Risk and Safety in Geotechnical Engineering

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical-practical classes combining in a balanced way, detailed theoretical expositions, using audiovisual means, concepts, principles and theories, with the resolution, by the students, of exercises enhancing the practical interest of the topic and exemplifying its application with real situations. a Final courseworl will allow the application of the several concepts to a more complex situation.

Learning Outcomes

This course covers the fundamentals associated with the reliability analysis of structures and geotechnical engineering, as well as to allow the student to understand the concept of risk and what are the tools available for the analysis. It also aims to introduce the philosophy of safety associated with the Eurocodes. At the end of the course student will be able to:

- Perform reliability analysis of geotechnical problems with reduced mathematical complexity;

- Use risk analysis tools for the study of geotechnical problems;

- Apply concepts of reliability in the light of the concepts of the Eurocodes, using complementary methodologies.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Basic concepts: definition of the objectives and scope; Uncertainty and risk in Geotechnical Engineering.

2. Review probability concepts.

3. Reliability Analysis and propagation of errors

3.1 FOSM method (First Order Second Moment)

3.2 Hasofer-Lind Method

3.3 Monte Carlo simulation.

4. Safety factors for actions and resistance

5. Security Analysis by Eurocodes

6. Risk, decisions and judgment; risk identification (initiating events, modes and failure scenarios, exposure factors, identification of the consequences)

7. Quantification of risk and geotechnical risk

8. Risk Analysis Methods: Risk Matrix; Event trees; Fault Trees; Monte Carlo simulations; Intelligent Systems.

9. Observational method; application during the design and construction phase and during the service life.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 25.0%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

- Silva Cardoso, A.; Apontamentos de Segurança Estrutural em Geotecnia, FEUP

- Baecher, G. B.; Christian, John T.; Reliability and Statistics in Geotechnical Engineering, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2003, 605 pp.

- Fenton, G. A; Griffiths, D. V. – Risk Assessment in Geotechnical Engineering, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2008, 461 pp.

- Phoon, K; Ching, J. - Risk and Reliability in Geotechnical Engineering, CRC Press, 2014, 624 pp.