Specialisation modules for Soil Mechanics
ROCK MECHANICS
LECTURER: Dr R Ghail (Room 335)
17 lectures and 4 tutorials
INTRODUCTION
Engineering Rock Mechanics is the study of rock mechanics and rock engineering and
is concerned with all structures that are built on or in rock. This includes structures
formed from the rock itself, such as slopes and caverns, as well as engineering
structures such as dams and foundations.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course is broadly divided into two sections, the first of which, Rock Mechanics
Principles, is taught in the Autumn Term (10 x 2 hour sessions) and the second, Rock
Engineering Applications, is taught in the Spring Term (9 x 2 hour sessions). You are
strongly advised to follow the tutorial course closely (time and location: to be arranged).
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The difference between rock mechanics and soil mechanics. In-situ rock stress
measurement techniques, results and their engineering ramifications. Geometrical
characteristics of discontinuities: RQD, mean spacing and frequency, hemispherical
projection techniques. Mechanical properties of intact rock: complete stress-strain
curve, simple failure criteria. Properties of rock masses: deformability, failure criteria.
Inhomogeneity, anisotropy, index tests, scale effects. Rock mass clarification schemes.
The complete rock mechanics problem: interactions and coupled mechanisms, auditing
rock mechanics investigations. Principles of blasting rock reinforcement and rock
support. Foundations and slopes on discontinuous rock: instability mechanisms, static
equilibrium solutions, groundwater flow, kinematic and probabilistic design methods.
Underground excavations in discontinuous and stratified rock: stability of tetrahedral
rocks, kinematic methods. Underground excavations in continuous rock: approximate
analytical methods, rock-support interaction. Environmental applications of rock
mechanics: waste isolation and contaminant transport in fractured rock masses.
Computer methods in rock mechanics and rock engineering: rock mass data handling
and analysis; principal stability methods.
TOPICS: ROCK MECHANICS PRINCIPLES
Stress and analysis; In-situ rock stress; Strain; Intact rock deformability; strength and
failure; Discontinuity characterisation; Hemispherical projection methods; Rock mass
deformability; strength and failure; Rock mass properties; Rock mass classification.
ENGINEERING GEOMORPHOLOGY
SUBJECT CO-ORDINATOR: Dr C H Fenton (Room 534), Dr R Ghail (Room 335)
INTRODUCTION
This course describes the geological characteristics of soils and rocks, as materials and
en-masse, and explains their influence upon the engineering behaviour of these
materials.
COURSE STRUCTURE
27 hours of lectures and tutorials in nine 3-hour blocks. The course starts by setting out
the fundamental characteristics of soils and rocks, and continues by dealing with each
of the main types commonly encountered. Soils and rocks are studied further in the
field during two field trips organised in the First Term.
LECTURE CONTENTS
Lectures
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Lecturer
RG
RG
RG
RG
RG
RG
RG
RG
RG
Topics
Importance of Engineering Geology
Volcanic and Igneous Processes
Weathering and Soil
Aeolian and Fluvial Processes
Glacial and Marine Environments
Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks
Geological Structures
Active tectonics
Putting It All Together
FIELD WORK
There are three field trips. The first visits the Mesozoic strata of S E England to study
the response of soils and weak rocks to changed produced by engineering work and the
natural process of erosion. The second visits the Palaeozoic strata of S W England to
study the character and behaviour of stratified rock. The third visits another European
country to consider the links between construction, geology and the environment. Field
work normally comes to a total of ten working days. Trips one and two are held in Term
1 and Trip three is held immediately after the exams in Term 3.
PARTIALLY SATURATED SOIL BEHAVIOUR
LECTURER: Dr J R Standing (Room 528B)
18 lectures and additional discussion sessions
This course has been developed to address current issues relating to the behaviour of
partly saturated soils.
Fundamental behaviour of partly saturated soils in terms of soil suction, water content,
volume change and shear strength. Pore pressure profiles in the partly saturated zone:
appropriate stress variables for partly saturated soils; the application of effective stress
to partly unsaturated soils, direct suction measurement; indirect suction measurement;
laboratory testing techniques; soil-water relationships; the influence of suction on the
volume of reconstituted and compacted soils and the influence of suction on shear
strength. The course is illustrated with recent test data and case histories.
ADVANCED SOIL BEHAVIOUR
SUBJECT CO-ORDINATOR: Professor R J Jardine (Room 530)
COURSE STRUCTURE
21 Hours of contact time (18 lectures and 3 tutorials in the Spring Term
LECTURERS
Professor R J Jardine
Dr C O’Sullivan
Professor D W Hight
(RJJ - Room 530)
(COS - Room 528A)
(Visiting Professor)
A set of lectures, supported by tutorial sessions, covering recent developments in the
characterisation of saturated soils. The main themes are: discoveries concerning the
elastic-plastic response of soils; the effects of fissuring and bifurcation on the properties
of stiff clays; the anisotropy of stress-strain and strength behaviour and soil properties at
small strains (including non-linearity and its significance in practical deformation
problems). Additional lectures are give by Dr O’Sullivan on The influence of the
particulate nature of soils and by Professor D W Hight on advanced aspects of soil
sampling.
LECTURE CONTENTS
Lectures
1-5
Lecturer
RJJ
6-7
RJJ
7 - 10
RJJ
11 - 16
17 - 18
DWH
COS
Topics
Recent discoveries concerning soil behaviour under general
triaxial and plane strain conditions; the limitations of
conventional critical state theories
Recent discoveries concerning the anisotropic yielding and
failure characteristics of soils
Stiffness characteristics from small to large strains; the
practical implications of non-linearity. Kinematic yielding
behaviour.
Advanced aspects of soil sampling.
Particulate nature of soil behaviour.
GEOTECHNICAL PROCESSES
SUBJECT CO-ORDINATOR Dr J R Standing (Room 528B)
LECTURERS: Dr J R Standing (Room 528B), Professor R J Jardine (Room 530).
INTRODUCTION
This course aims to stimulate interest and encourage reading round various subjects
within the geotechnical field. Depending on the subject and the lecturer you will be
presented with: the theory behind geotechnical processes; the design processes; and
the construction processes. In all instances you will be exposed to state-of-the-art
thinking, and supporting case studies.
COURSE STRUCTURE
21 contact hours
The course has 21 hours of time-tabled contact time. This is divided into seven 3 hour
sessions. The sessions will be used for lecturing, group projects, discussion and
investigation. There will be a course-work element to the course.
The subjects to be covered are:
Soft ground tunnelling.
Ground improvement.
Driven piles and offshore foundations.
Bored piles and pile testing.
Reinforced earth and soil nailing.
Deep excavations.
ADVANCED CONSTITUTIVE MODELLING
LECTURER Dr Lidija Zdravkovic (Room 532)
INTRODUCTION
This lecture course extends the basis of soil modelling presented in the Analysis course,
by considering additional concepts of soil plasticity:
1.
2.
3.
double yield surface models
bounding surface plasticity models
‘bubble’ models
The objective of the course is to further demonstrate to students the ability of finite
element analysis in modelling real boundary problems and make them aware of the fact
that for complex problems simple models of soil behaviour may not be appropriate.
This course is assessed by coursework only.
RECOMMENDED TEXT
Potts D M and Zdravkovic L (1999). Finite element analysis in geotechnical
engineering: Theory. Thomas Telford, London.
A full set of lecture notes will be provided.