Natural Hazards and Soil Improvements - 5EUS5RNC

Goal(s)

• To understand the tools used for defining the regional and local seismic hazard
• Advanced knowledge of soil dynamics and the associated mechanical phenomena (including liquefaction)
• To know how to design a structure considering the seismic hazard (including dams, natural slopes, retaining structures and foundations)
• Knowledge of physical and mechanical phenomena at the origin of gravity risk (landslide, rock fall, avalanche)
• To understand the behavior of unsaturated soils and the impact on the stability of structures or natural slopes
• Knowledge of the main techniques used for improving soil and the design of protective structures

Content(s)

This course provides an overview of the issues natural hazards and climate change on the stability of structures (especially related to the transition between unsaturated and saturated soil). It covers in particular the seismic risk and the slope stability. The physical and mechanical phenomena induced in the soil and structures are addressed. The consequences in terms of stability of structures and natural slopes are analyzed. Finally the techniques usually used for risk mitigation (including soil improvement or installation of protective structures) are identified and discussed in more depth in the context of a design project.

Soil and rock mechanics, groundwater flow, rheology, structural dynamics.