Soil Mechanics I

Year
3
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
01005531
Subject Area
Geotechnical
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

General Hydraulics I, Solid Mechanics, Engineering Geology.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes with detailed presentation, using audiovisual means, of the concepts, principles and fundamental theories and solving of basic practical exercises to illustrate the practical interest of the subject and exemplify its application to real cases.

Theoretical-practical classes where the students, supervised by the staff member, solve practical exercises, which require the combination of different theoretical concepts and promote critical reasoning in the presence of more complex problems.

Laboratory classes with execution/observation of tests, including treatment and interpretation of results.

Learning Outcomes

To provide the students with the main concepts, principles and theories required to explain, understand and predict the physical state and the hydraulic and the mechanic behaviours of soil massifs, in the natural condition and when used as a construction material, under the influence of the loading imposed  by structures built on or inside them.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Physical and Identification properties

Composition; basic properties; grain size distribution; plasticity of clayey soils; Unified Classification.

2. Compaction

Basic concepts; compaction in the laboratory; compaction equipment; compaction procedures and control in the field.

3. Stress state at rest

Stress concept in particulate media; principle of effective stress; evaluation of the stress state at rest.

4. Water in soils. Percolation

One-dimensional flow; assessment of permeability; bi-dimensional flow; hydraulic instability; capillarity.

5. Compressibility and consolidation

Confined stratum; oedometer test; primary consolidation settlements; Terzaghi’s theory of consolidation; secondary consolidation; consolidation acceleration.

6. Stresses and elastic strains

Problem formulation; models of soil behaviour; elastic solutions for surface loading; calculation of strains; ground settlements.

Head Lecturer(s)

Jorge Nuno Veiga de Almeida e Sousa

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment
Exam: 50.0%
Mini Tests: 50.0%

Bibliography

• Matos Fernandes, M. (2006) – Mecânica dos Solos – Conceitos e Princípios Fundamentais, Vol. I, Edições FEUP.

• Lemos, L. L. (2002) – Apontamentos de Mecânica dos Solos, DEC-FCTUC.

• Das, B. M. (2000) - Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, Brooks/Cole.

• Coelho, P.A.L.F., Almeida e Sousa, J. e Marques, F.E.R. (2007) – Diapositivos das aulas teóricas de Mecânica dos Solos I, DEC-FCTUC.