Learning objectives
Provide the fundamental knowledge of soil and rock mechanics, to enable the students to face and analyze, from a quantitative point of view, the most common and important challenges in geotechnical engineering.
Prerequisites
Course unit content
The course deals with the fundamental aspects of soil mechanics and rock mechanics, related to the most recurrent engineering applications. In detail, the course will focus on aspects such as soil characterization, bearing capacity o and settlements of soils induced by the application of external actions. Concepts of discontinuities, rock mass classification and rock strength criteria will also be analyzed. Moreover, loads on retaining structures and the basic concepts for geotechnical verifications will be presented.
Full programme
Soil mechanics Part 1: Identification and classification of soils – structural characteristics, relations between the various components, Atterberg limits, grain size distribution analysis, classification systems
Effective stress principle and state variables – Saturated and unsaturated soils, stress path and state of stress representation
Mechanics of solids – stress and strain analysis, constitutive laws (elasticity and plasticity theory)
Steady state seepage – Darcy’s law, equation of seepage flow and Laplace equation’s solution
Consolidation processes – consolidation pressure, oedometer tests and condition, mono dimensional consolidation theory, secondary settlements, behaviour in presence of drains
Shear strenght and stiffness – draining conditions, laboratory tests (direct shear, Triaxial tests), mechanical behaviour of cohesive and non cohesive soils, shear strenght parameters
On site tests – instruments and planning for the survey, drilling and sampling techniques, pore pressure measurements, shear strenght and permeability
Verification- Retaining structures, interaction soil and structures, retaining structures forces, stability verifications
Rock Mechanics – Part 2: Rock masses and discontinuities. Introduction. Geomechanical survey. Discontinuity orientation. Spherical projections. Survey of several discontinuities. Planes representation. Exercises. Spacing and persistence. Filling. Alteration. Water infiltration.
Constitutive models and strength criteria. Definitions. Strength criteria. Mohr-Coulomb Strength Criteria. GSI. Hoek-Brown Linearization. Discontinuities Shear strength. Natural discontinuity. Roughness. Barton Criteria. Mohr-Coulomb criteria. Residual friction. JRC. JCS. Deformability and dilatancy.
Rock mass classification. Classification systems. Significant parameters. RMR. RMRbase, determination. Mechanical parameters. Q System (Barton)., determination. Reduction coefficient. GSI (Hoek). Correlations. Rmi (Palmstrom). Deformability features.
Hoek-Brown criteria. Application of GSI. Correlation Hoek-Brown and Mohr Coulomb.
Bibliography
Renato Lancellotta - "Geotecnica" - Zanichelli, 2° e 3° ed.
Walter Wittke – Rock Mechanics: Theory and Applications with case Histories. Springer-Verlag. Berlin 1990
Teaching methods
The teaching activity is divided in theoretical lessons and exercises
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam is divided into two sections: a written solution of a geotechnical problem and of a theoretical oral examination.
The written test will be characterized by the solution of one or two exercises, similar to those that were faced during the exercises in classroom. This test is intended to verifiy the ability of the student to apply the fundamentals of soil and rock mechanics for the determination of the initial, and final, underground state of stress, as well as, the determination of the actions induced by the soil on a retaining structures. The evaluation of the written test will constitute the 50% of the final score.
During the oral examination, some questions regarding the theoretical principles of soil and rock mechanics will be asked. Depending upon the results of the written test, some clarifications may be asked as well. The aim of this oral examination is to ascertain the knowledge level of the students and their ability to apply such knowledge for the solution of practical problems. The oral discussion will constitute the remaining 50% of the final score.
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