Models and Safety in Geotechnics

Code:

EC5119

Acronym:

MSG

Instance: 2006/2007 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Geotechnics Division
Course/CS Responsible:	Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LEC	10	Plano de estudos de transição para 2006/07	5	6	6	-
MIEC	11	Plano de estudos de transição para 2006/07	5	-	6	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Introduction to concepts from the Theory of Elasticity and the Theory of Plasticity providing the basis for design methods in Geotechnical Engineering.
Introduction to the safety assessment of geotechnical works and their supporting principles and methods.

Program

States of stress and strain. Equilibrium equations and boundary conditions. Strain compatibility equations.
Linear elasticity. Solution methods for two-dimensional elastic problems. Solution of some two-dimensional elastic problems. Application of the Theory of Elasticity to the solution of some problems in Soil Mechanics.
Perfect plasticity. Yield Criteria. The yielding mechanism of plastic solids. Limit Analysis theorems; solution of some problems. Limit Equilibrium methods.
Hardening plasticity. Yield surfaces and their evolution. Hardening laws. Evaluation of plastic strain; the normality principle. Associated and non-associated plasticity. Elastoplastic stiffness matrix. The mechanical behaviour of clay; phenomenological models (the hyperbolic model).
Introduction to the analysis of safety. Deterministic, semi-probabilistic and probabilistic methods. Reliability Theory; probability of collapse. Partial safety factors; Eurocodes 1 and 7.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course has a clear emphasis on the theoretical aspects, combined with the solution of application problems.
A list of problems is presented for resolution.
An assignment is proposed involving the experimental characterization of the mechanical behaviour of some soils, with the purpose of relating laboratory results with constitutive modelling.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Eligibility for exams

In accordance with the General Assessment Rules.

Calculation formula of final grade

Exam grading which may be increased by up to 2/20 as a result of the assignment report.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Application problems proposed for resolution.
Assignment requiring the determination of soil constitutive parameters from the analysis of experimental results of mechanical characterization.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance with the General Assessment Rules.

Classification improvement

In accordance with the General Assessment Rules.

Observations

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Estimated working time out of classes: 4 hours