Architecture

The course can be divided into two parts. In the first part an understanding of the nature of soils, the identification and classification methodologies, their physical characteristics and their mechanical behavior are illustrated in detail. In the second part, foundation engineering topics are described with special reference to the design of shallow and deep foundations as well as retaining walls. Lesson 0. Introduction to the course. Lesson 1. Origin and formation of soils and rocks Lesson 2. Description and classification of soils. Grain size distribution. Characteristics of coarse-grained and fine-grained soils. Lesson 3. Water in the ground. Hydrostatic conditions. Seepage. Permeability. Lesson 4. Continuum mechanics. Constitutive models. Stress-strain relationships. Lesson 5. Principle of Effective Stresses. Geostatic conditions. Lesson 6. Drained and undrained conditions. Consolidation. Lesson 7. Laboratory geotechnical tests. Undrained Strength and Effective Stress Strength. Lesson 8. Compression tests and direct shear tests. Lesson 9. Triaxial tests. Applicative topics Lesson 10. Shallow foundations and deep foundations. Generalities. Types and examples of foundations. Lesson 11. Shallow foundations; bearing capacity; general failure, local failure and punching, influence of pore water pressure. Lesson 12. Settlements of shallow foundations. Lesson 13. Criteria for design of shallow foundations. Lesson 14. Pile foundations: definitions and types; technical characteristics; executive technologies; bearing capacity. Lesson 15. Earth pressure. Rankine Theory. Types of retaining wall. Lesson 16. Technical Standards of Construction NTC18.

At the beginning of the teaching activity, the student must have knowledge of Basic Mechanics (Statics) and Strength of Materials.

R. Lancellotta (2012) Geotechnics - Zanichelli Soil Mechanics – A.Burghignoli (2018), Hevelius; Benevento Atkinson J. (1997) «Geotecnica» Ed.McGraw Hill Viggiani C. (1999) - Foundations. HEVELIUS, Benevento Lanzo G. (2018) – Lecture Notes

Attendance in class is optional and takes place according to the timetables and in the classrooms established by the Dean Office. Attendance, although strongly encouraged, does not contribute to the final mark.

The way the exam is conceived allows the assessment of the actual achievement by the student of the educational objectives, in particular on applying knowledge and understanding skills. There will be an oral exam on the topics covered during the lessons and the monography work on a real case study. During the exam, the tutorials and the monographic work carried out during the year will also be evaluated and discussed. The student must use appropriate language, demonstrate that he has acquired sufficient knowledge of the topics covered and follow a logical path in solving a question.

The teaching method used consists of lectures, with traditional use of the blackboard; some lessons will be held with the use of multimedia supports (slides). At the end of the lesson there will always be a final space reserved for students' questions for clarification. Numerous practical tutorials are also provided, with the aid of the personal computer, to evaluate the students' ability to exploit their knowledge of the topics covered. The preparation of a monographic work, which can also be carried out in a group, relating to a real case study, contributes to the achievement of specific training objectives such as: a) critical and judgmental skills, through the choice of the geotechnical parameters of interest for the problem under study and relevant for developing the geotechnical model of the subsoil; b) ability to communicate what has been learned during the lessons and to argue the choices made, both during the reviews and during the exam; c) learning ability with regard to issues that are limitedly treated or not completely treated in the lectures because they are specific to the real case study.