Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech

Geotechnics (2500020) – Course 2024/25 PDF

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

Nature of soils and rocks, identification, basic properties and hydraulic and mechanical parameters. Knowledge of the mechanics of the continuous medium applied to saturated porous media and definition of the concept of effective stresses. Concepts and theory of water flow in soils to reach the consolidation theory. Knowledge of the experimental study of the soils and the stress trajectories of the most used tests: identification, edometric, shear, triaxial and permeability. Constitutive equations and stress, strain and strength of saturated soils. Analysis of soil behaviour at service and failure and application to simple contour problems. Basic concepts of unsaturated soils applied to compacting soils. 1. Ability to solve flow problems in saturated porous media. Ability to carry out drainage projects in excavations. 2. Ability to solve problems of consolidation of low permeability strata, as well as basic sizing of drainage systems to accelerate the process. 3. Ability to study the soil failure and serviceability behavior in basic foundations problems and retaining structures. Geotechnical and mechanical knowledge of soils and rocks. Ability to solve basic soil behavior problems. Understand the nature of soils and rocks, their identification, basic properties, hydraulic and mechanical parameters. Knowledge of the water flow through the soil, including the conservation of the mass and the moment. Principle of effective stresses. Continuous medium mechanics knowledge applied to saturated porous medium. Stress and strain paths using invariants. Fundamental constitutive equations. Knowledge of the experimental study of saturated soil in edometric and triaxial tests. Behavior of unsaturated soils and in particular in relation to compaction. Analysis of ground failure using collapse and limit equilibrium theorems. Knowledge of flow-deformation coupling in soil. Expected outcomes for student learning: * Knowledge, understanding and reasoning ability and problem solving exercises and behaviors related to soil characteristics (parameters and basic properties, effective stresses, flow and water flow, siphoning, consolidation, deformation and strength ... primarily of saturated soils, but also with an introduction to unsaturated soils) and some key implementation (slope stability). * Knowledge of typical values and orders of magnitude of the variables used and critical capacity of values from them. * Ability to study independently using library resources, teamwork and follow more advanced courses in the field of Soil Mechanics.

Competencies

Especific

Knowledge of geotechnics and mechanics of soils and rocks as well as their application in the development of studies, projects, constructions and farms where it is necessary to carry out earthworks, foundations and containment structures. (Common module to the Civil branch)

Generic

Scientific-technical training for the exercise of the profession of Technical Engineer of Public Works and knowledge of the functions of advice, analysis, design, calculation, project, construction, maintenance, conservation and exploitation.

Knowledge of the history of civil engineering and training to analyze and assess public works in particular and construction in general.

Total hours of student work

Hours Percentage
Supervised Learning Large group 30h 50.00 %
Medium group 24h 40.00 %
Laboratory classes 6h 10.00 %
Self Study 90h

Teaching Methodology

The course encourages the participation of students and their work before and after classes. Two thirds of the scheduled hours are typically devoted to more conceptual and theoretical matters while the other third is focused to more practical aspects and to solve exercises and problems. During the classes not the whole subject is taught and they actually focus on the issues of greater importance and difficulty, leaving the rest for the personal work of students using the additional documentation provided in the context of the subject. Additionally, the course includes laboratory sessions (three in total during the year) and, eventually, conferences and technical visits of geotechnical interest, are organized. The invited lecturers or professors helping at laboratory sessions may speak in a different language to the one of the course. In the classes the blackboard and sometimes audiovisual material (Internet, slides or videos) are used. Lab sessions are conducted in the soil mechanics laboratory available in Campus Nord for degree students. 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.

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

The subject can be passed both by continuous assessment taking into account all the activities carried out during the course (exams, laboratory sessions and course work) or by the weighted averaged of the exams marks only. The grade on the continuous assessment (N) is obtained from: - the weighted average of the marks of two exams (Partial EP, Final EF) made during the year in the periods set by the School. - the mark of the coursework (W) that includes solving and submitting an exercise related to each of the subjects of the course (6 in total as maximum) that will be assigned by the course coordinator (individually) - the mark from the report of laboratory practices (L) (3 in total) Each of these activities is graded with a score between 0 and 10. The final grade of the continuous assessment is calculated as follows: N = 0.3*EP + 0.5*EF + 0.1*L + 0.1*W If the student does not follow the continuous assessment process, the mark will be obtained from the exams: E = 0.4*EP + 0.6*EF In any case, it is mandatory to attend the laboratory sessions. If repeating the subject, it is not required to repeat the laboratory sessions again. The final grade (NF) of the course is calculated as follows: NF=max[N,E] The subject is passed whenever NF is equal to or greater than 5.0 Examinations will be held at the dates and times set by the School, will last 3 hours and will consist of a QUESTIONNAIRE of short questions or mini-exercises, and a PRACTICAL EXERCISE. Each of these two parts has the same weight in the mark of the exam. The subject matter for each exam corresponds to the contents from the beginning of the course to the date of the exam. It is mandatory for the continuous assessment: a) to submit exams, including both parts (questionnaire + practical exercise) with a sufficient minimum of elaboration of each part at the discretion of the professor responsible for the subject b) to write and present the coursework (W) c) to perform all 3 laboratory practices and deliver the 3 final reports (L) If these conditions are not satisfied, the final grade will be "NOT PRESENTED" (N = NP) According to Academic Regulations, a re-evaluation test is established for those students who have not obtained an NF-mark equal to or greater than 5.0 as a result of the evaluation process. The maximum grade of the course obtained in the re-evaluation test is 5. The students who have already passed the subject with an NF-mark equal to or greater than 5.0 or those qualified as "NOT PRESENTED" cannot attend the re-evaluation exam. The non-attendance of a student summoned to the re-evaluation test, held in the period set, may not lead to the carrying out of another test at a later date. The re-evaluation test will last 3 hours and will consist of a QUESTIONNAIRE and a set of PRACTICAL EXERCISES. This examination will be held at the date and time set by the School. If the final grade of the re-evaluation test is lower than 5, the final grade of the course will be the maximum grade between the grade obtained previously and the grade obtained in the re-evaluation test, with the description of "suspens" (fail). Special exams will be made for those students who have not been able to carry out some of the exams described because of accredited extraordinary reasons. These special exams must be authorized by the head of studies of the Degree, at the request of the course coordinator, and will be carried out within the corresponding academic term.

Test Rules

Examinations will be held at the dates and times set by the School, will last 3 hours and will consist of a QUESTIONNAIRE of short questions or mini-exercises, and PRACTICAL EXERCISES. The subject matter for each exam corresponds to the contents from the beginning of the course to the date of the exam.

Office Hours

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.

Bibliography

Basic

Complementary