Study Programmes 2015-2016
GCIV2036-2  
Soils and Rocks mechanics
Duration :
30h Th, 30h Pr, 1d FW, 5h Proj.
Number of credits :
Master in civil engineering (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Frédéric Collin
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The 'Soil and rock mechanics' course is the logical complement for the basics thought in geotechnical courses in Bachelor grade. The three main parts of this course are :

  • Rock mechanics
  • Constitutive modelling for soils and rocks
  • Tunnel: excavation, retaining, convergence.
Learning outcomes of the course :
Student have to gain competencies needed for the three main parts of the course:
Rock mechanics: Nature, origins and structure of rock materials; Classification of rock materials; Classification of rock mass; Water into the rock mass; Mechanical properties; In-situ stress state; Mechanical properties of rock joints.
Constitutive models for geomaterials: Fundamental properties of constitutive laws; Elastic models; Elasto-plastic formulation; Internal friction models; CamClay models.
Tunnel: General introduction of the convergence-confinement method, mechanical behaviour of retaining, equation of the convergence-confinement method (elastic and elasto-plastic medium)
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
GCIV0603-1 : Geotechnics
GCIV0623-2 : Experimental Geotechnics
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course is composed of "ex-cathedra" lectures (30 hours) and exercises (30 hours). Exercise sessions related to the three parts of the course allow the students to better understand the theoretical concepts.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face
Recommended or required readings :
Lecture notes in french are available for the part 'Rock mechanics'. Slides are also available for the parts Constitutive model and 'Tunnel'.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Each lesson and practises are mandatory.
Students will be evaluated based on the project reports (weight 30%). An oral exam will be organized in January (without access to any course materials) on the theoretical part of the course (weight 70%).
In case of second session (September), the grade obtained for the project reports will be kept and the theoretical part will be only evaluated.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The course will be given on Thursday afternoon, from 13h30 to 17h30.
Each lesson (4 hours) will be divided into two parts: a theoretical lesson (2 hours) and practises (2 hours).
A visit of a site related to the course will be organized.
Contacts :
Students may contact the academic responsible for the course:
Frédéric Collin Institut de Mécanique et Génie Civil B52 Tél. 04/366 9142 f.collin@ulg.ac.be(f.collin@ulg.ac.be)
Items online :
Tunnel
Slides
Slide for the course Constitutive modelling
Slide for the course
Silde for the course Confortement rocheux
Silde for the course