Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The course sessions will combine the presentation of basic concepts, principles and theories with the resolution of some simple problems that contribute to the assimilation of the fundamentals by illustrating their practical interest and their application to real case studies. Extensive use will also be made of commercial programs in the performance of parametric studies aimed at evaluating the relative importance of several factors in the quality and cost of the solution.

Learning Outcomes

The main objective of this module is to provide the fundamentals associated with the numerical analysis of geotechnical works, in order to enable the student to master the theoretical foundations of the finite element method, to understand its potential and its importance in geotechnical design, as well as its limitations and pitfalls, and to be able to apply it properly to a range of real geotechnical problems.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Geotechnical analyses: objectives; mathematical formulation; geometric idealization; methods of analysis.

2. Finite element method: discretization; element characteristic matrices - structural analysis, groundwater flow; assembly and solution of the equation system; computation of derived quantities; shape functions and numerical integration.

3. Modelling of structural elements and their interface with the soil: beam elements; joint elements.

4. Constitutive laws: soil behaviour; types of models; determination of the material parameters.

5. Non-linear analyses: material non-linearity; geometric non-linearity; coupled consolidation.

6. Definition of initial conditions and loading: initial stress state; prescribed displacements; point loads; distributed loads; body forces; landfills; excavations; pore water pressure; infiltration.

7. Errors and limitations of the numerical methods.

8. Applications to various geotechnical structures.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

Guidelines for the use of advanced numerical analysis. Editors: David Potts, Kennet Axelsson, Lars Grand, Helmut Schweiger and Michael Long. Thomas Telford Ltd.

Finite Element Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering: Theory and Application. David M Potts and Lidija Zdravkovic. Thomas Telford Ltd.