OVERVIEW

Course leader: Riccardo Berardi

Course Code: 84540

Credits: 5

Degree: MSc  in Civil Engineering – First year – 1nd Semester

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module aims to provide students with the tools for the design, verification and construction of shallow and deep foundations and of earth retaining structures. Particular emphasis is placed on piled foundations (single piles, pile in groups, piled rafts) and embedded retaining walls for deep excavations. The module also introduces aspects relating to ground improvement techniques, which are treated as specialised geotechnical works.

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 analyses.

The course also introduces some topics covered in greater detail in courses offered in the second year of the Master’s program in Civil Engineering (e.g., reinforced soil walls, soil improvement and reinforcement techniques); these topics are therefore covered only in general terms, with the aim of providing students who do not have other geotechnical engineering courses in their study plan (students enrolled in the Structures track) with a basic foundation to support their subsequent independent study.

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.

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

• Shallow foundations: bearing capacity and settlment calculation. Soil-foundation-structure interaction. 
• Deep foundations. Types and construction methods. Single pile under axial loading: bearing capacity and settlement. Loading tests. Group of piles.  Single pile and pile group 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.
• Soil reinforced walls: reinforced earth and geosynthetic reinforced walls.  Overview on principles and design analyses.
• Overview on the structural design of foundations
• Overview on ground improvement methods in foundation applications.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Course Handouts (AulaWeb)
• Berardi R. (2020), Fondamenti di Geotecnica, 4a Ed. Città Studi, Mondadori Università (https://www.mondadoriuniversita.it/libri-universitari/fondamenti-di-geotecnica-riccardo-berardi/)
• 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.
• Fleming W., Weltman A., Randolph M., Elson W. (1992), Piling Engineering, 2nd ed., Blackie Academic & Professional, Glasgow and London.
• Berardi G., (1974), Ingegneria delle Fondazioni, in Enciclopedia dell’Ingegneria, Cap. 45.2, ISEDI, Istituto Editoriale Internazionale, Milano.

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 a discussion of possible 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.