In a booming sector, where demand for skilled professionals continues to grow, the course in Soil Pressures and Earth Retaining Structures offers you the opportunity to gain essential knowledge in a crucial area of civil engineering. You will learn how to carry out field surveys and interpret triaxial tests and to understand the theoretical principles of earth pressure. This course is designed to equip you with the skills needed to tackle the challenges of designing and constructing rigid and flexible walls, providing innovative and sustainable solutions. Furthermore, as it is a online course, you’ll be able to access the content from anywhere, tailoring your learning to your personal needs.
Sector-specific
Civil Engineering and Structures
40 hours
Soil Pressures and Earth Retaining Structures
Civil Engineering and Structures
40 hours
Introduction
Objectives
• Understanding the field surveys to assess geotechnical conditions.
• Identify types of perforations and carry out in-situ tests accurate.
• Carry out identification and strength tests on soils and rocks.
• Interpret the results of the triaxial test to improve geotechnical analyses.
• Assess service limit states in retaining structures.
• Analyse the theoretical foundations of landslides for effective design.
• Design and evaluate rigid and flexible walls for earth retention.
Table of Contents
TEACHING UNIT 1. SOIL MECHANICS
Previous work
Design and planning of research campaigns
The geotechnical survey
Soil samples
Preliminary research and field surveys
Drilling and sampling techniques
In-situ testing of soils and rock masses
TEACHING UNIT 2. MAIN FIELD TESTS
The concept of identification and the state of resistance
Identification and condition assessments
Strength tests
Introduction to triaxial testing. Preliminary concepts
Definition of the triaxial test
Interpretation of the triaxial test
Practical applications of the triaxial test
TEACHING UNIT 3. SOIL AND ROCK TESTS
Deformability test
Interpretation of the edometric test
Compaction and reuse tests
Laboratory tests for the characterisation of rocks
In-situ tests for the characterisation of rocks
TEACHING UNIT 4. DEFINITION OF SERVICE LIMIT STATES
Definitions and concepts
Stress distributions in the ground
Estimation of settlement in granular soils
Estimation of settlement in cohesive soils
Other methods and other deformations
TEACHING UNIT 5. THEORETICAL BASIS OF EARTH PRESSURES
Coulomb’s fundamental hypotheses
Soil mechanics according to Terzaghi and Rankine
Static buoyancy coefficients. Empirical equations by Jaky and Mayne
Winkler module
Numerical models (2D/3D FEM, LEM, DEM)
The earthquake and its mechanical effects on the ground
TEACHING UNIT 6. RIGID (NON-MOVABLE) WALLS
An Introduction to the Design of Rigid Walls
Design and calculation of gravity walls
Construction methods and geometry of gravity walls
Classification and stability of rigid walls
Masonry systems
Other rigid walls
TEACHING UNIT 7. FLEXIBLE (SLIDING) WALLS
Principles of flexible behaviour
Design and specifications for gabion and screen walls
Reinforced concrete continuous walls
Pile and micropile screens
Types of screen fixings
Excavation work on sheet piling and trenches
TEACHING UNIT 8. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Wall construction methods
Auscultation instrumentation for ground movement and monitoring
Main problems associated with land (expansive, collapsible and liquefiable soils; man-made fill; soil improvement treatments)
Selection of standard sections and filtration design
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