27975 - Principles of Soil and Rock Mechanics

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide the basic knowledge on the mechanical behaviour of soil and rock materials at the sample scale. Students will learn to: -evaluatethe physical characteristics of the soil (density, unit weight, grainsize distribution, plasticity) - evaluate the deformability parameters of the soil and the effect of the stress history - evaluate the shear strength parameters of the soil in drained and undrained conditions - choose the suitable design parameters in the most common practical appliactions - characterize the rock masses through geomechanical surveys and classification

Course contents

The topics of the course are:

A) soil mechanics

1. Origin and mineralogical composition of the soils
2. Soil fabric, specific surface, clay minerals, water in soils (adsorbed water, pore water)
3. Physical characteristics of soils (unit weight, porosity, void ratio, water content, saturation degree)
4. Grainsize distribution
5. Plasticity indexes and related parameters
6. Soil classification systems (USCS and AASHTO)
7. Elements of continuum mechanics, effective stresses, geostatic stresses
8. Stress-strain relationships and failure criteria
9. One-dimensional consolidation
10. Deformability parameters in oedometric conditions
11. The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterium
12. Shear strength of granular soils
13. Shear strength of fine soils

B) Rock mechanics

1. Strength and deformability of intact rock
2. Shear strength along rock discontinuities
3. Structural and geomechanical characterization of rock masses
4. Geomechanical classification systems
5. Use of stereonet prjections in rock mechanics

Readings/Bibliography

Italian: Renato Lancellotta (2004). Geotecnica. Terza edizione, Zanichelli, BO, 481 pp.

English: Holtz & Kovacs (1980). An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering . Prentice-Hall

Teaching methods

Classes will be held in the classroom and in the laboratory, where students will conduct the main geotechnical tests.

Assessment methods

A) Soil mechanics

Verification consist of a written exam. Candidates who pass the written exam may require an oral exam (optional) to complete the grade. In the oral exam the following aspects will be assessed (in order of importance): 1) knowledge of the physical-mechanical characteristics of the soil; 2) knowledge of laboratory techniques and procedures; 3) use of appropriate technical language. If the oral exam is not passed, it will also be necessary to take the written exam again


B) Rock mechanics

Oral examination. In the oral exam the following aspects will be evaluated (in order of importance): 1) knowledge of the physical-mechanical characteristics of the rocks; 2) knowledge of laboratory and field techniques and procedures; 3) use of appropriate technical language.



The final grade is the weighted average (based on the number of credits) of parts A and B

Teaching tools

Besides the traditional teaching tools (PC and video projectors) the course will make extensive use of the Geotechnical laboratory available at our Department. The main tests preformed by the students will be: soil sieving, Atterberg limits determination, uniaxial testing, direct shear testing.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Berti

See the website of Alessandro Simoni