Unit SLOPE STABILITY

Course
Environmental engineering
Study-unit Code
A002613
Curriculum
Difesa del suolo
Teacher
Claudio Tamagnini
Teachers
  • Claudio Tamagnini
Hours
  • 48 ore - Claudio Tamagnini
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2021
Offered
2022/23
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Ingegneria per l'ambiente e territorio
Academic discipline
ICAR/07
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Italian
Contents
Seepage processes in natural slopes. Stability analysis for translational and rotational landslides in soils and rocks. Stabilization methods.
Reference texts
Picarelli L. (2000), MECCANISMI DI DEFORMAZIONE E ROTTURA DEI PENDII, Hevelius Editore.

Airo' Farulla C. (2015), ANALISI DI STABILITA' DEI PENDII - I METODI DELL'EQUILIBRIO LIMITE, Hevelius Editore.

Desideri A., Miliziano S., Rampello S. (1997), DRENAGGI A GRAVITA' PER LA STABILIZZAZIONE DEI PENDII, Hevelius Editore.

Bromhead E.N., The stability of slopes, 2nd ed., CRC Press.
Educational objectives
The knowledge and skills which the students are expected to acquire from the course will include: a) the analysis of seepage processes in saturated and unsaturated soils; b) the quantitative evaluation of the safety of natural and man-made slopes against sliding failure using limit equilibrium methods; c) the design suitable stabilization measures for unstable or marginally stable natural slopes; d) the design of excavations and earth structures according to the safety requirements of the NTC 2018 code.
Prerequisites
The students must possess a sound knowledge of the basic principles of:

a) continuum mechanics of solids and fluids;

b) soil and rock mechanics, with particular reference to the description of their behavior at shear failure;

c) limit equilibrium method, as applied to continuous bodies of porous materials such as soils and rocks.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods and support tools include:

a) Frontal lectures in class, with frequent interactions with the students by means of questions and answer sessions on the most significant topics covered;

b) Assisted class works including applications of classical design methods as well as of computational geomechanics, using modern FE platforms (seep/w; slope/w) for the analysis of seepage problems and the evaluation of slope stability by means of limit equilibrium methods;

c) Class seminars on specific topics, with overhead slide projector.
Other information
For additional information, please check the website of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, at the following link:
http://www.ing1.unipg.it/didattica/studiare
Learning verification modality
The evaluation is based on a oral exam, with a duration of about 30’, in which the candidate's knowledge and skills on:

a) modeling of seepage processes in slopes;

b) the assessment of safety conditions of natural and engineered slopes with respect to sliding ULS, using the limit equilibrium method;

c) the choice of appropriate stabilization methods for unstable slopes and their design,

are verified.
Extended program
The topics covered by the course can be divided in 3 parts:

Part 1: Seepage processes in natural slopes. This part includes: Governing equations. Steady-state processes: confined flow and free-surface flow. Transient problems: pseudo-3d consolidation theory of Terzaghi-Rendulic. Application of the FE method to seepage problems. Introduction to the SEEP/W code.

Part 2: Translational and rotational landslides in soils. This part includes: Fundamentals of the limit equilibrium method: definition of factor of safety. Global LE methods. Methods of slices: general formulation. Methods of Fellenius, Bishop, Janbu, Spencer and Morgernstern & Price. Comparison between the different methods of slices. Introduction to the SLOPE/W code. Slope stability analysis under seismic conditions.

Part 3: Stabilization methods. This part includes: Fundamentals. Slope profiling; definition of the neutral point. Drainage systems for the control of pore water pressures: hydraulic efficiency; trenches; tubular drains. Stabilization by means of structural elements: retaining walls; reinforced earth; anchors; passive piles.
Condividi su