SPECIAL FOUNDATIONS - Module

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course focuses on the design of foundations and earth retaining structures. The behavior of these structures under serviceability and ultimate conditions is discussed in order to clarify the approaches, the calculation procedures and modeling assumptions adopted in the design. The previously acquired knowledge is integrated considering the soil-structure interaction problems, the non-linear behavior of the soil, the choice of the geotechnical parameters that have to be considered for the numerical analyzes.

At the end of the course, the student must be able to make choices in relation to the definition of the type of foundation and earth retaining structure suitable for the design case under study, as well as to design the structure in compliance with the serviceability limit and ultimate limit states.

TEACHING METHODS

This module uses lectures, tutorial exercises, case histories.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Shallow foundations: soil-foundation-structure interaction. Structural design of foundations
• Deep foundations. Types and construction methods. Single pile under axial loading: bearing capacity and settlement. Loading tests. Group of piles.  Single pile under horizontal loading: bearing capacity and settlement.
• Earth Retaining structures: Earth pressure principles and components.  Types of retaining structures. Gravity retaining walls. Embedded walls. Ground Anchors in retaining structures.Soil diplacements due to deep excavation and consequences on existing buildings.
• Composite walls: reinforced earth and geosynthetic reinforced walls.  Principles and design analyses.
• Global stability for slopes and excavations
• Soil improvement methods in foundation applications: Preloading, vertical drains and radial consolidation; soil compaction; soil stabilization; jet grouting and deep mixing

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Set of Lectures (AulaWeb)

Berardi R., Fondamenti di Geotecnica, 4a Ed. 2020, Città Studi, De Agostini Scuola (www.cittastudi.it).

Lancellotta R., Calavera J., Fondazioni, 1999, Mc Graw Hill Italia, Milano.

Viggiani C., Fondazioni, 1999, Hevelius, Benevento.

Berardi G., Ingegneria delle Fondazioni, in Enciclopedia dell’Ingegneria, Cap. 45.2, ISEDI, Istituto Editoriale Internazionale, 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., Earth Pressure and Earth-Retaining Structures, 3rd ed., 2013 CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.

Fleming W., Weltman A., Randolph M., Elson W., 1992, Piling Engineering, 2nd ed., Blackie Academic & Professional, Glasgow and London.