EQE 585- Site Improvement Methods To Mitigate Earthquake Effects

COURSE NO AND TITLE : EQE 585– Site Improvement Methods To Mitigate Earthquake Effects

INSTRUCTOR : Assoc. Prof. Ayşe Edinçliler
 
COURSE OBJECTIVES : The purpose of this course is to present the basic aspects of soil improvement techniques avaiable for mitigation of goetechnical hazards. The aims of this course are
  • to learn the types of soil improvement techniques available for mitigation of geotechnical hazards
  • to apply the soil imptovrement methods to the existing structures, pipelines, and other constructed facilities under seismic condions.
  • to improve the liquefiable soils to mitigate seismic hazards, and
  • to measure the effectiveness of soil improvement by laboratory, in situ, or geophysical tests.
 
COURSE SYLLABUS : 
 

Weeks

    Topics

1

Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering (Basic earthquake effects, local site effects and ground motions, seismic hazards (Structural hazard, liquefaction, landslides, retaining structure failures, slope stability, lifeline hazards).

2

Site investigation for geotechnical earthquake engineering. Properties of dynamically loaded soils (laboratory and field tests).

3

Liquefaction (Evaluation of liquefaction hazards, liquefaction susceptibility, effects of liquefaction (alteration of ground motion, development of sand boils, settlement, instability) and alternative methods to mitigate the liquefaction hazards.

4

Classification of ground modification (Techniques, suitability, feasibility, and durability).

5

Densification techniques (vibro techniques; dynamic compaction, blasting, compaction grouting, etc.) and applications.

6

Reinforcement techniques (Stone columns, Compaction piles, Drilled inclusions) and applications.

7

Grouting and mixing techniques and applications.

8

Modification by admixtures (Lime, tire waste, fly-ash, microbially induced cementation, etc.) and applications.

9

Drainage techniques. Design of dewatering systems (Excavations and Slopes). Preloading and the use of vertical drains.

10

Geosynthetics for earthquake hazard mitigation (soil reinforcement, soil isolation, retaining walls, slope stabilization, embankments, foundations, unpaved roads, railroads, etc.)

11

Ground response analyses (One dimensional ground response analysis). Soil structure interaction (Illustration of soil-structure interaction effects and methods of analysis).

12

Verification of soil improvement (Laboratory testing techniques, In- situ testing techniques, geopyhsical testing techniques)

PREREQUISITES : -

DURATION & HOURS PER WEEK : 3 Hours per week.

GRADING BASIS : Course will be assessed on the basis of the accomplishments regarding the course objectives and the contributions to the program outcomes. The evaluation will be based on the class policies:

  • Midterm exam, term project, and class participation: 60% of the course grade.
  • Final Exam: 40% of the course grade.

REFERENCE TEXTBOOKS : 

  • Hausmann, M.R., Engineering Principles of Ground Modification, McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
  • Das, B.M., & Ramana, G.V., Principles of Soil Dynamics,
  • Day, R., Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Handbook, Mc Graw Hill
  • Ishihara, K. , Geotechnical Analysis – Soil Behavior in Earthquake Geotechnics
  • Kramer, S., Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Pearson

More references (books, papers or other documents) will be recommended during the semester.

No required text book. Handouts will be provided.