Geotechnical I aims to provide students with the basic theoretical foundations on the mechanical and hydraulic behaviour of soils and the knowledge of the elementary methods used for the dimensioning and verification of foundations (shallow and deep) and earth retaining structures.
Geotecnica I is a teaching characteristic of the Degree in Civil Engineering which aims to define a professional profile of civil engineer mainly oriented towards the sectors of hydraulic engineering, structural engineering, road infrastructure and transport systems, which can carry out planning, construction, management and maintenance of civil works.
The course will cover the topics of basic geotechnics such as: the nature of soils, the multiphase nature, the principle of effective stresses, the fluid flow effects, the mechanical behaviour of soils and the experimental tests for the determination of physical and mechanical parameters. Knowledge will also be provided on some analytical methods for calculating the thrust of the soils on the earth retaining structures and for calculating the bearing capacity and settlement of shallow foundations.
At the end of the course, the students will be able to interpret the results of the main geotechnical laboratory tests, perform basic geotechnical calculations for the sizing of the supporting walls and shallow foundations, evaluate the settlements induced by loads applied to the ground surface and caused by variations in the effective stress.
Geotecnica I is a teaching characteristic of the Degree in Civil Engineering which aims to define a professional profile of civil engineer mainly oriented towards the sectors of hydraulic engineering, structural engineering, road infrastructure and transport systems, which can carry out planning, construction, management and maintenance of civil works.
The course will cover the topics of basic geotechnics such as: the nature of soils, the multiphase nature, the principle of effective stresses, the fluid flow effects, the mechanical behaviour of soils and the experimental tests for the determination of physical and mechanical parameters. Knowledge will also be provided on some analytical methods for calculating the thrust of the soils on the earth retaining structures and for calculating the bearing capacity and settlement of shallow foundations.
At the end of the course, the students will be able to interpret the results of the main geotechnical laboratory tests, perform basic geotechnical calculations for the sizing of the supporting walls and shallow foundations, evaluate the settlements induced by loads applied to the ground surface and caused by variations in the effective stress.
scheda docente
materiale didattico
1. Characteristics of soils
• origin of natural soils, marine and continental environment
• identification and classification of soils
2. Porous continuous medium model
• review on stress analysis, Mohr circle
• review on strain analysis, volume change and distortion
• principle of effective stresses
• equations of equilibrium and compatibility
3. Distribution of pore pressures and stress in the soil
• hydrostatic conditions, capillary rise
• filtration motions (1D only) in soils
• tests for permeability measurement
• lithostatic stress state
4. Models of elastic and plastic material
• linear elasticity; drained and not drained conditions; ideal sampling
• elements of plasticity theory (1D conditions only)
• viscosity
5. Compressibility of soils
• mechanical laboratory tests
• edometric compression test
• analysis of the consolidation process
6. Deformability and resistance of soils
• mechanical behaviour of soils under drained and undrained conditions
• TD direct shear test; TX-CID drained triaxial tests
• criteria for shear strength, critical state, undrained shear strength
• TX-UU, TX-CIU undrained triaxial tests
• in-situ geotechnical tests; SPT standard penetration test, VT vane test
7. Introduction to analysis and design of geotechnical structures
• foundation structures, stress induced by foundation loads
• calculation of foundation settlements in coarse and fine grain soils
• calculation of soil pressure (active and passive yield conditions, Rankine)
• earth retaining structures, cantilever and gravity walls
• limit equilibrium methods (Coulomb)
• limit analysis methods
• bearing capacity of a foundation
- Geotechnical engineering – Lancellotta, Ed. Balkema
- Foundation analysis and design - Bowles, Ed. McGraw-Hill
Programma
Introduction to the course1. Characteristics of soils
• origin of natural soils, marine and continental environment
• identification and classification of soils
2. Porous continuous medium model
• review on stress analysis, Mohr circle
• review on strain analysis, volume change and distortion
• principle of effective stresses
• equations of equilibrium and compatibility
3. Distribution of pore pressures and stress in the soil
• hydrostatic conditions, capillary rise
• filtration motions (1D only) in soils
• tests for permeability measurement
• lithostatic stress state
4. Models of elastic and plastic material
• linear elasticity; drained and not drained conditions; ideal sampling
• elements of plasticity theory (1D conditions only)
• viscosity
5. Compressibility of soils
• mechanical laboratory tests
• edometric compression test
• analysis of the consolidation process
6. Deformability and resistance of soils
• mechanical behaviour of soils under drained and undrained conditions
• TD direct shear test; TX-CID drained triaxial tests
• criteria for shear strength, critical state, undrained shear strength
• TX-UU, TX-CIU undrained triaxial tests
• in-situ geotechnical tests; SPT standard penetration test, VT vane test
7. Introduction to analysis and design of geotechnical structures
• foundation structures, stress induced by foundation loads
• calculation of foundation settlements in coarse and fine grain soils
• calculation of soil pressure (active and passive yield conditions, Rankine)
• earth retaining structures, cantilever and gravity walls
• limit equilibrium methods (Coulomb)
• limit analysis methods
• bearing capacity of a foundation
Testi Adottati
- Lecture notes prepared by the lecturer and further suggested readings.- Geotechnical engineering – Lancellotta, Ed. Balkema
- Foundation analysis and design - Bowles, Ed. McGraw-Hill
Modalità Erogazione
Lessons, also with video presentations.Modalità Valutazione
Tutorials during the course and review of worked tutorials. Final test by oral discussion, also including the presentation of worked tutorials.