of a broad water defence including foreshore dams and foreland.
Activities performed: member of the design team, assembling multidisciplinary knowledge. Project leader. Co-organizer of several multi-disciplinary workshops. Co-author of overall reports.
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Improvement of the Afsluitdijk
The Netherlands, 2007 - Present
Positions held: expert on dike safety and project leader
Main project features: strengthening alternatives were elaborated, including the risks, advantages and disadvantages of possible solutions.
Activities performed: Bernadette carried out 3 advisory projects on this topic up to now. In 2012 Deltares considered alternatives for an overtopping resistant dike body and made recommendations for further investigation. Bernadette guided this project.
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Reinforcement of Houtribdijk
The Netherlands, 2007 - Present
Positions held: expert on dike safety and project leader
Main project features: Advice for planning study on following topics: width of dike foundation, type of revetment, design and cost of a breakwater/foreland option when using dredged material. Use was made of InSAR-satelite monitoring to establish the deformation history of the dike.
Activities performed: guidance of the development of an underground model, stability and settlement calculations, soil investigation. The writing of the overall reports.
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Research on placed stone revetments on dikes.
The Netherlands, 2004 - 2007
Positions held: advisor and responsible for subproject Steentoets
Main project features: In order to obtain an assess- and design tool for placed stone revetments of various type, elaborate research was done in the field and in the laboratory. Calculations as to block stability were made with a FEM-model. The results had to be implemented in the Steentoets calculation program.
Activities performed: Guidance of an improved version of the stability calculation program Steentoets on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat
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Technical Report on water pressure in and near dikes.
The Netherlands, 2002 - 2004
Positions held: advisor and project leader.
Main project features: The technical report is to be used for safety assessment and design of dikes. It was written by a team of experts, and was guided by a project group consisting of representatives of four water boards, three engineering offices and the regional government of South Holland.
Activities performed: (final) editor on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat, project leader, chairperson of the project group.
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HERMES monitoring philosophy for dikes.
The Netherlands, 2002 - 2004
Positions held: advisor, project leader
Main project features: HERMES is a monitoring philosophy inspired by the observational method. In the project this method was applied to the large scale failure test with a dike at Bergambacht and a settlement problem.
Activities performed: guidance and editor on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat
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Settlement correction from beneath: upheave.
The Netherlands, 2000 - 2005
Positions held: researcher and project leader on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat.
Main project features: Upheaving means compensating the settling of structures, such as a road, by injecting lightweight grout mixtures into the subsoil. Over a period of 3 years, 5 field test were performed, as well as a literature survey, FEM-modelling and laboratory (centrifuge) tests.
Activities performed: analysis, modeling, writing of (final) reports, formulating contracts and contract control plans to subcontract innovative work. Bernadette was awarded the Rijkswaterstaat-Road and Hydraulic Engineering Department (DWW) innovation award in 2001. Worked together with the Royal Bam Group, GeoDelft, TNO, University of Karlsruhe, Delft University of Technology (mainly geo-centrifuge testing).
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Research and advice in the field of contaminated sludge disposal. With emphasis on consolidation and the effect of gasification.
The Netherlands and UK, 1991 - 1999
Positions held: researcher, project leader, and coordinator of long-term research.
Main project features: The research included the development of theories and numerical modeling as well as the execution of field measurements and laboratory tests. The effect of gas voids on the storage capacity of the sludge depots IJsseloog and the Slufter was calculated. The calculations were based on a choice of experiments. Field measurements were carried out to monitor consolidation and formation of gas in the Slufter depot (Maasvlakte). A user-friendly calculation program FSCONBAG was developed on the basis of this research, in which the effect of gas voids was implemented.
Activities performed: Bernadette finished her doctoral Research in 1999 at the Delft University of Technology, department Geotechnique. Title of PhD-thesis: Consolidation behaviour of gassy mud: theory and experimental validation”. Bernadette guided the execution of the research done by and collaborated with GeoDelft, Public Works Rotterdam, The Department of Public Works for the IJsselmeer area, dr. Sills of the University of Oxford, dr.I. McDermot of C-core Canada and dr. Stepkowska of the Polish Academy of Sciences. She supervised several students on their mathematics and civil engineering studies. She participated in a number of study groups, such as the CSB study group on dredging, held courses and organized workshops, mainly for the users of the sludge consolidation calculation program FSCONBAG. She gave a major contribution to the acquirement of the necessary financing by the Dutch Foundation Technical Science (STW).
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Fatigue of asphaltic dike revetments under wave loading: validation and improved modelling
Wichman, B.G.H.M. & M.P. Davidse (2016). Fatigue of asphaltic dike revetments under wave loading: validation and improved modeling. International Journal of Pavement Engineering: DOI: 10.1080/10298436.2016.1172708;
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In situ testing of the strength of asphaltic revetments on sand dikes
Wichman, B.G.H.M, M.A. Van and M. Huurman (2012). In situ testing of the strength of asphaltic revetments on sand dikes. Proceedings of 12th International Baltic Sea Geotechnical Conference in Rostock, Germany.
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Geotechnical aspects of reinforcement alternatives of the Afsluitdijk
Wichman B.G.H.M., J.G. Knoeff and G. de Vries (2009). Geotechnical aspects of reinforcement alternatives of the Afsluitdijk. Proceedings of the 17th Int. Conf. on Soil mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Alexandrie, Egypt, 1514-1517.
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Centrifuge modeling of soil upheave by expanding tubes.
Wichman B.G.H.M. and H.G.B. Allersma (2005). Centrifuge modeling of soil upheave by expanding tubes. Proceedings of the 16th Int. Conf. on Soil mechanics and
Geotechnical Engineering, Osaka Japan, 1571-1574.
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Onderhogen: van idee tot uitvoering.
Wichman, B.G.H.M. (2005). Onderhogen: van idee tot uitvoering. Publication of Rijkswaterstaat, DWW-2005-011, 17 februari 2005.
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First results of settlement correction of road embankments without traffic interruption.
Wichman, B.G.H.M. (2002). First results of settlement correction of road embankments without traffic interruption. Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Ground Improvement Techniques: 26-28 March 2002, K. Lumpur Malaysia, 745-751.
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Finite Strain Theory Applied to Gassy Mud Consolidation.
Wichman, B.G.H.M. Finite Strain Theory Applied to Gassy Mud Consolidation (2002). Learned and Applied, soil mechanics out of Delft, Edited by F.B.J. Barends & P.M.P.C. Steijger, Balkema, 81-86.
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Experimental validation of a finite strain theory for gassy mud.
Wichman, B.G.H.M., G.C. Sills and R. Gonzalez (2000) Experimental validation of a finite strain theory for gassy mud. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 37, no. 6, 1227-1240.
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A finite strain theory for gassy sludge
Wichman, B.G.H.M. (1999). A finite strain theory for gassy sludge. Géotechnique 50, no.1, 35-41.
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Consolidation behaviour of gassy mud: theory and experimental validation.
Wichman, B.G.H.M. (1999). Consolidation behaviour of gassy mud: theory and experimental validation. Thesis TUDelft, ISBN 90-9012536-1.
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Determination of consolidation parameters for sludge with different characteristics.
Wichman, B.G.H.M., B. Thorborg, G. Greeuw, H. van Essen, A. Opstal (1995). Determination of consolidation parameters for sludge with different characteristics. Proceedings IS-Hiroshima congress on Compression and Consolidation of Clayey Soils, Yoshikuni& Kusakabe (eds.) 1995 Balkema, Rotterdam. ISBN 90 5410 537 2, 597-601.