Wolf, W.J. de

Profile

I obtained my bachelor Civil Engineering and master Geotechnical Engineering both from Delft University of Technology. During my master I did a research internship at UPC Barcelona. My master thesis, in corporation with Fugro, was about the Observational Method: Processing observational data in a statistically responsible way to reduce geotechnical uncertainties. After graduation, I did a second research internship at Politecnico di Milano. I joined the Geotechnical Consultancy department of Fugro before starting my PhD.

Research

Climatic scenario’s for the Netherlands include more intense localized rainfall, a higher probability of heat waves and an overall increase of evapotranspiration. To ensure a future-proof dyke system, the current practices for dyke design, monitoring and maintenance need to be reassessed. The sustainable dykes project aims to improve our capacity to design sustainable and appropriate climate remediation measures. Within this framework, my PhD research is focused on soil-atmosphere interactions.  

In response to atmospheric conditions, water continuously infiltrates and evaporates from the dyke body. The changes in the unsaturated zone trigger soil degradation processes such as shrinkage, swelling, cracking and erosion, affecting the hydraulic and mechanical soil properties during the lifetime of the dyke. A combined experimental, modelling and numerical scientific approach is used to improve the assessment of dyke response to climatic stresses. This allows the formulation of effective dyke remediation measures for future climatic conditions.