Lesson 1. Introduction. Course introduction and organization; exam method.
Lesson 2. Soil description and classification. Soil description. Index properties. Phase relationships. Particle size analysis. Atterberg’s limit. Soil classification systems.
EX2. Tutorial on Soil Classification.
Lesson 3. Seepage in stationary stable and one-dimensional conditions. Bernoulli’s theorem. Darcy’s law. Permeability. Capillarity. Determination of coefficient of permeability. Equivalent permeability in layered deposits.
EX3. Tutorial on one-dimensional seepage and permeability (in-situ and laboratory techniques).
Lesson 4. The principle of effective stress. Stresses in porous media; Total stress, effective stress and pore water pressure. The principle of effective stress and calculation of stress state under hydrostatic condition. Volume change and drainage conditions.
EX4. Tutorial on the principle of effective stress and drained/undrained conditions.
Lesson 5. Total stress, pore water pressure and effective stress when one-dimensional seepage is occurring. Stationary conditions, seepage-induced liquefaction.
EX5. Tutorial on stress state when one-dimensional seepage is occurring.
Lesson 6. Seepage in bi-dimensional stable conditions. Seepage theory. Confined seepages and boundary conditions. Pore water pressure when bi-dimensional seepage is occurring.
EX6. Tutorial in bi-dimensional stable conditions.
Lesson 7. One-dimensional consolidation. Soils’ stress state and deformation. Stress due to self-weight of soil and history of the stress state. Oedometer test. One-dimensional consolidation theory per different boundary conditions. Definition of over-consolidation ratio (local and mean values). One-dimensional consolidation settlements.
EX7.Tutorial on one-dimensional consolidation and oedometer test.
Lesson 8. Mechanical behaviour of soils. Strength parameters and critical state concept. Direct shear test. Triaxial tests. Effective and total stress paths. The critical state. Mechanical behaviour of coarse-grained soils. Mechanical behaviour of fine-grained soils. Strain and strength parameters of soils. Skempton’s coefficients.
EX8. Tutorial on direct shear test and triaxial tests.
Lesson 9. Design Approaches.
Lesson 10. Ground investigation and in-situ testing.