Modelling of Coupled Problems in Geotechnical Engineering (250MEG015) – Course 2025/26 PDF

Learning Objectives

To conceive soils and rocks as porous media governed by Solid and Fluid Mechanics. To interpret laboratory tests and field observations so as to identify the mechanisms responsible for soil response. To propose laboratory research programmes. To formulate and implement Finite Element and Finite Differences numerical models with the objective to analyze the processes that govern ground response, to interpret field information and to predict soil response. * To apply oral presentation techniques. * To use advanced calculation tools to analyze Civil Engineering problems, design big-scale models and suggest design solutions for prototypes. * To know and be able to use advanced techniques to geo-referentially represent data. * To have powerful tools for the geospatial analysis of geo-referentiated data. - Introduction. - Formulation of thermo-hydraulic coupled problems in soils and rocks. - Presentation of the numerical tool. - Tutorials. - Application to real cases. This subject focuses primarily on the study of the physical processes that take place in unsaturated porous media. These processes can be summarized as: water flow, both liquid and in the form of steam in an unsaturated medium; flow of other fluids, for example, moist air in the multifase medium; heat flow both by driving and by advection, the latter caused by the movement of the fluids; deformation of the porous matrix either by changes of voltage as by interstitial pressure changes. These processes are important in several fields of field engineering, among them, the hydrogeology of the unsaturated zone (above the phreatic level), the hydro mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils, the water and heat flow in aquifers and the behavior of porous media under temperature variations. Once the processes have been studied separately, the existing couplings will be analyzed. The global formulation to which it will be arrived, allows to analyze the thermal hydro mechanical behavior coupled with geological means. Finally, some aspects related to the numerical resolution of problems will be presented using said formulation and its applications to real cases.

Competencies

Especific

To conceive soils and rocks as porous media governed by Solid and Fluid Mechanics.

To interpret laboratory tests and field observations so as to identify the mechanisms responsible for soil response. To propose laboratory testing programmes.

To formulate and implement Finite Element and Finite Differences numerical models with the objective to analyze the processes that govern ground response, to interpret field information and to predict soil response.

Generic

To apply advanced knowledge in sciences and technology to the profesional or research practice.

To identify and design solutions for geo-engineering problems within ethical, social and legislative frameworks.

To evaluate the impact of Geo-engineering on environment, sustainable social development and the significance of working within reliable and consciensous profesional environment.

To incorporate new techncologies and advanced tools in Geo-engineering into profesional and research activities.

To conceive Geo-engineering as a multi-disciplinary field that includes relevant aspects from geology, sismology, hydrogeology, geotechnical and earthquake engineering, geomechanics, physics of porous media, geophysics, geomatics, natural hazard, energy and climate interactions.

To promote innovation for the development of methodology, analyses and solutions in Geo-engineering

Total hours of student work

		Hours	Percentage
Supervised Learning	Large group	45h	100.00 %
Self Study		80h

Teaching Methodology

Curso que combina una parte semanal con un curso concentrado 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 is evaluated by assignments.

Test Rules

Failure to perform a laboratory or continuous assessment activity in the scheduled period will result in a mark of zero in that activity.

Bibliography

Basic

Code_Bright Team. Manual Code_Bright.