Geotechnical Works
Objectives
The student should be able to:
1. identify the most adequate types of field and laboratory tests to include in a geotechnical survey;
2. identify the most adequate values for the main geotechnical parameters for soils (strength and deformability), based on an integrated analysis of results from field and laboratory tests;
3. characterize and classify rock masses;
4. verify safety at Ultimate Limit States and Serviceability Limit States of deep foundations, earth retaining structures (identifying the seismic earth pressures from Eurocode 8) and slopes (considering, in this case, limit equilibrium programs);
5. identify the most relevant geotechnical aspects of the construction of tunnels, earth dams and soil improvement techniques.;
6. identify the main parameters to monitor in the geotechnical works, associating, to each parameter, the type of equipment best suit for the monitoring.
General characterization
Code
2784
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Nuno Manuel da Costa Guerra, Pedro Fernando e Mota Guedes de Melo
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 63
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of engineering geology, soil mechanics and safety analysis according to Eurocode 7.
Bibliography
Main
Will be available along the semester.
Secondary
Rock mass classification, Hoek, E., 2007, in Practical Rock Engineering, Chap.3, 40-59 (http://www.rocscience.com/)
Ingeníeria geologica, 2002, Vallejo, L.I.G., Prentice Hall, Madrid
Geotechnical Engineering Handbook, 2002, Smoltczyk, U. (Ed.), Volume 1: Fundamentals, Ernst & Sohn, Berlin
Schnaid, F. (2009) - In Situ Testing in Geotechnics: the main tests. Taylor & Francis.
Tomlinson, M. J. (1995) – Foundation Design and Construction. Longman Scientific & Technical.
Woodward, J. (2004) - An Introduction to Geotechnical Processes. Spon Press.
Teaching method
Theoretical classes for presentation and explanation of the program. Practical and laboratory classes for application of the concepts learned in the theoretical classes.
Evaluation method
The final classification, NF, is given by:
NF=0.15*NTR+0.85*NTP
where NTR is the classification of the component Project Evaluation, based on two practical works performed during the semester (0.15*NTR=0.05*NTR1+0.10*NTR2) and NTP is the classification of the component Theoretical-Practical Evaluation (for Exams NTP is the classification of the exam; for the Continuous Evaluation 0.85*NTP=0.40*NT1+0.45*NT2, where NT1 and NT2 are the classifications of the two tests performed during the semester), both classified from 0-20 val. Approval requires that NTP is at least 9 out of 20 val. and NF >= 9.5 val.
Students with a final classification greater or equal to 17 will make an oral exam for confirming the classification. The final classification will be the one obtained in the oral exam. Students that do not wish to make this exam will have a final classification of 16 val..
Note: it is expected that the tests/exams will be carried out in person; if it will be necessary to do these tests/exams online or if any student is given the right to do any of the tests/exams online, their classification may have to be confirmed (or not) through an oral test in case of obtaining a final classification greater than or equal to 10 val.
Subject matter
1. Geotechnical surveys. Field and laboratory tests.
2. Geotechnical characterization. Identification of design values for the main geotechnical parameters based on an integrated analysis of results from field and laboratory tests.
3. Characterization of rock masses.
4. Verification of safety at Ultimate Limit States and Serviceability Limit States of deep foundations, earth retaining structures (including the calculation of seismic earth pressures) and slopes (using limit equilibrium programs);
5. Geotechnical aspects of the construction of tunnels, earth dams and soil improvement techniques;
6. Geotechnical monitoring.
Programs
Programs where the course is taught: