- Docente: Laura Tonni
- Credits: 3
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Civil Engineering (cod. 0930)
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from Sep 17, 2025 to Dec 17, 2025
Learning outcomes
The course provides the students with an insight into the use of advanced constitutive models and finite element methods in geotechnical engineering. The aim is to arm students with sufficient knowledge to make sound judgments about the reliability of the numerical results they obtain.
Course contents
Requirements/Prior knowledge
Prior knowledge of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering is required to benefit fully from the course.
All lectures and tutorials are delivered in Italian. Therefore, fluency in both spoken and written Italian is a necessary prerequisite.
Course Contents
- Constitutive modelling of soil behaviour: Elastic perfectly plastic models and strain hardening models, the Cam Clay model, Hardening Soil Model, Soft Soil Creep Model.
- Introduction to the use of the FE geotechnical code Plaxis 2D.
- FE modelling of typical geotechnical problems: mechanical response of embankments, shallow foundations, deep foundations, earth-retaining structures.
Readings/Bibliography
- R. Nova. Fondamenti di meccanica delle terre. McGraw Hill, Italia
- Plaxis 2D User's Manual.
Teaching methods
The course includes lectures, computer-based practical sessions, and tutorials.
Regular attendance of the practical sessions is essential for developing the numerical model, which will be assessed during the exam.
Assessment methods
The final examination aims to assess the achievement of the following learning objectives:
- A solid understanding of the most common elastoplastic models for soils, that are typically implemented in commercial Finite Element codes;
- Ability to develop numerical models of typical elastoplastic geotechnical problems;
- Ability to critically analyse and interpret the results obtained from numerical modelling.
The assessment is based on an oral exam. Students are asked to present and discuss the numerical model developed during the practical sessions, on the geotechnical problem assigned at the beginning of the course. Credits are given on a pass-fail basis. In order to take the exam, students are requested to register using the online procedure available at https://almaesami.unibo.it.
Teaching tools
Blackboard, laptop.
Office hours
See the website of Laura Tonni