Geomechanics

CIVIL-402 / 5 credits

Teacher(s): Ferrari Alessio, Laloui Lyesse

Language: English

Summary

The course covers engineering applications and challenges in geomechanics, including stress-strain behavior of geomaterials in variousconditions, triaxial testing,and constitutive frameworks for elasticity and plasticity.Practical insights are gained through workshops with geomechanics professionals

Content

  • Engineering applications and challenges
  • Basic concepts of continuum mechanics and geomechanics

- Stress-strain behaviour of geomaterials in drained and undrained conditions

- Laboratory tests with special focus on triaxial testing

  • Practical aspects in geomechanics

- In-situ stress state

- In-situ geotechnical testing

- Numerical modelling in geotechnics

- Soil-structure interaction principles

  • Stress-strain constitutive frameworks

- Elasticity: Linear and non-linear elasticity; Applications of elastic models

- Plasticity: Plasticity principle and yield criteria for geomaterials;

Critical state concept; Elasto-plastic stress-strain constitutive frameworks                            (among others Modified Cam-Clay model)

  • Mechanics of unsaturated geomaterials

- Basic concepts

- Hydraulic and mechanical behaviour

- Effective stress definition for unsaturated geomaterials

  • Retaining structures in saturated and unsaturated geomaterials

- Lateral earth pressure for saturated and unsaturated soils                          (Rankine's theory)

- Shear strength of unsaturated geomaterials

- Darcy's law for saturated and unsaturated geomaterials

  • Time dependent behaviour of geomaterials

- Time-dependent phenomena

- Viscous deformations: basic concepts and experimental evidence

- Visco-elasto-plastic models

  • Thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of geomaterials

- THM application in geomechanics

- Constitutive effect of temperature and experimental observations

- THM constitutive modelling

  • Concepts of soil dynamics and local seismic response

- Soil cyclic behaviour and hydro-mechanical dynamic effects

- Dynamic liquefaction

- Models for soil cyclic response

- Local seismic response

  • Advanced topics in geomechanics

- Energy related applications

- Bio-improved soils

  • Seminar series with professionals in geomechanics and geotechnical engineering

 

 

Keywords

Mechanical behaviour of geomaterial, constitutive models, elasto-plasticity, numerical modelling in geomechanics, laboratory and in-situ testing

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Soil mechanics and groundwater seepage

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Recognize the stress path(s) to which the soil is subjected in the context of the engineering application of interest
  • Use methods for evaluating the in-situ stress state
  • Recognize the most suitable constitutive model for the problem of interest in relation to the soil and the problem itself
  • Judge capabilities and limitations of constitutive models
  • Assess / Evaluate Evaluate the geotechnical parameters governing the geomechanical problem
  • Design laboratory or in-situ tests for the determination of the needed parameters
  • Interpret /Process the experimental data resulting from a laboratory campaign in order to obtain the parameters of interest
  • Assess / Evaluate the soils response under various environmental conditions (unsaturated, non-isothermal, dynamic)
  • Use consciously a finite element software for creating a geomechanical model appropriate for the problem of interest

Transversal skills

  • Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
  • Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
  • Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
  • Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
  • Use both general and domain specific IT resources and tools
  • Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.

Teaching methods

  • Ex cathedra and exercices

Assessment methods

Final exam (written): 60% of the final mark

Mid-term exam (written): 20% of the final mark

Continuous assessment (workshops and projects): 20% of the final mark

 

Supervision

Office hours No
Assistants Yes
Forum No

Resources

Bibliography

Lectures notes and handouts given during the course

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Geomechanics
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Geomechanics
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Geomechanics
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Exam form: Written (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Geomechanics
  • Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

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