EARTHQUAKE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

GE408

Academic Year of enrolment:

2022

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES OF EARTH AND PLANETS

Disciplinary Sector:

Geotechnics

Language:

Italian

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

PAGLIAROLI Alessandro

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

Knowledge of general principles of soil mechanics

Objectives

The course aims to provide the basic knowledge to address from a quantitative point of view issues related to soil characterization under cyclic loading and to local seismic hazard assessment (site response analyses, liquefaction analyses, slope stability analyses) and soil-foundation-structure dynamic interaction.
Several exercises are carried out on case studies to clarify theoretical aspects and to provide practical tools (like computer codes for dynamic modelling) for quantitative analyses.
Furthermore, the course aims to provide the ability to: use the terminology of the discipline appropriately (communication skills); understanding the scientific literature related to the main themes of earthquake geotechnical engineering.

Contents

Soil dynamics, assessment of local seismic hazard (analysis of site response, liquefaction and slope stability), notes on the seismic behaviour of foundation and retaining structures

Extended Syllabus

1- Introduction
Applied seismology (faults, macroseismic intensity and magnitude scales)
Ground Motion Parameters (Fourier series, analysis of a single degree of system, response spectra)
Seismic aspects of Technical code
2- Soil dynamics (wave propagation, cyclic and dynamic laboratory testing, geophysical testing, constitutive modelling under cyclic loading, linear visco-elastic and nonlinear models, behaviour at large strains)
3- Site response analysis (1D response of an ideal soil deposit, topographic and valley effects, soil nonlinearity effects, numerical analyses of local site response with 1D and 2D codes, definition of input motion, building code approaches for site response)
4- Liquefaction (case histories, simplified and advanced procedure for liquefaction analysis)
5- Main aspects of Slope stability under seismic loading and Soil-Foundation-Structure dynamic interaction phenomena.

Recommended Bibliography

Notes and power point slides provided by the lecturer;
Suggested books for deepening:
“Dinamica dei Terreni per le applicazioni sismiche”, Dario Faccovio Editore
Lanzo, Silvestri - “Risposta Sismica Locale – teoria ed esperienze”, Hevelius edizioni
Associazione Geotecnica Italiana – Aspetti Geotecnici per la Progettazione in Zona Sismica
Kramer- “Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering”, Editore: PRENTICE HALL

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Theoretical lessons and weekly exercises, a final project on a real case study. Several exercises and the project are carried out by using freeware software available on e-learning platform.
The aim is to provide practical tools for quantitative analyses and to develop a critical use of mechanical parameters in the most recurrent geotechnical applications.
Seminars on specific topics will be organized.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam consists in a oral discussion of exercises and the final project carried out during the course and in answering to theoretical questions.
These questions require to illustrate orally, with the use of a support (paper or blackboard), arguments regarding the full course program.
For each question, the committee evaluates the accuracy, completeness, and organization of the explanation, and also the detail and eventually the autonomy of study, the clarity of presentation and the property of language.
The exam score is expressed with a grade out of thirty.

Contacts/More Information

Attendance and active participation in the course is highly recommended. It is also recommended to carry out the exercises in the specific dedicated lessons. Student reception is weekly or on any day agreed by email. A few hours of reception will be devoted to the revision of the exercises and the final project assigned during the course.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree