GE481 Engineering Geology and Early Warning

Contents and structure

Part A (Soil):

• Soil strength and slope stability. 
• Engineering- and geotechnical classification of soils.
• Analyze and calculate the factor of safety for translational slides and rotational slides in soils.

 

Part B (Rock):

• Rock engineering
• Engineering classification of rock masses with emphasis on strength and fracture conditions.
• Rock stresses in mountain slopes and fractures, tunnels and underground excavations.
• Different types of slope instabilities in rocks. Data collection and methods for stability analysis of rock slopes, calculation of safety factor F using conventional methods and computer programs.
• One day of field work.

 

Part C (Monitoring):

The first or second week of June is obligatory and includes lectures, a field visit and exercises. One of the days in that week we will walk up to the unstable mountain Joasetebergi, between Aurland and Flåm, supervised by geologist from NVE, and explore the geology and monitoring instruments. The students should prepare and give a presentation on Friday; either about an unstable object in Norway and suggest a monitoring system for that object, or interpret a set of data collected from some of the instruments operated at Joasetebergi or some other objects monitored by NVE in Norway. Geologists from NVE will give some of the lectures.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

• Understand the concept of factor of safety for rock- and soil slopes.
• Have an overview of different methods and instruments used to monitor unstable slopes.

 

Skills

• Be able to conduct an engineering classification of soils and rocks.
• Be able to analyze slope stability and calculate the factor of safety for unstable rock- and soil slopes using hand computations, spread sheets software and computer programs.

 

Generell kompetence

• Be able to carry out a sensitivity analysis for a particular slope and determine which variables affect the slope stability most when subject to changes.
• Be able to design and plan a monitoring program for an unstable slope.

Entry requirements

None.

Recommended previous knowledge

GE-406: Introduction to Geology

GE-407: Introduction to Applied Geophysics

GE-408: Mineralogy and Petrography

GE-414: Structural Geology and geological mapping

FY-400: Introduction to Physics

Teaching methods

Lectures, assignments and field-trips (two separtate days).

Compulsory learning activities

Approved assignments, participate on the field trips, prepare and give a presentation. 

Assessment

Written exam in English, 4 hours.

Grading A-F.

Examination support material

Ruler, calculator.

More about examination support material