- Docente: Laura Tonni
- Credits: 6
- SSD: ICAR/07
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Civil Engineering (cod. 0930)
Learning outcomes
The course aims at providing advanced knowledge of soil mechanics, with special emphasis on its applications to main geotechnical aspects of civil engineering structures.
Course contents
- Fundamentals of soil mechanics (short review). Soils as multiphase systems. Basic continuum mechanics applied to soils. General field equations for porous media. Water in soils: permeability and seepage. Consolidation theory. Shear strength of soils. Stress paths. Short and long term stability analyses. Selection of appropriate soil parameters in stability analyses.
- Geotechnical investigations. General criteria for programming site investigations. In-situ testing: Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Standard Penetration Test (SPT), Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT), Shear Vane Test, Pressuremeter Test, Plate Bearing Test. Site monitoring.
- Plastic failure analysis. The upper bound theorem and lower bound theorem. Limit Analysis.
- Shallow foundations. Ultimate bearing capacity and settlement calculation.
- Pile foundations. Types of piles and their structural characteristics. Bearing capacity of piles. Pile load tests. Pile groups.
- Lateral earth pressure and earth-retaining structures. Types of retaining walls, lateral earth pressure, proportioning retaining walls, stability checks. Sheet pile walls: cantilever sheet pile walls and anchored sheet pile walls. Criteria for design and stability analysis.
- Fundamentals of design using NTC 2008.
Readings/Bibliography
J. Atkinson. “Geotecnica. Meccanica delle Terre e Fondazioni”, McGraw Hill, Italia, 1997.
P. Colombo & F. Colleselli. “Elementi di Geotecnica”, Zanichelli, 2004.
Further suggested textbooks:
C. Tamagnini. “Analisi Limite in Ingegneria Geotecnica”, Hevelius Edizioni, 2005.
R. Nova. "Meccanica delle Costruzioni Geotecniche", Città Studi Edizioni, 2008.
J.E. Bowles. “Foundation Analysis and Design”, McGraw-Hill, 1995.
Teaching methods
Teaching method includes theoretical lectures interspersed with tutorial exercises.
Assessment methods
Assessment includes a written exam and an optional oral exam.
Teaching tools
Tablet pc, slide projector and blackbord.
Graphs and pictures shown during lectures will be available in pdf format at the website: https://campus.cib.unibo.it
Office hours
See the website of Laura Tonni