Course content

Total and effective stress based strength assessments. Plastic stress fields, basic stress elements and combinations of these. Calculation principles and practical use of these for analyses of stability of slopes, earth pressures behind walls and bearing capacity of structures. Use of european standard EN 1997-1.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate should have knowledge of:

• Strength of soil in plane strain situation expressed in total and effective stresses
• Principles on how strength parameters may be determined
• Principles for prescribing safety margins
• Stress fields based on the theory of plasticity
• The basis for deriving formulas for earth pressure and bearing capacity resulting from the stress fields
• Principles for calculating the earth pressure against retaining walls and the required dimensions of foundations
• Landslides and the principles for calculating the stability of a slope.

Skills

The candidate is able to:

• Assess the stability of a slope when the geometry, soil strength and water pressures inside and outside the slope are defined
• 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
• Adapt general stress field combinations when deviating from idealized earth pressure and bearing capacity problems (for instance by sloping terrain)
• Develop personal judgement skills and see the geotechnical knowledge in a broader engineering context.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, assignments and laboratory exercises.

Compulsory assignments

• Assignments

Recommended previous knowledge

Exam in topic TBA4100 Geotechnics and Geology.

Course materials

Lecture notes from the geotechnical department.

Credit reductions