Limit equilibrium methods: Basic principles. Typical applications – ultimate limit
load of a shallow foundation, ultimate depth of a vertical cut, ultimate inclination of a
slope.
Slope stability: Infinite slopes. Plane failure in slopes of finite length. Mechanism of
circular failure – methods of slices: Fellenius, Bishop simplified. Mechanism of slip
surfaces of arbitrary shape: Janbu method. Slope stability according to Eurocode 7
(EC7). Slope stability under seismic loading. Applications using specialized limit
equilibrium software.
Numerical methods: Basic principles of numerical simulations. Simple soil
constitutive models. The shear strength reduction technique. Applications using a
specialized finite elements software.
Probabilistic methods of analysis: Reliability index, probability of failure, reliability of
geotechnical structures. Reliability analysis methods: first order second moment
(FOSM) method, point estimate method (PEM), Monte Carlo simulations.
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Topics in environmental geotechnics: Geotechnical design of landfills. Geotechnical
characterization of extractive industry’s wastes (waste dumps, tailing dams).
- Teacher: Ιωάννης Ζευγώλης
ECTS : 4
Language : el
Learning Outcomes : Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: • Determine the appropriate data and methods for performing geotechnical investigations in slope stability projects. • Perform geotechnical stability analyses of soil slopes, understand the results and evaluate the correctness of the analyses, comprehend failure mechanisms. • Adapt and modify slope design based on geotechnical data and project requirements, and synthesize data to select the optimal technically and economically feasible solutions. • Compare, interpret, and evaluate analysis results, and decide on the adequacy and correctness of these. • Understand the concept of geotechnical uncertainty and determine the reliability of typical geotechnical projects, through the calculation of failure probability and reliability index. • Understand the basic principles of computer-aided simulation programs, distinguish between limit equilibrium and finite element methods, and simulate slope stability problems using a computer.