MABY5430 Foundation Solutions Course description

Foundations are the part of structures to transfer loads from the superstructure to the underlying soil and rock. The foundation design requires the fundamental understanding of soil and rock mechanics and therefore has been one major task for geotechnical engineers. This course starts with the topics regarding the foundation type and design principle and presents analysis and design methods for different foundation types under axial and lateral loading conditions. In addition, great focus is put on the application of industrial standard such as Eurocode 7 and numerical methods into the foundation design where students and lectors work through several worked examples together. Some other topics such as foundation construction and foundations on the special grounds are also briefly introduced in this course.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student has:

• state-of-the-art knowledge of the application of different types of advanced concrete and steel materials, such as high-performance concrete and steel
• in-depth knowledge to select the optimal material in a construction
• knowledge to design structures with innovative materials
• in-depth knowledge of physical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of innovative concrete and steel materials
• knowledge about the effect of the application of innovative materials on the life cycle of structures
• knowledge about the environmental impact of using innovative materials.

Skills:

The student

• is capable of conducting experimental tests on standard specimens using different types of innovative concrete
• is capable of conducting experimental tests on standard specimens using different types of innovative steel
• can assess the needs and propose the optimum innovative materials for certain design cases
• can describe the difference between conventional and innovative steel and concrete in a different context
• can carry out the basics of life cycle analysis.

General Competence:

The student is able to:

• design structures with innovative materials.
• reduce the environmental impact of construction materials
• assess the need for the application of advanced steel and concrete
• use different types of reviews of scientific articles/reports to gain an overview of the latest developments in advanced steel and concrete
• characterize the properties of high-performance concrete and steel materials.

After completing this course, the student will gain the following knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

Students have in-depth knowledge of:

• various foundation types and principles of foundation selection and design
• design parameters and ground models from lab tests and in-situ investigation for foundation design
• theories and calculation methods of foundation load capacity, structural deformation, and settlement
• assessing possible damage to buildings due to foundation settlement
• design methods for various foundation types including shallow foundations, rafts, buoyancy foundations, piled foundations

Skills

Students can:

• identify foundation types and make proper choice of foundation type for structure
• use key soil parameters and factors for ground conditions which are most relevant for foundation design
• calculate the capacity, deformation and settlement of foundation based on various methods and be familiar with limits of each method
• make the foundation design following industrial standard
• be familiar with FEM method and software to help foundation design

General competence

Students:

• have solid understanding of stress and displacement distribution field around the foundation
• have geotechnical competence to fulfil general foundation design
• can follow industrial standards and use numerical tools for foundation design
• are familiar with measures to work with foundation design under special ground condition

The teaching consists of lectures, exercises and project work.

A project for which a presentation will be made, will be undertaken towards the end of the semester

If lectures are delivered online, they may be recorded, and the recordings will be made available to students on Canvas.

The following work requirements are mandatory and must be approved to take the exam:

3 written group exercises with 2-4 students in each group. Depending on the class size these exercises may be undertaken by individual students.

There will be a number of weeks allocated to these exercises. As well as normal class times, additional support will be given via Teams meetings. This exercise will be corrected and the students given feedback.

The rapid advancement of digital twins, machine learning, and optimization methods is transforming sustainable building design. These technologies enable precise prediction and analysis of energy consumption, occupant comfort levels such as Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD), and environmental impacts. Tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provide critical insights into the long-term sustainability of building materials and design choices. Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization identifies solutions that balance energy efficiency, comfort, and environmental performance. These innovations address the demands of climate adaptation and resource efficiency, fostering robust and sustainable design strategies.

This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address complex challenges in designing energy-efficient, climate-resilient, and sustainable building envelopes. The course emphasizes the integration of advanced technologies with traditional building physics principles, exploring the interaction between materials, components, and environmental impacts. Building on foundational insights from MABY4200 Building Physics and Climate Adaptation of Buildings and MABY4700 Life Cycle Assessment for Built Environment, the course combines theoretical frameworks with practical applications. Students will learn to use digital twins, machine learning, and optimization methods alongside sustainability assessments and life cycle analyses to create innovative and efficient building solutions. The following topics are addressed in particular:

• Digital twin technology for predicting and optimizing energy performance and occupant comfort.
• Machine learning for forecasting energy use, occupant discomfort (e.g., PPD), and environmental impacts.
• Genetic algorithm (GA) optimization to balance energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability in building design.
• Life cycle assessment (LCA) for evaluating environmental impacts and improving design decisions.
• Relevant standards and regulations.
• Principles of zero emission buildings, passive- and plus-house building design.
• Integration of building physics principles in the holistic design of building envelopes.
• Thermal storage in conventional and innovative building materials (e.g., PCMs).
• Dynamic building energy simulations.

None.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student:

• understands the application of digital twins, machine learning, and optimization techniques in sustainable building design.
• has advanced knowledge of building physics, climate impacts, and building materials to propose robust and innovative solutions.
• can evaluate climate adaptation solutions for building envelopes and components.
• has insight into the physical and thermal properties of building materials and their life cycle impacts.
• is knowledgeable about embodied and operational emissions from buildings and strategies to reduce them.
• understands the integration of sustainability principles and advanced tools to create environmentally sound building designs.

Skills:

The student is capable of:

• Applying digital twins and machine learning to predict energy performance and occupant comfort.
• using LCA and GA optimization to enhance design sustainability and efficiency.
• analyzing and justifying choices for materials and components based on building physics calculations and life-cycle assessments.
• designing comprehensive sustainable building envelopes with detailed descriptions of materials and components.
• interpreting simulation tool results to improve and optimize designs.
• assessing the condition and maintenance needs of materials and components in existing buildings.

General competence:

The student is capable of:

• keeping up with the latest advancements through scholarly research.
• collaborating effectively in teams to address complex design challenges.
• presenting findings and designs in a professional and scholarly manner through written reports.

The teaching will largely consist of digital and physical lectures, software demonstration and exercises. Students will also be given a major project assignment in which they are to design an sustainable building with regards to building physics, climate adaptation, energy efficiency and indoor environment as well as CO2 emissions.

Digital lectures will be recorded, and the material will be made available to students on CANVAS.

No formal requirements.