AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the tools to learn about and address geotechnical aspects of infrastructure, both surface and deep, whose design, construction, operation and maintenance are significantly influenced by soil-structure interaction and possible natural geo-hazards.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

This module aims to explore in depth aspects of the design and construction of geotechnical works typically used in infrastructure projects, such as site preparation excavations, earth embankments, specific ground improvement measures, foundations for viaducts and tunnels.

The module also examines aspects relating to the planning, interpretation and application of geotechnical investigations, as well as issues concerning the management and maintenance of structures exposed to potential natural geohazards. It also addresses the topics of inspections and interventions for existing geotechnical structures (e.g. viaduct foundations, tunnels and retaining structures).

The course draws extensively on significant real-world case studies to address design, construction, monitoring and maintenance aspects. The course includes lectures delivered both by the course coordinator and by industry experts, enabling students to benefit from their professional experience in the field of civil infrastructure.

At the end of the course the student will be able to face problems and make choices in relation to the geotechnical aspects of the design, construction, management and maintenance of the civil infrastructures presented during the lectures.

SOFT SKILLS:

Personal skill: basic level (case/problem teaching).

Learning skill: basic level (case/problem teaching)

Skill in project creation: basic level (teaching for projects)

TEACHING METHODS

This module uses lectures, tutorial exercises, case histories.

SOFT SKILLS:

Personal skill: basic level (case/problem teaching).

Learning skill: basic level (case/problem teaching)

Skill in project creation: basic level (teaching for projects)

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it  ), the Polytechnic School's disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1.Civil infrastructures: main types and classes of geotechnical works.

2. Area preparation works: excavations, retaining structures, reinforced soils, ground improvement.

3. Road and railway embankments: construction, design and verification aspects.

4. Tunnels: outlines of tunnel statics; construction methods; stability and deformability problems.

5. Existing infrastructural works: management, controls, maintenance, interventions.

6. Stability problems of slopes interacting with infrastructures.

7. Analysis of case studies.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Berardi R., (2020), Fondamenti di Geotecnica, 4a Ed. 2020, Città Studi, Mondadori Università (https://www.mondadoriuniversita.it/libri-universitari/fondamenti-di-geotecnica-riccardo-berardi/)
• Ribacchi R. (2018). Meccanica delle rocce.Teoria e applicazioni nell’ingegneria. Hevelius edizioni.
• Lancellotta R., Calavera J., (1999) Fondazioni, Mc Graw Hill Italia, Milano.
• Matos Fernandes M. (2020) , Analysis and design of geotechnical structures, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
• Clayton C.R.I., Woods R.I, Bond A.J, Milititsky J., (2013) Earth Pressure and Earth-Retaining Structures, 3rd ed., CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
• Course Handouts

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/10799/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral test that focuses on the syllabus topics, as well as possible discussions of written reports on case studies and exercises developed individually or in group .

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is thougth to assess if that the theoretical and practical concepts relating to the topics of the course  have been acquired and understood, through specific questions and discussion of real case studies, as well as insights into any exercises proposed during the lessons. Both the quality of the exposition, the skill in the syllabus topics , the capacity for critical reasoning will be assessed.