italian version

Aims :

The course will provide a full knowledge of the most important theoretical and practical aspects of geotechnics with emphasis on the design of foundations, earth retaining structures.

Topics :

Theoretical aspects: Mechanical behaviour and properties of natural soils from laboratory and in situ testings; compressibility and strength of soils; soil dilatancy and friction. Undrained shear strength. Soil constitutive laws: linear and non linear elasticity; perfect and hardening plasticity. Hints on the Cam Clay model. Limit analysis: use of the stress and strain characteristics.
Engineering design: Earth retaining structures: rigid and flexible walls; anchors. Design of spread foundations: stability and serviceability. Settlement analysis. The design of pile foundations through analytical methods; pile settlements. Codes for geotechnical design: Eurocodes 7 and 8. Practical work: numerical examples will be assigned on the most common problems of geotechnical engineering.

Textbooks :

Carlo Viggiani, Fondazioni, Hevelius Edizioni

Roberto Nova, Fondamenti di Meccanica delle Terre, McGraw Hill, Milano, 2002.
David Muir Wood, Soil Behaviour and Critical State Soil Mechanics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1990.

Exam :

A written paper and an oral examination are both required.

Tutorial Session :

Friday 3.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.