Foundations

Recommended Prerequisites

Soil Mechanics I, Soil Mechanics II.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes consisting of a detailed lecturing of the concepts, principles and essential theories that are related to the behaviour of shallow and deep foundations. Real cases are presented and special focus is given to the planning and execution of in-situ tests and the constructive methods of foundations. Problems are solved during the presentation.

Theoretical-Practical classes in which students are intended to solve the problems that are proposed in the class worksheets, under the professor’s supervision.

Learning Outcomes

Present the students to the fundamental concepts on design and analysis of shallow and deep foundations. These concepts include the thorough definition of the subsurface exploration program with the objective of supporting the design. 

By semester’s end, the students shall have acquired competences on analysis and design of foundations.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Subsurface exploration

In-situ testing: sampling; SPT, CPT, dynamic probing, vane test, cross-hole seismic test, plate load test, Marcheti dilatometer, pressuremeters.

2. Shallow foundations

Types of foundations; bearing capacity; settlements analysis.

3. Deep foundations

Construction techniques; bearing capacity of a single pile; load tests; integrity tests; bearing capacity of pile groups; settlements of a single pile and pile groups; piles under lateral loads.

4. Pathologies of foundations.

Head Lecturer(s)

Paulo Miguel Cunha Matos Lopes Pinto

Assessment Methods

Final
Exam: 100.0%

Continuous
Mini Tests: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

• Pinto, P.L. (2011) – Apontamentos sobre Fundações, DEC-FCTUC.

• Matos Fernandes, M. (2011) – Mecânica dos Solos – Introdução à Engenharia Geotécnica, vol. 2, Edições FEUP.

• Coduto, D.P. (2001), Foundation Design: Principles and Practices, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall.