Students will learn to use analytical and numerical models to conduct geomechanical analyses of geotechnical structures. They will also learn to diagnose geomechanical factors in situations encountered in geotechnical engineering.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: Use analytical and numerical models to conduct geomechanical analyses of geotechnical structures, and diagnose geomechanical factors in situations encountered in geotechnical engineering; Use nonlinear critical-state models to analyse geotechnical processes involving soil-rock interactions, including hydromechanical coupling; Plan, design, construct and maintain foundations, embankments, tunnels and other geotechnical structures.
Advanced study of critical-state theories (state parameters in sand models) and description of real behaviour; Aspects of the real behaviour of soils and rocks, including nonlinearity (focusing on small deformations), structure (bonding), mechanical and hydraulic anisotropy, softening (progressive localization and fracture), yield strength, behaviour of unsaturated soils and liquefaction; Case studies examining the influence of these aspects on engineering applications; Planning, design, construction and maintenance of foundations, cut-slopes, embankments, tunnels and other geotechnical structures
| Dedication | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | Percent | ||
| Supervised Learning | Theory | 30.0 | 55.6% |
| Assignments | 11.0 | 20.4% | |
| Laboratory | 11.0 | 20.4% | |
| Supervised activities | 6.0 | 3.7% | |
| Self-Learning | 96.0 | ||
2.0 h Theory
General description of natural materials. Soils. Formation, estructure, sedimentary basins, residual soils, cemented soils. Hard soils and soft rocks. Discontinuities in masive rocks.Creep. Geomechanical analisys: continuum media, discrete elements, joints.
An introduction to geomaterials is carried out.
4.0 h Theory + 2.0 h Assignments + 2.0 h Laboratory
Flow and deformation coupling. Formulation based on displacements and pressures. Undrained conditions, undrained shear strength. Consolidation. Drained conditions. Extension of the coupled formulation to the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of porous media (including vapour migration). Generalized constitutive laws for mechanical, hydraulic and thermal. Introduction to numerical methods in geotecnical analysis. Excavation and construction of elements. Initial stresses. Mesh extension. Structural elements. Application to cases that use simple models in order to become familiar with boundary value problems, initial conditions and boundary conditions, intervals, structural elements, properties of programs.
Development of the formulation Development of the formulation. To be able to incorporate of eliminate terms associated to processes depending on the type of problems to be solved. To learn the basic aspects of numerical methods applied for the solution of geotechnical problems. Practical session to introduce geotechnical modelling.
4.0 h Theory + 2.0 h Laboratory
Stress strain response of clays. Critical state theory and Cam-clay model Typical behaviour fo sands. State parameters. Liquefaction. Cyclic movility. Analitical and numerical simulation of oedometric and triaxial tests in saturated soils using coupled models.
To understant the experimental response of argilaceous soils subjected to a general stress-strain path. To be able to anticipate, in a qualitative way, the response in a laboratory experiment. Understanding the experimental response of granular soils subjected to general stress-strain solicitations. To be able to anticipate, in a qualitative way, the response in a laboratory experiment. To learn using modelling tools and its application to simulate laboratory tests including parameter determination and stablishing the capabilities and limitations of the equations considered.
6.0 h Theory + 3.0 h Laboratory
Suction. Behaviour of unsaturated soils: expansion and collapse deformations. Elastic models. State variables. Models for unsaturated geomaterials. Barcelona Basic Model and other models. Swelling and collapse. Shear strength. Expansive and collapsible soils. Soil structure. Compaction criteria and representation of compaction in the models. Swelling pressure. Simulation of oedometric and triaxial tests in unsaturated soils using coupled models. Embankment construction, effect of rain. Earth dam construction, reservoir filling and rapid drawdown.
