MABY5420 Geotechnical Site Investigation and Laboratory Testing Course description

This course provides the fundamentals of geotechnical soil characterization by introducing a wide range of in-situ field investigation techniques and laboratory experiments. Students will be familiar with field and laboratory testing: from auger sampling to CPT, and from basic index tests to the most advanced stress path apparatuses, together with the interpretation of the data obtained. The knowledge of soil behavior will be reinforced, allowing students to understand practical problems when deriving geotechnical parameters. The compilation and integration of field and laboratory data into a geotechnical ground model will be discussed.

Language of instruction: English

BYGG2200 Geotechnics or equivalent

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

Knowledge

Students have in-depth knowledge of:

• Desk study resources, understanding your site and the conditions
• Onshore and offshore site investigation techniques related to drilling, in-situ sampling, and testing,
• Geotechnical index and advanced laboratory tests,
• Experimental data assessment and interpretation.

Skills

Students can:

• distinguish different drilling, sampling, and field techniques to be used to obtain high-quality samples, and to derive geotechnical parameters in the field,
• select adequate laboratory tests for a range of geotechnical design problems and know how to interpret geotechnical laboratory test results.

General competence

Students:

• are familiar with drilling, sampling, and testing field techniques, and can decide which technique to use in the field depending on the specific soil conditions,
• can understand the basic principles of geotechnical testing apparatuses and can conduct index and advanced tests.
• can interpret geotechnical test results and critically identify the advantages, and disadvantages of different testing techniques,
• can translate geotechnical test results into a ground model.

Lectures, exercises, laboratory and field visits, and written project report. Practical laboratory experiments and field visits will be coordinated with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, NGI. Parts of the lectures will be covered by relevant international and national guest lecturers.

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

3 group exercises of 2-5 students: 1 exercise on laboratory testing, 1 on site investigation, and 1 on ground modelling. All exercises are part of applied engineering problems.

Students who fail to meet the coursework requirements can be given only one re-submission opportunity before the exam.

The exam consists of two parts:

1) Project report prepared in groups of 2-5 student, approx. 7000 word, weighted 50%, and

2) Oral group (up to 5 students) presentation of the project followed by individual Q&A, weighted 50%.

The oral exam will be within 10-15 mins.

All assessment parts must be awarded a passing grade (E or better) for the student to pass the course. Assessment Part 1) can be appealed. Assessment Part 2) can not be appealed.

In group work, the students’ different contributions must be reflected in the submitted work. Normally, all members of the group receive the same grade, but in exceptional cases, individual grades may be assigned within groups after further assessment. In such cases, all students in the relevant group will be informed that grades will be given individually before the grades are published.

1) All types of materials and equipment are allowed as long as rules for source referencing are followed.

2) No aids are permitted.

Grade scale A-F

1) 1 internal examiner

2) 2 internal examiners

External examiners are used regularly

Shaoli Yang