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Geo - Technical Engineering

Masters in Civil Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering

Overview

This program aims to produce knowledgeable professionals, having a sound foundation of Geotechnical Engineering, including Geotechnical Site Investigation, Selection of suitable type of materials for various projects, Soil Properties Modification, Transportation Geotechnics, Geo environmental Engineering, Soil-Foundation Interaction under Static and Dynamic loading conditions, Groundwater Extraction and Recharge, and Pre-and-Post Construction Forensic Investigations related to geotechnical Challenges. The program covers all aspects of Civil Engineering including, buildings, Roads, Dams, River training, environmental impact assessment etc

Objectives

i. Develop graduates with solid Geotechnical knowledge and skills who are composed to address the local and global challenges.

ii. Capability to work in a challenging environment

iii. Ability to predict, propose and address various Geotechnical challenges for various Civil Engineering Projects

iv. Respond to Geotechnical Challenges of various natures.

 

 

COURSES

Compulsory Courses

Physical characteristic of soils and their identification, clay mineralogy, clay‑water relations. Numerical, mathematical and sketching solutions for simple steady‑state flow problems. Stress in soil mass under applied stresses for two and three dimensional problems, equilibrium equations, stress invariants and octahedral stresses. One dimensional consolidation equation and its mathematical analysis, immediate and consolidation settlement analysis for thin and thick soil layers, plasticity or creep effetcs (Deconday consolidation).

 Shearing strength of cohesionless and cohesive soils using Mohr‑columb failure criteria. Critical state theory; representation of stress path on the Rendulic Plot, critical state live and equation, Roscor and Hvorseleve surfaces and their equations.

Properties of sub‑surface materials for classification, Bore logs information for foundation selection. Selection criteria of foundation resting on various types of soils, foundation on non‑ uniform soils and rocks. Case studies of actual foundation problems. Development of theoretical bearing capacity equations for shallow and deep foundations under drained and undrained conditions. Design procedures and behaviour of different types of foundation. Introduction to seismic behaviour of subsoil and building foundations. Foundation problems solution by Finite Difference method, Reinforced earth, Beam on elastic foundation and Lateral thrust due to compaction of soil by rollers.

(Prerequisite: CE 532 Foundation Engineering)

 

            Vibration of elementary systems, foundation vibratory theory, foundation design for vibratory loads, foundation isolation, wave propagation theory, response of soils to dynamic loading, dynamic soil properties, field and laboratory methods for evaluation of dynamic soil properties, liquefaction of sands, vibratory compaction of granular materials.

Purpose, planning of Subsurface exploration, Sub‑soil investigation by conventional and geophysical methods. Sampling techniques: Standard static and dynamic laboratory tests for measurement of Soil Properties, In‑situ groundwater conditions. Lab work related to the tests covered, report preparation.

Failure Mechanisms in Natural and Artificial Slopes. Stability Analysis for slopes in Cohesive, Non‑Cohesive and C‑phi soils. Use of stability charts. Steady state seepage problems in Earth Structures. Influence of surcharge, submergence and tension crack on Stability. Numerical Integration  Analysis by Fellenius Method and Bishop's Simplified Method. Principles of Design and Stability Analysis of Earth and Rock Fill Dams under Drained and Un‑drained conditions: stress Distribution and Deformation within the Dam and Foundation Strata. Effect of earthquakes on slope stability.

Elective Courses

Principles and methods of altering engineering properties of soils. Mechanisms of soil stabilization. Mechanical, electrical and thermal stabilization. Specifications, construction and control methods. Types of compaction equipment. Optimum utilization of compaction equipments. Use of geo‑textile fabrics for stability of soft & compressible soils.

Rock as Material, Rock Formation and Structure, Folding, Faulting and Joints. Analysis of Stress and Infinitesimal strain. Friction, Linear Elasticity. Strength of Rock and Cemented granular materials. Crack Phenomena and the Mechanism of Fracture. Fluid Pressure and Flow in Rocks. Brittle and Creep Behaviour, Determination of Static and Dynamic Mechanical properties of Rock in laboratory and field, Mining and other Civil Engineering Applications. Rock Slope Engineering.

Hydromechanics of confined and unconfined flow of water through soils, potential theory, conformal mapping transient flow. Applications to design of earth dams.

