Course Details

1. Appreciate how real behaviour of soil is approximated in different ways when using analysis techniques.
2. Evaluate analysis techniques for modelling typical soil-structure interaction cases.
3. Select appropriate constitutive models for the ground.
4. Select appropriate geometrical approximations for different analysis situations
5. Determine the non-linear stiffness of a soil from test data.
6. Describe common pitfalls of geotechnical analysis.
7. Plan the execution of an analysis of a typical geotechnical structure.

Introduction: revision and real soil behaviour and why it is unsuited to simple constitutive modelling.

Methods of analysis:beam-spring, numerical analysis (FE, finite difference, boundary element analysis) of continua.

Constitutive models: linear elastic (Hooke), LEPP, hyperbolic, non-linear stiffness, anisotropic.

Model parameters: obtaining parameters (methods of laboratory and in situ testing), derivation and validation of parameters.

Geometric considerations: plane strain, axisymmetric and 3D analyses.

Geotechnical considerations: total stress analysis, pore pressure calculation, consolidation, structural interfaces, boundary conditions. Pitfalls of geotechnical analysis.

Analysis techniques: methods of analysing geotechnical structures, e.g. raft foundations, piled rafts, pile groups, basements/retaining walls.

• “How to undertake finite element based geotechnical analysis”, Mar, A. NAFEMS
• “Obtaining parameters for geotechnical analysis”, Lees, A. NAFEMS.

• “Finite Element Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering”, Vol 1 & 2, Potts, DM and Zdravkovic, L., Thomas Telford.

The course will be presented through theoretical lectures in class. The lectures will present to the student the course content and allow for questions. Part of the material will be presented using visual aids. Lecture notes, project assignments, practice questions, feedback and additional material such as site videos and photographs will be available to students at any time on the e-learning Moodle platform. The learning process will be enhanced with the requirement from the student to solve exercises. These include self-evaluation exercises which will be solved in class. These exercises will not be graded. Design projects will be given as part of their assessment. The instructor will be available to students during office hours or by appointment in order to provide any additional tutoring.