Unsaturated Soil Mechanics

ABOUT THE COURSE: The knowledge of soil behavior is very important in the Geotechnical engineering practice. The soil behavior in saturated state is widely taught in the undergraduate and graduate programs, all over. The existence of air-phase in natural soils prompts the soil to behave differently from the saturated soils. The present course would provide the fundamental principles, mechanisms, and behavior of partly saturated soils.INTENDED AUDIENCE: AcademiciansPREREQUISITES: Knowledge of basic “soil mechanics”INDUSTRY SUPPORT: www.maccaferri.com

Week 1: Introduction; Application areas; Basic parametersWeek 2: Basic parameters; Phase equilibriumWeek 3:Concept of water retention; Soil water characteristics (SWCC); Hysteresis; MechanismsWeek 4:Measurement of state variablesWeek 5: Measurement of state variables; Theoretical SWCCWeek 6: Demonstration of software for fitting SWCC; Pedo-Transfer functions (PTF)Week 7: Hydraulic Conductivity; Measurement; Predictive modelsWeek 8:Hydraulic Conductivity prediction; Capillary barriers; Software demonstrationWeek 9:Steady-state flow; Absence and influence of gravityWeek 10:Transient flowWeek 11:Analytical methods for transient flow; Shear strengthWeek 12:Shear strength; Swell and Collapse behavior