D1. Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course the student must demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles of earth mechanics applied to geotechnical engineering works with particular attention to the characteristic parameters to be used. Must know the qualitative and quantitative aspects of soil behaviour, the main techniques for acquiring soil and/or laboratory data and an adequate ability to interpret the results of the geotechnical knowledge acquired, and their correct communication to the other members of the scientific community and the professional world.
D2. Applying knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course the student must be able to apply the knowledge acquired in point D1 to solve geotechnical problems applied to engineering works. They must also know how to plan geognostic investigations on site and in the laboratory and know how to carry out data processing and analysis. Must be able to characterize soils from a seismic point of view and know how to use the main investigation techniques on site and in the laboratory.
D3. Making judgements: At the end of the course the student will be able to judge the methods for the geotechnical characterization of soils. Must be able to operate independently using classic techniques for analysing the stress-strain response of soils. He must propose ideas and solutions to an analytical problem and choose the most appropriate analytical technique to pursue a specific objective.
D4.Communication skills:
At the end of the course the student must be able to clearly explain the concepts acquired in point D1, be able to document the geotechnical characterization of the soil and present the analytical result correctly. They must also be able to intervene in a critical discussion on course topics by giving valid suggestions.
D5.Learning skills: At the end of the course the student must be able to independently delve into the topics covered, and must also be able to transfer the notions learned to subsequent teachings, know how to plan and propose an investigation and analysis classical quantitative stress-strain

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Nature of soil and classification. Soil behavior. Nature of soil. Soil mineralogy. Soil formation and soil deposits. Determination of soil composition and engineering properties. Permeability and capillarity. Soil water and interaction between particles and soil water. Soil fabric. Stresses in soil. Mean stress and deviatoric stress. Total, pore water pressure and effective stress. Stress increase due to surface loading. Strength and deformation characteristics of soils. Relation between stresses and strains in dry and saturated soils. Undrained and drained strength. Consolidation theory. Shear tests and triaxial tests. Oedometer tests. Site investigation. Methods of investigation. Sampling. Borehole logs. Geophysical methods. Earth pressure. Active and passive Rankine earth pressures against retaining structures. Earth retaining structures and excavation problems. Bearing capacity of soils. Bearing capacity of shallow and deep foundations. Design and Seismic Geotechnical Site Characterization after NTC 2018.

R. Berardi (2021) “Fondamenti di geotecnica” – Città Studi Edizioni. R. Lancellotta (2012) “Geotecnica” – Zanichelli. I. Smith (2014) “Smith’s elements of Soil Mechanics” – Wiley - Blackwell Publ.. M.I.T. DECRETO 17 gennaio 2018. Aggiornamento delle «Norme tecniche per le costruzioni». Lecture notes in MOODLE.

Nature of soil and classification. Soil behavior. Nature of soil. Soil mineralogy. Soil formation and soil deposits. Determination of soil composition and engineering properties. Permeability and capillarity. Soil water and interaction between particles and soil water. Soil fabric. Stresses in soil. Mean stress and deviatoric stress. Total, pore water pressure and effective stress. Stress increase due to surface loading. Strength and deformation characteristics of soils. Relation between stresses and strains in dry and saturated soils. Undrained and drained strength. Consolidation theory. Shear tests and triaxial tests. Oedometer tests. Site investigation. Methods of investigation. Sampling. Borehole logs. Geophysical methods. Earth pressure. Active and passive Rankine earth pressures against retaining structures. Earth retaining structures and excavation problems. Bearing capacity of soils. Bearing capacity of shallow and deep foundations. Design and Seismic Geotechnical Site Characterization after NTC 2018.

Lectures and exercises

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Verification of learning takes place through a final written test regarding the teaching program with 16 questions divided into 8 specific sections; some questions are theoretical in nature and others presented as numerical problems similar to those carried out in the classroom. The weight of each question is 2/30.