Application Geossynthetics in Civil Engineering

Code:

EC0042

Acronym:

AGSEC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Materials

Instance: 2015/2016 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Construction Materials Division
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEC	6	Syllabus since 2006/2007	5	-	5	52,5	133

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course aims to provide information about polymers materials also known as geossynthetics.
Therefore, this course aims to acquaint students with:
- Constituent polymers and geossinthetics structures;
- The functions that these materials can operate in Civil Engineering works and the properties related to the performance of that functions;
- test these materials;
- Sizing methods for each geossynthetics function;
- construction procedures

Learning outcomes and competences

Learning Outcomes:
Core engineering fundamental knowledge
Advanced engineering fundamental knowledge (applications)
Engineering reasoning and problem solving
Experimentation and knowledge discovery
Advanced engineering fundamental knowledge
Personal skills and attitudes
External and societal context
Conceiving and engineering systems
Designing

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Constituent Polymers and Structures
1.1 Constituent polymers and additives
1.2 Fabrication procedures and different structures decurrent of the fabrication methodologies.
1.3 Functions that the geossynthetics may exercise in substitution of natural materials on Civil Engineering works – Essential properties to the exercise of those functions.
1.4 Adequacy, from the structure point of view, of the different types of geossynthetics to each function.
1.5 Essential properties to the survival during the instalation and to the durability of materials on service.

2. Normalization and Tests
2.1 Present situation of the European geossynthetics normalization.
2.2 Conformity tests to verify the physical, mechanic and hydraulic properties and the materials durability.
2.3 Quantification and application control tests

3. Geossynthetics Durability
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Damage during the instalation. Influence of constituente polymers and structures
3.3 Degradation caused by atmospheric agents. Influence of constituent polymers and addictives and of structure
3.4 Degradation caused by thermal oxidation, hydrolysis and by acid and alkaline solutions. Influence of constituent polymers and addictives and of structure
3.5 Microbiological degradation. Influence of constituent polymers and addictives and of structure

4. Hydraulic Works
4.1 Main functions – separation, filtering and draining
4.2 Sizing methods. Definition of the boundary-values of the properties.
4.3 Construtive procedures

5. Road Works
5.1 Main functions – separation, filtering, draining and reinforcement by the membrane mechanic action
5.2 Reinforcement of paved and non-paved ways
5.2.1 Rupture mode
5.3 Sizing methods. Definition of the boundary-values of the properties.
5.4 Construtive procedures 

6. Erosion control systems
6.1 Types of erosion control systems
6.2 Main functions – separation, filtering and draining
6.3 Sizing methods. Definition of the boundary-values of the properties.
6.4 Construtive procedures

7. Geotechnical Works
7.1 Main functions – separation, filtering, draining and traction and watertightening reinforcement
7.2 Long and short term geossynthetics mechanic behaviour. Constituent polymers and structure roles.
7.3 Soil systems reinforced with geossynthetics
7.3.1 Geossynthetic soil interaction
7.3.2 Reinforcement of landfill bases
7.3.2.1 Rupture mode
7.3.2.2 Sizing methods. External stability and internal stability. Definition of the boundary-values of the properties.
7.3.2.3 Construtive procedures
7.3.3 Walls and slopes reinforcement
7.3.3.1 Rupture mode
7.3.3.2 Sizing methods. External stability and internal stability. Definition of the boundary-values of the properties.
7.3.3.3 Construtive procedures
7.4 Waterproffing systems
7.4.1 Waterprooffing systems types – Constitution
7.4.2 Rupture mode
7.4.3 Sizing methods. Definition of the boundary-values of the properties.
7.4.4 Construtive procedures
7.4.5 Application control procedures

DEMONSTRATION OF THE SYLLABUS COHERENCE WITH THE CURRICULAR UNIT'S OBJECTIVES:
The increasing use of geosynthetics to replace natural materials in civil engineering works associated with the low cost of these materials, simplicity of application and contribution to reducing the environmental impact are important factors to present appropriate techniques of design, application and quality control of geosynthetics in different types of civil engineering works.

Comments from the literature

The bibliography will be available in SiFEUP contents.

Teaching methods and learning activities

This course aims to relate the theoretical classes with the theoretical-practical/practical ones, so that students can easily be acquainted with the themes of the course. Additionally, it will be used slides and movies (real situations), in order to clarify the themes of the course.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE COHERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The used teaching methodologies allow to deal with main themes related to application of geossynthetics in civil engineering, analysis, discussion and critical interpretation of results, emphasizing the potential of writing communication, problem formulation and certification.

keywords

Technological sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Trabalho laboratorial	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	30,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho laboratorial	28,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Achieving final assessment requires compliance with attendance at the course unit, according to the MIEC assessment rules. It is considered that students meet the attendance requirements if, having been regularly enrolled, the number of absences of 25% for each of the classes’ types is not exceeded.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final assessment is based on a distributed evaluation composed by a Laboratory Work.

The final assessement, CF, is obtained by:

CF = max {CT ; EF}

where

CT = PA  x TRL + PF x EF

TRL - rating of the Laboratory Work
EF - rating of the written assessment

The weights for TRL and EF are:

PA = (25%)
PF = (75%)

All the components of the assessment are expressed on 0-20 scale.

Classification improvement

Written assessment (0-20).

Observations

Previous attendance of sujects: Construction Materials and Soil Mechanics