Technical Geology

Instructors: N. DEPOUNTIS
Category: Compulsory
Semester: 6th

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course provides the theoretical and objective knowledge related to the recognition and determination of the physical and mechanical behavior of geological formations, within the framework of the design and study – construction of technical works.

COURSE CONTENT

• Soil formations (soils): genesis, composition – structure, physical properties, classification properties (gradation, consistency, activity), swelling, description – classification, mechanical behavior (shear strength – failure criteria, deformability – consolidation).
• Rock material (rocks): composition – structure, classification, physical parameters, mechanical strength, failure criteria, deformability, classification of intact rock.
• Discontinuities of rock formations: parameters of mechanical description (orientation, spacing, persistence, wall strength, roughness, aperture), measurements from exploratory boreholes.
• Exploratory boreholes for geotechnical investigations: purpose of execution, drilling depth – layout, sample diameter, drilling equipment – drilling rigs, methods of sampling soil and rock formations, packaging – storage, examination and description of samples, core recovery indices and RQD, compilation of geotechnical borehole profiles.
• In-situ geotechnical tests: Standard Penetration Test (SPT), Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Pressuremeter Test (MPM), crosshole test, permeability – injection tests (Maag, Lefranc, Lugeon).
• Laboratory Exercises and field exercises in: (a) laboratory tests of soil formations (Soil Mechanics) according to standard specifications ASTM, BS and E105-86, (b) in-situ geotechnical tests according to standard specifications ASTM and E106-86.