To introduce the basic concepts of unsaturated soils, and the deformations proces taking place. To show the different state variables that can be used in constitutive models according to different model capabilities. To describe the derivation of models for unsaturated geomaterials and to understand the physical processes that help to derive the macroscopic models. To understand the processes of expansión/swelling in soils, the applications that can be considered or the problems that may appear due to expansion/swelling in soils, how the structure is modified during swelling and collapse, and how these processes are represented in constitutive models. To reach, by means of practice, the knowledge of the response of unsaturated and saturated soils and the models that can be used to reproduce the response against loading and inundation proceses.
4.0 h Theory + 2.0 h Assignments
Behaviour of bonded soils. Results of oedometric and triaxial tests. Description of processes causing the bonding and their influence on the response of geomaterials. Extension of models to incorporate bonding. Introduction of the concept of residual strength. Softening by bonding degradation. Drained and undrained conditions. Progressive failure. Application to slope failure.
Understanding the mechanisms that explain the features observed in cemented/bonded soils. To understand how the mehanisms are related with the stress-strain response. To stablish the way that constitutive models can be modified to incorporate the effect of soil bonding, starting from basic models usually applied in geotechnique. Failure of some geotechnical structures can only be explained by means of progressive failure. For this, models that incorporate a stress-strain curve with a residual strength after the peak-strength can be used.
2.0 h Theory + 2.0 h Assignments
Behaviour of soils at small strains. Nonlinear elasticity. Characterization by means of geofisical testing and laboratory resonant column. Application of small strain elasticity theory for the analysis of history cases such as tunnels in urban areas. Instrumentation systems.
To introduce the deviations that occur on the elastic response of the geomaterials at zones that undergo small strain, for instance, because these are far from the zone of larger influence. To understand, based on applications, the effects that may induce the variable stiffness of the ground depending the solicitation level, on the movements of geotechnical constructions, mainly on the underground constructions.
4.0 h Laboratory
Global Evaluation
8.0 h Theory
Structural anisotropy in soils and soft rocks. Induced anisotropy. Mechanical and hydraulic anisotropy. Static liquefaction and liquefaction under cyclic loading. Models for geomaterials including dynamic effects. Thermal behaviour of soils. Frozen soils. Vapour in soils. Thermo-hidro-mecanical problems. Creep in soils and rocks. Physical processes that explain creep of geomaterials. Secondary consolidation.
To understand the causes for mechanical and hydraulic anisotropy that occur in geomaterials. To understand the liquefaction phenomenon, and to learn the engineering aspects that are involved. To understand and apply non-isothermal conditions to geomaterials. To understand and apply processes associated to delayed response of geomaterials.
5.0 h Assignments
Particular aspects of geotechnical analisis using finite element method.Coupled and uncoupled analysis. History cases, modelling methodology, assumptions to develop a geotechnical model from a real case.
To be able ot determine the added value that a numerical analysis may bring to the study of a geotechnical problem and to be able to determine the level of complexity required in the model (processes, dimensionality, constitutive models). To be able to transform a real problem into a model. Proces of model verification and validation.
2.0 h Supervised activities
Exercise of modelling in geotechnical engineering. The capacity to adopt assumptions that permit to transform a real case into a corresponding model that helps to understanding the problem and to carry out predictions, will be considered very valuable.
(*) The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.
There will be several practices during the course, a partial exam and a joint exam. The grade of assignments will be at least 30% of the total grade.
Failure to perform a practical exercise or continuous assessment activity in the scheduled period will result in a mark of zero in that activity.
The course consists of 4 hours per week of classroom activity. The 4 hours are devoted to theoretical lectures/ practical lectures and laboratory practical sessions, in which the teacher presents the basic concepts and topics of the subject, shows examples and solves exercises. Some session are "hands on" using geotechnical software. Support material in the form of a detailed teaching plan is provided using the virtual campus ATENEA: content, program of learning and assessment activities conducted and literature. Although most of the sessions will be given in the language indicated, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.
Hours of assistance to students are carried out both during the intervals between classes and through personally agreed hours or agreed hours by e-mail