Introduction: Groundwater and hydrologic cycle, Groundwater as a Resource, Groundwater as geotechnical problem

Physical Properties and Principles: Basic principles of fluid flow in saturated and unsaturated materials Hydraulic Head and Fluid Potential, Darcy’s Law, Hydraulic Conductivity and Permeability, Transmissivity and storativity, Aquifers and Aquitards, Steady State and Transient Flow Equations of Groundwater Flow; Infiltration and Groundwater Recharge.

Groundwater Resource Evaluation: Development of Groundwater Resources, Exploration, Evaluation and exploitation, Well, Aquifer and Basin Yields, Exploration for Aquifers; Geological and Geophysical Methods, Drilling, Installation of Wells and Piezometers, Pumping Tests, Groundwater Quality, Well head Protection. Groundwater monitoring, Groundwater models—analytical and numerical models

Groundwater and Geotechnical Problems/Applications: Artificial Recharge, Seawater Intrusion, Drainage and Dewatering, Pore Pressure, Land Subsidence, Landslides and Slope Stability.

 

Pressure on Retaining Walls. Basic Concepts and Earth Pressure Theories. Design criteria and Pressure Analysis of Rigid Walls with and without surcharge Loads. Effect of seepage and Drainage on Walls. Pile‑supported Retaining Wall. Behaviour of Flexible Earth‑Retaining structures. Design Criteria and Pressure Analysis of Anchored Bulk Heads, Braced Out and Tie‑Back Bracing system, Design criteria for cellular cofferdams. Behaviour of Retaining Walls during earthquakes.

Numerical solutions of partial differential equations, Finite difference Approximation solutions to two‑dimensional flow field and one‑dimensional consolidation Soil Layer. Finite Element Method application to stress analysis of Linearly elastic systems of Geotechnical Engineering problems. Soil‑foundation Dynamics Interaction problems.

Introduction: Emergence of Geoenvironmental Engineering, Types of Geoenvironmental

Problems.Chemical Background And Geochemistry: Toxic Chemicals, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry,Chemical Analysis Methods. Contaminant Transport Mechanism: Introduction, Sources of Contamination, Types of Contaminants, Transport Processes, Chemical Mass Transfer Processes , Biological Process (Biodegradation), Contaminant Transport and Fate Modeling, Applications. Contaminated Site Characterization And Risk Assessment: Preliminary Site Assessment, Exploratory Site Investigation, Detailed Site Investigation, Risk Assessment Procedures, Remedial Strategy. Waste Management And Landfill Design: Sources of Wastes, Classification of Wastes, Waste Characterization, Environmental Concerns with Wastes, Waste Management Strategies, Landfill Configurations, Waste containment liner systems, Containment System Liner Design, Leachate collection and removal system, Final cover systems, Gas generation and management, End uses of closed landfills..

Properties of geomaterials for design and construction of highways, airfield and port pavements. Embankments for highways and high-speed trains, Behavior of compacted geomaterials using stabilization technique. Geosynthetics and reinforcement of constructed layers and interlayers. Compaction technology, compaction management, maintenance technology.  Underwater geotechnics for construction of breakwater, jetties, wharves and other coastal infrastructure purposes. Modeling of multi-layered structures and supporting ground under dynamic and repeated loads. Case studies.

Introduction to Forensic Engineering; Competencies and Qualifications of Forensic Engineers: qualifications, attributes competencies, technical skills, legal knowledge, detective skills, communication skills, personality characteristics etc. The Standard of Care: expert testimony, methods, validity, reliability, Delphi process of expert consensus; Civil Engineering Investigations: activities in investigation, site investigation, sampling and collection of evidence, preliminary findings, equipment and its selection, recording observations, photography, sample removal, eyewitness account, field tests, document collection and review, theoretical analysis, laboratory tests and investigation, office investigations determination of procedural responsibilities, reports; Ethics of Forensic Engineering: code of ethics, solicitation of work, contract process, testimony ethics, damage caused by unethical conduct, ethical standards for publication, interaction with media; The Legal Forum: role of forensic engineer as a witness in mediation and litigation, admissibility of testimony by forensic engineers, rules of evidence and testimony, testimony in courts and at deposition (preparation, demeanor, speech, direct examination, cross examination etc.), codes and guidelines (local and international) for professionals engaged as experts; The Business of Forensic Engineering: readiness, marketing, decisions, liability, insurance individual and group practice; National and International Case Studies.