1 Pedro Lamas, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, [email protected] Abstract The Bologna Process assigns new challenges in higher education and in geotechnical engineering courses in particular. The ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a program study, implies reduction of contact hours between tea...

Abstract In infrastructural projects, communication as well as information exchange and (re-) use in and between involved parties is difficult. Mainly this is caused by a lack of information harmonization. Various specialists are working together on the development of an infrastructural project and all use their own specific software and definitions for various information types. In addition, t...

Geotechnical engineering is a core discipline within civil engineering that supports the infrastructure development which underpins modern society. The simulation of realistic geotechnical design at undergraduate level is often restricted to routine calculation-based methods reinforced by simple element laboratory tests which fail to provide a holistic learning experience. Using the latest rese...

Geological engineers have mostly been involved in geotechnical problems since the beginning of 19 century. Engineering geological maps and field data are needed to solve these problems. The amount of data for these maps is extremely large, so putting all the map elements on the map sheet causes difficulties while solving problems. The magic words, Geographic Information System (GIS) is a tool f...

16 In this paper the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is coupled with the Lattice-Boltzmann 17 Method (LBM) to model the undrained condition of dense granular media that display significant 18 dilation under highly confined loading. DEM-only models are commonly used to simulate the 19 micromechanics of an undrained specimen by applying displacements at the domain boundaries 20 so that the specimen...

This study deals with application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) on grade control at mine sites inputting both geological and geotechnical variables. Case study is Chapada copper-gold deposit (Goiás, Brazil), located in the neoproterozoic Chapada-Mara Rosa volcano-sedimentary sequence. Ore is closely related to hydrothermal alteration, structurally controlled. The geological and geotechni...

Underground construction is widely adopted in urban area but sometimes the construction might cause severely failure. In this paper, successful interpretation of instrument data is addressed and several examples are demonstrated since geotechnical monitoring is thought to be an effective tool to avoid failure. Further, the failure may also be caused by misinterpretation of responsibilities of p...

Varved clays, which consist of alternating layers of silt and clay, are common in glaciated regions of North America and Northern Europe. This layering results in several unique engineering properties making varved clays a challenging soil for engineering design. Varved clays have hydraulic conductivity and undrained shear strength anisotropy that far exceeds that of most other soils. The stren...