- Docente: Laura Govoni
- Credits: 6
- SSD: CEAR-05/A
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Environmental Engineering (cod. 6722)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students will be able to apply their soil mechanics knowledge to the analysis of slope stability and to the implementation of stabilization methods. In particular, they will know how to exploit laboratory and site investigation data to complete a comprehensive geotechnical characterisation of areas prone to sliding; they will learn the main techniques for the analysis of slope stability, either in drained or undrained conditions; they will be introduced to the main stabilisation methods and applications for the mitigation of landslides risk as well as for the prevention of engineered soil slopes failure.
Course contents
The course provides the fundamental principles and engineering methods for the geotechnical analysis of natural and engineered slopes, with particular emphasis on slope stability assessment and landslide mechanisms.
The course begins with an overview of slope stability, including the classification of landslides, the causes and predisposing factors of slope failures, and the geotechnical processes governing landslide initiation and propagation. The characteristics and engineering properties of soil deposits are introduced, together with the main soil identification and classification tests.
The mechanical behaviour of soils is then examined with reference to slope stability problems. Topics include the shear behaviour of sands and clays, undrained and residual shear strength, loading conditions within slopes, and the selection and interpretation of appropriate strength parameters for design and analysis.
The module also covers geotechnical site investigation techniques, including soil sampling, Cone Penetration Tests (CPT), and Flat Dilatometer Tests (DMT), highlighting their role in the characterization of subsurface conditions relevant to slope stability.
Particular attention is devoted to groundwater conditions and their influence on slope behaviour. The course addresses the evaluation of pore water pressures in saturated soils, considering aquifers, aquicludes and perched water tables, with a brief introduction to pore water pressures in unsaturated soils. Groundwater flow mechanisms, two-dimensional steady-state seepage, and in situ measurement and interpretation of positive pore water pressures are also discussed.
The second part of the module focuses on analytical methods for slope stability assessment. Failure mechanisms, the concept of factor of safety, and limit equilibrium methods are introduced, including block analysis, infinite slope analysis, translational failures, and planar slope analysis. Slice methods are presented in detail, including the Ordinary Method of Slices, the Janbu Method and the Bishop Method. The use of classical design charts, such as those proposed by Taylor, Spencer and Janbu, is illustrated together with pseudostatic approaches for seismic slope stability analysis.
The course concludes with an overview of the principal slope stabilization and landslide mitigation techniques. Throughout the module, engineering examples and worked problems are presented and discussed to illustrate the practical application of the theoretical concepts and analytical methods.
Readings/Bibliography
Lee W. Abramson, Thomas S. Lee, Sunil Sharma, Glenn M. Boyce, Slope Stability and Stabilization Methods, Wiley
Teaching methods
Class lessons and worked examples.
Assessment methods
Written exam, open books
Teaching tools
Slides, blackboard
Office hours
See the website of Laura Govoni