Earth Surface Engineering (250-0-01)
Instructors
Alessandro Rotta Loria
tel8474671340
Tech A120
Office Hours: By appt
Ph.D. in Mechanics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Professor Rotta Loria works at the intersection of geomechanics, energy, and environmental sustainability. In this context, he develops with his group theoretical and experimental investigations to understand, characterize, and predict the impact of energy transfers on the structure, properties, and behavior of geological materials: soils, rocks, concrete, and systems thereof. This work aims to unravel how structural modifications caused by perturbations that include thermal and electric fields affect the capability of geological materials to sustain mechanical forcing, to transfer heat, or to allow fluids permeation, from depths of meters to kilometers. Rotta Loria's overarching goal is to understand geological materials at their most fundamental – structural – level and to investigate the essential features of their properties and behavior (e.g., thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical).
Meeting Info
Technological Institute L160: Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
Course Description:
This course addresses the fundamentals of the mechanics of geomaterials, with emphasis on the processes and phenomena that govern the equilibrium of the Earth's surface. Specifically, the course focuses on the analysis of the structure and properties of soils and rocks, and the way these materials respond to loading (mechanical and hydraulic loading). The course comprises theoretical sessions, practical sessions, and laboratory sessions. The theoretical sessions develop foundational concepts, theories, and approaches underpinning the characterization, analysis, and prediction of the structure, properties, and behavior of geomaterials. The practical sessions apply the gathered theory to solve a variety of earth surface engineering problems, with an outlook on the interplay between the structure, properties, and behavior of geomaterials and the engineering performance of natural and built environments. The laboratory sessions propose and guide through hands-on activities and laboratory tests of geomaterials to address basic earth surface engineering problems.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Compute the properties of three-phase materials including soils
2) Classify the properties of soils through the analysis of experimental data and the development of
appropriate laboratory tests
3) Calculate stresses at depth in the presence and absence of water
4) Determine the direction and magnitude of seepage flows in soils
5) Characterize the compression and consolidation behavior of soils through the analysis of
experimental data and the development of appropriate laboratory tests
6) Characterize the shearing behavior of soils, rocks, and discontinuities through the analysis of
experimental data and the development of appropriate laboratory tests
7) Relate the treated content of earth surface engineering with grand challenges in sustainability and
resilience
8) Communicate in oral, written, and graphical form with appropriate means
9) Employ computer software and techniques for design and communication
10) Work individually and in a team to solve problems related to earth surface engineering
11) Structure and write reports summarizing the results of technical calculations and analyses
Teaching Method
This is arguably the first "real" engineering course that many students will take in the sense that problems encountered are more "open-ended" with a range of "right answers" in many instances, and they draw upon synthesizing concepts from preceding courses punctuated by an occasional need for engineering judgement. HOMEWORK / Solution of approximately 60 homework problems and preparation of six laboratory reports is required.
Class Materials (Suggested)
Suggested Textbooks:
Intro to Geotechnical Holtz, R. D., and Kovacs, W. D. (1981). An introduction to geotechnical
engineering. Pearson (HKS) ISBN 13: 9780132496346
Lambe T.W., and Whitman, R.V. (1979) Soil Mechanics. Wiley (LW) ISBN 13: 9780471022619
Class Attributes
SDG Life On Land
SDG Innovation & Infrastructure
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Pre-req: Students must have completed CIV_ENV 216 to register for this course.
Associated Classes
LAB - Technological Institute AG40: Tues 9:30AM - 12:20PM