Base: Geotechnical Engineering

The Geotechnical Engineering Track Base Module includes three units, Theory and modelling of geo-processes (3 ECTS), Testing and modelling of soil behavior (6 ECTS), and Foundations and Excavations (6 ECTS).

Students will learn how to describe mechanical behavior (stress-strain response) of soils and rocks based on laboratory testing and data analysis. The concepts of constitutive modelling will be introduced, and the applications are discussed. The observed soil behavior from standard geotechnical laboratory tests will be presented and students will learn to analyze and interpret the test data to translate them into mathematical formulations and model parameters needed for engineering design. Formulation, assessment, and evaluation of the soil coupled hydro-mechanical response in engineering applications will be covered. The students will use the derived soil parameters in common design approaches to predict the behaviour of foundations and excavations. Case studies where the actual response of structure was measured will be used to promote reflective learning.

Moreover, the interaction between the subsurface and geotechnical structures as well as the impact of the environment on the design, construction and performance of geotechnical structures, and vice versa will be presented. Topics such as communicating with stakeholders from all relevant backgrounds about geotechnical problems and solutions will be presented and discussed.

In Track Base, the learning line of Monitoring and Data Science is covered within all three units. The basics of topics related to the monitoring of geotechnical structures will be introduced in Foundations and excavations. Additionally, all three units provide opportunities for elaborating the data, and development of models for predicting soil and geotechnical structures behavior. Such elaboration is guided throughout the module for students to learn how to process/visualize/present information for clients and stakeholders.

This module will add to the learning line on Ethics related to design of geotechnical structures considering issues such as usability/safety of geotechnical systems, evaluation, and assessment of the interaction between the subsurface and geotechnical structures as well as effective Communication with stakeholders.