B8921 - FOUNDATION STRENGTHENING AND REHABILITATION M

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The course aims at providing students with geotechnical competences to understand the soil-foundation interaction mechanisms of existing structures and to design suitable interventions for the strengthening and rehabilitation of their foundation systems. On completion of the course the student: i) knows the different types of foundations and their behaviour, the methods of analysis and modelling, the tools for investigating and monitoring their performance; ii) is able to define the appropriate geotechnical model for the selection and the design of possible interventions dealing with critical issues, with a particular focus on the approaches aimed at the preservation of the authenticity and the integrity of historic building foundations.

Contenuti

Requirements

A prior knowledge and understanding of Continuum Mechanics, Hydraulics and Soil Mechanics is required to attend with profit this course. This knowledge is considered to be acquired after having passed the following undergraduate courses: Structural Mechanics, Hydraulics and Geotechnics.

Fluent spoken and written English is a necessary pre-requisite: all lectures and tutorials, as well as the study material will be in English.

COURSE CONTENTS

The laboratory is intended to provide the basis for understanding the main geotechnical issues involved in the strengthening and rehabilitation of foundations in existing buildings. In this framework, knowledge of previous case studies is an essential guide in any decision-making process. Therefore, the course includes the analysis of selected case histories that illustrate real geotechnical problems, the adopted solutions, and the strategies applied to improve or restore the performance of existing foundations.

In particular, three main topics are addressed: in situ testing, monitoring techniques, and foundation performance analysis.

The theoretical concepts are then applied to specific data sets and developed through assigned exercises.

Testi/Bibliografia

Knappett, J., Craig, R. (2019-10-11). Craig's Soil Mechanics, 9th Edition.

Metodi didattici

The lectures are presented with the aid of slides and integrated with demonstrations at the board. Practical examples are illustrated during the course, also with applications.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Assessment is based on a final exam, aimed at assessing the understanding of concepts and the acquisition of related competences. The exam consists of a preliminary written test, which requires the solution of numerical exercises, and a final oral session, which deals with more theoretical issues. The exam, in both written and oral parts, concern all the topics developed during the lessons, i.e. the geotechnical characterization of a site using laboratory and in situ tests and the design criteria of simple geotechnical works.

Higher grades will be awarded to students who can demonstrate an organic understanding of the subject, a capacity of presenting the course contents in a clear and concise way and an ability of critically discussing the results achieved. To obtain a passing grade, students are required to show their knowledge of at least the key concepts of the subject, some ability for their critical application and a correct use of technical language. A failing grade will be awarded if the student shows knowledge gaps in key-concepts of the subject, inappropriate use of language, and/or logic failures in the analysis of the subject.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Lecture slides and exercise notes.

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Michela Marchi