B4793 - ANALISI E PREVISIONE DEI FENOMENI FRANOSI

Learning outcomes

The primary educational objective of the course is to provide the tools for the identification, characterization, and management of slope instability phenomena. By the end of the course, the student will be able to: recognize landslides in the field and from aerial photos; plan an in-situ and laboratory geotechnical campaign; design a slope monitoring system; reconstruct the geological-technical model of the slope; analyze the slope's stability. Field activities will be an integral part of the course and aim to directly verify the concepts learned in the classroom.

Course contents

The course is structured as follows:

1. Review of the basic principles of soil and rock mechanics (effective stress, failure criteria, shear strength parameters, drainage conditions).

2. Slope stability analysis using the limit equilibrium method.

3. Classification criteria for landslide phenomena.

4. Characteristics of the three main types of landslides (fall, slide, flow):

- Kinematic definition
- Characteristic morphological elements (field recognition and identification from aerial photographs)
- Plan view mapping and sectional representation
- Investigation techniques and geological-technical characterization
- Stability analysis through analytical methods and an introduction to numerical modeling
- Monitoring and consolidation methods
- Case histories and photo-video documentation

5. Overview of areal slope stability assessment (hydrogeological reconstruction, material characterization, calibration and validation of results).

The course includes computer-based exercises related to slope stability calculation (using SlopeW software). Additionally, three one-day field trips are planned to recognize and map the studied landslide types in the field.

Readings/Bibliography

Abramson L.W., Lee T.S., Sharma S., Boyce G.M (1996) “Slope stability and stabilization methods” John Wiley and Sons Inc., 629 pp.

Cruden, D. M., Varnes, D. J. (1996) “Landslide types and processes” In: Landslides Investigation and Mitigation, A. K. Turner and R. L. Schuster, eds.: National Research Council, Transportation Research Board, Special Report 247, p. 36-75.

Tanzini M. (2001) “Fenomeni franosi e opere di stabilizzazione” Dario Flaccovio Editore, 292 pp.

Teaching methods

The lectures and computer exercises will be held in the classroom. The field trips will be organized using either personal transportation or vehicles provided by the Department, depending on the number of students and the characteristics of the site.

Assessment methods

The assessment will consist of an oral examination on the topics covered in the syllabus. The evaluation criteria will be based on the following points, in order of importance: 1) knowledge of the basic principles of geological mechanics; 2) knowledge of the various types of landslides and related analysis techniques; 3) knowledge of monitoring and consolidation techniques; 4) use of appropriate technical language. A passing grade will be achieved with a positive assessment of points 1 and 2.

Teaching tools

The lectures will be delivered using traditional audiovisual aids (PC and projector) along with the assistance of a digital whiteboard.

In the field, the use of a compass and a survey GPS is planned. Demonstrative surveys will also be conducted using a drone and a laser rangefinder.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Berti