CE 742 Deformation and Instability of Soils

3 Credit Hours

Mechanics of soils: theoretical framework; failure conditions and shear strength; slope instability; lateral earth pressure; bearing capacity; non-linear deformation of soils; theory of plasticity; critical state model for soil behavior.

Prerequisite

Graduate standing

Course Objectives

This course is designed to develop a theoretical framework for the analysis of deformation and failure of soils with application to several practical problems.

Course Topics

In this course, students will learn the following:

• Basic theoretical mechanics applied to soils
• Failure theory for soils and Shear Strength
• Limit equilibrium analyses for slope instability, lateral earth pressure, and
  bearing capacity of foundations
• Theory of plasticity for the nonlinear deformation of soils
• Critical state model for the deformation and strength of soils
• Limit analyses for some geotechnical problems.

Course Requirements

Homework: Homework problems will be assigned on regular basis. A due date will be specified with each assignment. The submission of all assigned homework is required for a credit in this course.

Exams: Mid-term and final exam

Paper: A term paper on an assigned topic will be required from each student

Textbook

TBA