Grondmechanica

The course explains the basic concepts of theoretical and applied soil mechanics. Theoretical soil mechanics includes: Soil Characteristics; Groundwater; Geomechanics; Shear Strength of Soils. Applied soil mechanics includes: Retaining Structures; Foundations; Slope Stability.

• Soil Characteristics: Classification and mineralogy of soils; Grains, grain size distribution and porosity; Introduction to in situ testing.

• Groundwater: Pore pressure and effective stress; Darcys law, permeability and groundwater flow.

• Geomechanics: Stresses and initial stress state; Strains, stress-strain relationships and tangent modulus; Elastic solutions; Consolidation, drained and undrained behaviour.

• Shear Strength of Soils: Drained and undrained soil behaviour; total and effective shear strength parameters; Mohr circles; Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion; stress paths; shear test; triaxial test; site investigation; soil sampling.

• Retaining Structures: Lateral earth pressure at rest; passive and active pressures; Rankine; Coulomb; sheet pile walls; Blum.

• Foundations: Geotechnical bearing capacity; shallow and deep foundations; Prandtl; Brinch Hansen; pile foundations.

• Slope Stability: Limit equilibrium methods; vertical slope; infinite slope; method of slices; Fellenius; Bishop.

The learning goals of this course will be tested with:

Written examination (in English/Dutch) at the end of the course.

Mid-term test must be passed to gain entry to the exam.

Final mark = examination grade only.

For more information on grading, see article 14 in the Rules and Guidelines (RGBE):

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/student/ceg-student-portal/education/education-information/educational-rules-and-regulations

The following materials are permitted during tests:

• Calculator as described in the Examination regulation

• Writing and drawing implements

Permitted Materials during Exam

Standard calculator. Formula sheet will be provided.