73359 - Geotechnical Engineering

Learning outcomes

The course is aimed at providing students with advanced knowledge of soil mechanics and geotechnical modelling, with special emphasis on their applications to the design of civil engineering structures. On successful completion of the course, the student will: know the characteristics and peculiarities of soil behaviour, be able to determine and compare physical and mechanical soil parameters, learn skills and develop methods for the design of main geotechnical structures.

Course contents

Requirements/Prior knowledge

Prior knowledge of basic Continuum Mechanics, Hydraulics and Soil Mechanics concepts is required to successfully attend this course.

Lectures and tutorials will be given in English. Accordingly, fluent spoken and written English is a necessary pre-requisite.

COURSE CONTENTS

• Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics (Review of basic soil mechanics and introduction to advanced concepts). Soils as multiphase systems. Geostatic stresses and the Principle of Effective Stress. One-dimensional and two-dimensional flow of water through soils. Consolidation theory. Shear strength of soils. Stress-strain behaviour of cyclically loaded soils: cyclic strength, strength after cyclic loading, liquefaction and cyclic mobility phenomena. Stress paths.
• Site Characterization. Purposes and phases of site characterization. General criteria for programming site investigations. Geophysical methods. Geotechnical in-situ testing techniques: Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Standard Penetration test (SPT), Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT), Shear Vane Test. Evaluation of cyclic liquefaction potential using in-situ test results.
• Slope Stability. Types and causes of slope failure. Short and long term stability analyses. Selection of appropriate soil parameters in stability analyses. Infinite slopes. Two-dimensional slope stability analyses. Rotational slope failures in undrained soils. Rotational slope failures in drained soils - the Method of Slices. Seismic slope stability (pseudostatic analyses). Computer programs for Limit Equilibrium Analyses. Essentials of slope stabilization and repair.
  

Readings/Bibliography

• M. Budhu. "Soil Mechanics and Foundations, 3rd Edition", Wiley, 2010.

• J.M. Duncan, S.G. Wright, T.L. Brandon. "Soil Strength and Slope Stability, 2nd Edition". Wiley, 2014.

Teaching methods

Lectures, supported by example problems. During tutorial sessions, typical exercises proposed in the written exam are shown.

Assessment methods

The examination at the end of the course aims at assessing the achievement of the following objectives:

• good understanding of the mechanical behaviour of soils under both static and dynamic loading conditions;

• ability to plan soil investigations and to interpret laboratory and in-situ testing data in order to develop a detailed geotechnical model of the subsoil;

• awareness of the application of Soil Mechanics principles to geotechnical engineering problems, with special reference to slope stability problems;

• knowledge of the main verification methods used in Geotechnical Engineering to assess slope stability.

The assessment is based on a written exam in conjunction with an oral exam. Both are mandatory. The written exam, lasting 50 minutes, consists of one question on the theoretical topics covered in the course or a simple application problem of the methods discussed in the course. The evaluation takes into account relevance, correctness, accuracy, completeness and clarity of the answers, as well as use of appropriate technical language.

Examples of the questions included in past written tests can be downloaded from the online platform https://iol.unibo.it/. Access is limited to students of the Bologna University having this course in their study plan.

After passing the written exam (minimum score 18/30), students have access to the oral exam.

Before taking the written exam, students must register using the online procedure available at https://almaesami.unibo.it.

Teaching tools

Tablet pc, slide projector and blackbord.

Powerpoint presentations of lectures can be downloaded in pdf format from the online platform https://iol.unibo.it. Access to files is limited to students of the University of Bologna. Details about the procedure for file downloading are provided at the beginning of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Laura Tonni