Course syllabus for Soil modelling and numerical analyses

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameJordmodellering och numeriska analyser
  • CodeACE150
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPIEE
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyCivil and Environmental Engineering
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 27123
  • Maximum participants50 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0119 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Recommended Chalmers courses: BOM356 Geotechnics, BOM370/BOM325 Hydrogeology and Geotechnics, ideally also ACE045 Geological and Geotechnical Site Investigation and ACE060 Deep Foundations or similar knowledge.

Aim

The aim of the course is to equip future Civil and Structural Engineers with up-to-date knowledge on numerical techniques and methods for advanced numerical analyses as part of geotechnical design. The focus is on concepts related to advanced modelling of soil behaviour and how those are incorporated into constitutive models for geotechnical Finite Element Analyses. The course is a highly recommended prerequisite for the students who plan to do their MSc projects in Rock Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

- apply 2D geotechnical finite element (FE) analyses to geotechnical problems 
- understand the role of the constitutive model and numerical analyses in geotechnical design, and how some special features (such as stress initialization, initial state, coupled flow-deformation analyses, non-linear soil models and structural elements) are needed for performing geotechnical finite element analyses;
- distinguish between different constitutive (soil) models, considering both simple and advanced soil models, and thus be able to select an appropriate model for a given geotechnical analysis;
- evaluate appropriate input values for the model parameters of the constitutive models considered, and well as to appreciate the sensitivity of the simulation results to the selected parameter values;
- simplify geotechnical and soil-structure interaction problems to create numerical models with increasing complexity 
- perform coupled 2D analyses of typical geotechnical problems (embankments, slopes, foundations, excavations) with geotechnical finite element analyses, considering both Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS);
- present, study and critically assess the results of geotechnical numerical analyses;

Content

Introduction
○ Introduction to numerical analyses in geotechnics
○ Geotechnical vs. structural FE analyses
○ Displacement based FE formulation (incl. some discussion of element types and shape functions, as typical for geotechnical FEA)
○ Role of constitutive model in geotechnical FEA
Simple constitutive models
○ Elastic models (linear elasticity, non-linear elasticity and elastic anisotropy)
○ Principles of elasto-plastic models
○ Mohr Coulomb model and its limitations
○ Other elastic-perfectly plastic models (von Mises, Tresca, Drucker-Prager)
● Special features of geotechnical FE analyses
○ Creation of in situ stresses and pore pressures
○ Drained and undrained analyses (total stress models vs. effective stress models)
○ Controlling non-linear analyses
○ Coupled consolidation analyses
○ Factor of safety with geotechnical FEA
○ Modelling structural elements in geotechnical FEA (walls, foundations, anchors, geotextiles, drains, piles, interface elements etc.)
● Advanced constitutive models
○ Critical state models (MCC, Soft Soil) and Hardening Soil model (HS)
○ Constitutive models for structured soils (NGI-ADP, S-CLAY1S)
○ Rate-dependent constitutive models (Soft Soil Creep, Creep-SCLAY1S)
○ Small strain stiffness models (HSsmall)
○ Selection of the soil model dependent on the problem and materials involved
○ Parameter sensitivity and optimisation

Organisation

The techniques and methods are firstly taught via lectures, which contain materials and experience that is not available in any textbooks, supported by self-studies. The theories are applied in numerical modelling via supervised course-specific computer tutorials using Plaxis 2D FE code, which have been designed to develop the competencies step-by-step. The final step from theory to real problems is done as part of coursework exercises:
- Early on during the course each student is asked to identify, study, understand and replicate/discuss results of a geotechnical numerical study published in a peer reviewed scientific article (individual assignment). The results are presented in a form of a summary report.
- As a group of 2-3 people, students are asked to perform numerical studies of a real geotechnical problem (starting from real soil data) at boundary value level. The analyses use geotechnical finite element code Plaxis 2D by applying the best practice taught in the course. The results are presented both orally, and in the form of reports.

Literature

The copies of the lecture notes, made available in the course home page, form a major compendium that the students will be expected to add on via self-study. For additional background reading, reference and self-study, the following books are recommended:
- Lees, A, Geotechnical Finite Element Analysis, ICE Publishing, 2016 
- Muir Wood, D. Geotechnical Modelling. Spon Press, 2004 (available in e-book)
- Potts, D. & Zdravkovic L. Finite element analysis in geotechnical engineering- Theory. Thomas Telford,1999.
- Potts, D. & Zdravkovic L. Finite element analysis in geotechnical engineering- Application. Thomas Telford,1999.
- Potts, D., Axelsson K., Grande, L. Schweiger, H. & Long, M. Guidelines for the use of advanced numerical analysis. Thomas Telford, 2002.
- Azizi, F. Applied analysis in geotechnics. E & F. Spon, 2000.
- Muir Wood, D. Soil behaviour and critical state soil mechanics. Cambridge University Press,1990.

Examination including compulsory elements

In order to pass the course, the students need to complete the computer tutorials and to submit satisfactorily the coursework assignments, consisting of individual and group assignments.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.