Benefit-cost ratio as a design tool m Geotechnical Engineerin

Abstract

Safety factors and probabilities of failure are ways of evaluating the stability of geotechnical, although not leading to optimum solutions for the problems under analysis.

ln fact, the decision making process requires the consideration of both safety and economy aspects of each problem or situation, in order to develop reliable design methods, where features like the quantification of risk and the expected costs of failure are duly taken into account.

Benefit-cost ratio, a well-known technique of Economic Analysis, seems to be an excellent tool for Geotechnical Engineering, not only as a design criterion in terms of reaching optimum solutions, but also as a convenient decision making strategy.

Examples of application of this technique to soil and rock mechanics problems are presented and help to suppon its validity.