Foundations

Code:

MESTEC05

Acronym:

FUN

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Construction and Civil Engineering

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Civil and Georesources Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Civil Engineering Structures

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MESTEC	7	Syllabus	1	-	6	49	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

The knowledge of the main type of foundations (shallow foundations – footings and spread footings, mats, wells, deep foundations-piles and related) is the main objective of this discipline. The particularities of the different types of foundations and their specificities as conditioned by the ground nature, is thoroughly discussed and analysed. The deepening of site investigation and characterization methods is also developed. Teaching of principles and methodologies of geotechnical and structural design of direct and deep foundations, single and in group is pursued. An introduction to ground reinforcement, treatment of sensitive soils, deepening footings and other amelioration methods, is made.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

The results of this learning process aim to incute in the students skills for the conception and design of foundations, their constrution and the control of their quality, congregatiing the rationality of the theory and the realism of the empiricism in many formulations and practical methodologies.

Due the fact that the theories dealing with the design of foundations are limited by the strong diversity and singularity of the natural soils and rock masses, the students will be educated to integrate the scientific method of looking for innovation and therefore create skills for research and development of novel solutions.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Ideally all UCs in the area of Geotechnics. In fact, this course has direct dependency with three otherthat precede it: Engineering Geology (GE), Soil Mechanics (MS) - tesed two of the graduation og Civil Engineering (L.ÉC) and Geotechnical Engineering (EG) of the master of civil engineering (M.EC). These last two are largely an important basis for knowledge of the general criteria of the characterization of soil masses, theories of Soil Mechanics and its application to the design of foundations direct. These last two are largely an important basis for knowledge of the general criteria for the characterization of earth masses, from the theories of Soil Mechanics and their application to the design of direct foundations. The last curricular unit, in the first semester of the two years of the M.EC, addresses the load capacity and settlements of direct foundations on isolated footings, serving as a starting point for the launch of the first part of the Foundations program. The awareness geomechanics is very dependent on the classification of rock and soil masses that is delt in the Course of Engineering Geology. It is still important and relevant for the proper routing of new material (more specific), the active part that the responsible of FOUNDATIONS UC has in courses that precede, particularly those of MS and EG.

Program

1 – Basis of geotechnical design

2 – Geotechnical characterization

3 – Direct foundations

4 – Deep foundations

5 – Strengthening of foundations

Mandatory literature

CEN: European Committee for standardization; Eurocode 7 – Geotechnical design. Part 1: General Rules (2004).
Manuel António de Matos Fernandes; Analysis and design of geotechnical structures. ISBN: 978-0-367-02663-9

Complementary Bibliography

Donald P. Coduto; Foundation design. ISBN: 0-13-589706-8
CEN: European Committee for standardization; Eurocode 7 – Geotechnical design. Part 2: Ground investigation and testing (2007).
CEN: European Committee for standardization; Eurocode 7 – Geotechnical design. Part 3: Design assisted by field testing (1999)

Teaching methods and learning activities

The program is presented in two-hour theoretical classes (two weekly) where, using current audiovisual media, the aim is to interest students in the geotechnical constraints that impose specificities in the geotechnical characterization methodologies of masses with a view to selecting the most suitable foundations. the good behavior of buildings and structures in general. Interchanging this theoretical exposition with some visits to current foundation works and, very particularly, special foundations (with very special emphasis on piles), theoretical and practical classes are held, lasting 1.5 hours (one per week), where the successive subjects introduced in theoretical classes are followed, with some practical problems being solved in cases of direct and indirect foundations. Students are also invited to carry out two assignments (in groups of two to three elements). The first objective of the work is to carry out a soil-structure interaction analysis, encompassing the interpretation of the results of the geological-geotechnical study, the selection of analysis and sizing methods and the interpretation of results. In the second, students are invited to define a solution in piles for the foundation of the pillar of a long-span bridge and the solution must be detailed until the complete definition of the dimensions and reinforcement of the piles and the respective header mass. In the final part of the program, a few hours of theoretical classes are allocated for an informative (and heavily illustrated) module on foundation reinforcement, with the aim being to visit foundation reinforcement works over the last two weeks.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Teste	70,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	20,00
Total:	20,00

Eligibility for exams

Achieving final classification 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

The final classification is defined based on distributed evaluation, and consists of:

- 2 (two) works in groups (TG1 and TG2), whose number of students must be of 3 elements or 4 to 5 (exceptionally);

- 1 final exam

The final classification, CF, will be calculated by the following formula:

CF = PA1 x CPE +  PA2 x CTG1 +  PA3x CTG2

CTG1 - classification of the first group work, to be completed by the end of additional five weeks of classes;

CTG2 - classification of the first group work, to be ready by the end of the semester;

CPE - classification of the final exam



Joining the following weights:

PA1 = 70%

PA2 = 15%

PA3 = 15%




NOTE 1: All students enrolled in the course are classified according to this method.

NOTE 2: Students who have attended the course in the previous academic year and not approved, can maintain the classification of the works done in the previous year (when taken together) or choose to make a new set of works; however, the weights applied will be the corresponding to the school year option.

Examinations or Special Assignments

-

Internship work/project

-

Observations

Estimated working time out of classes: 4 hours