Sector-specific

Groundwater. Effects on soils and rocks.

This course is designed for professionals and graduates in the geotechnical and environmental fields who seek to enhance or update their understanding of groundwater dynamics. It covers key topics such as fluid flow in porous media, effective stress, pore pressures, soil consolidation, and the impact of water on soils and rocks. Ideal for those interested in the nuances of wells and pumping systems.

40 hours

Civil Engineering and Structures

Dive into the dynamic world of groundwater with our course Groundwater. Effects on soils and rocks. As urban development and climate change escalate, understanding groundwater’s impact on soil and rock becomes crucial. This field is experiencing a surge in demand, with opportunities spanning engineering, environmental consulting, and urban planning.

Our course equips you with essential skills in fluid flow through porous media, effective stress, pore pressures, and soil consolidation, ensuring you are ready to tackle real-world challenges. Explore the mechanics of wells and pumping systems, enhancing your ability to innovate in sustainable water management solutions. Embrace the opportunity to elevate your expertise and stand out in a growing sector.

Course objectives

To understand fluid flow dynamics in porous media and their impact on geological formations.
To analyse effective stress and pore pressures in various soil and rock types.
To evaluate how groundwater influences soil stability and rock integrity.
To explore soil consolidation processes and their importance in engineering.
To assess the design and operation of wells and pumping systems.
To interpret data related to groundwater effects on construction projects.
To apply theoretical knowledge of groundwater dynamics to real-world scenarios.

What does it prepare you for?

This course prepares you to understand the dynamics of groundwater flow in porous media, enabling you to analyse effective stress and pore pressures in geological contexts. You'll learn to evaluate the impact of water on soil and rocks, and gain insights into soil consolidation processes. Additionally, you'll develop the ability to assess and optimise well and pumping systems, enhancing your capacity to address complex groundwater-related challenges in professional settings.

Teaching units

UNIT 1. FLUID FLOW IN POROUS MEDIA.
Groundwater. Aquifer Types.
Darcy's Law. Hydraulic Head and Hydraulic Gradient. Permeability.
Mechanics and Theory of Fluid Flow in Porous Media.
Flow Nets.
The Method of Fragments.
UNIT 2. EFFECTIVE STRESS AND PORE PRESSURES. WATER EFFECTS ON SOIL AND ROCKS.
The Effective Stress Principle. Application in Soil and Rocks.
Stress Distribution in the Ground.
Hydraulic heave, uplift, internal erosion and piping.
Filters. Concept, Use and Preliminary Design.
Water Effects on the Rock Matrix and the Rock Mass.
UNIT 3. SOIL CONSOLIDATION.
Introduction.
The Magnitude of the Consolidation Settlement.
The Evolution of the Consolidation Settlement.
The Parabolic Isochrones Theory.
Preloading and Mixed and Radial Consolidation
UNIT 4. WELLS AND PUMPING SYSTEMS.
Construction of Wells.
Design of Wells. Analytical Solutions for Individual Wells.
Design of Groups of Wells. Analytical Solutions for groupd of wells.
Construction of Wellpoints.
Design of Wellpoints.

Groundwater. Effects on soils and rocks.

Course objectives

What does it prepare you for?

Teaching units

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