Geotechnical Engineering 2

Background for the calculation methods used in geotechnical engineering. Principles for performing short-hand calculations of settlements, slope stability, earth pressure and bearing capacity of foundations and piles. The course aims at creating understanding of geotechnical design tasks through a combination of hand calculations and the use of numerical analysis tools. The safety philosophy according to EC7 will be presented.

Knowledge

The candidate should have knowledge of:

• Strength of soil expressed in total and effective stresses
• Principles on how strength parameters may be determined
• Principles for prescribing safety margins according to EC7
• Principles for calculating the earth pressure against retaining walls and the required dimensions of foundations
• How piles work in soil and how they are installed
• Estimating settlements based on the oedometric (constraint) stiffness modulus.
• Landslides and the principles for calculating the stability of a slope.

Skills

The candidate is able to (by using hand calculations and the use of numerical analysis tools):

• Assess the stability of a slope when the geometry, soil strength and water pressures inside and outside the slope are defined
• Calculate earth pressure on vertical walls (basement walls, sheetpile walls and similar)
• Calculate the necessary width (and depth) of a foundation for a given set of foundation loads (vertical, horizontal and moment components)
• Estimate vertical loading capacity and driveability of piles

General competence

The candidate can:

• Calculate the design values of earth pressure and of the bearing capacity of foundations and piles
• Assess the stability of natural slopes, cuts and embankments
• Develop personal judgement skills and see the geotechnical knowledge in a broader engineering context.

The use of spread sheets and/or Python-programming for calculations and introduction to specialised geotechnical software will contribute to the students digital competence.

Lectures, calculation and laboratory exercises