Study Programmes 2015-2016
GEOG2032-1  
Surfacial Process
  • Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
  • Side Process
  • Morphotectonics and Volcanism
Duration :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology : 24h Th, 24h Pr
Side Process : 10h Th, 1d FW
Morphotectonics and Volcanism : 25h Th, 15h Pr, 2d FW
Number of credits :
Master in geography : climatology (120 ECTS)10
Lecturer :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology : Robert Charlier, Frédéric Collin
Side Process : Aurelia Hubert
Morphotectonics and Volcanism : Alain Demoulin
Coordinator :
Alain Demoulin
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 :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
Stresses in soils, constitutive laws for satured, unsatured and dry soils.
Experimental determination of soil geomechanical parameters using in situ and laboratory test.
Design, calculation and technology of: foundations, settlement, retaining structures, compaction, slopes, earth dams and conduits.
Design a foundations for bearing capacity and settlement
Design soil retaining structures (walls, sheet piles, bracing)
Verify stability and safety of natural and manmade slopes
Design shallow earth dams
Side Process
The course is divided in two parts. The first part deals with the strength of Earth Materials, Properties of rock masses and soils. In the second part, the students will present individually a lecture on one of the following subject: erosion of hillslopes by raindrops and flowing water, mass wasting of soils, flow failures on hillslopes, rock-slope processes model and hillslope development. A post-doc or a student doing his PhD at ULg on a subject relevant for the course will also do a lecture,
Learning outcomes of the course :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
Understanding of the main principles and fundamental laws of soil mechanics. Capacity for the choice and the interpretation of the physical and mechanical testing. Design of foundations, retaining structures, slopes and embankments.
After completing the course the student is expected to
- Chose a geotechnical testing campaign
- Interpret the main field and laboratory tests
- Understand the principles of the main constitutive laws for soils
- Calculate stress distribution under applied loads
- Design a foundations for bearing capacity and settlement
- Design soil retaining structures (walls, sheet piles, bracing)
- Verify stability and safety of natural and manmade slopes
- Design shallow earth dams
Side Process
The objective is to give an overall background of the different hillslope materials and processes and to have the student actively participating to the lectures. They will have to give a lecture on the course subject using the reference book and at least on other support.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
-- ME101 - Engineering mechanics
-- LT201 - Strength of materials and elasticity
-- HA221 - Applied hydrology
-- GP205 - Earth sciences
Side Process
Basics in geology and geomorphology
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
exercices will be done.
Side Process
The lectures are supplemented by the active learning of the student based on two reference books in english. The course allows understanding the functioning of slopes.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
Lectures : 24h Practical Works : 24h
Side Process
The lectures last 2-3 hours.
Recommended or required readings :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
Géotechnique, 3 volumes of lecture notes including exercices, edited by Centrale des Cours de l'AEES, FSA, Sart Tilman.
The pdf files are available on MYULg portal.
Side Process
Ø PowerPoint Files of the lectures are available.
 Ø Reference Book:
o M. J. Selby, 1993, Hillslope materials and processes, Oxford University Press.
o Geomorphology- The Mechanism and Chemistry of Landscapes. Robert S. Anderson & Suzanne P. Anderson. Cambridge University Press.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
Oral examination for theory + written exam for exercices.
Side Process
It is based for 85% on the lecture the student will give within the framework of the courses using the reference book and other materials, for 15% on the student interaction during discussion/questions sessions at the end of the lectures.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
The course will be given on Friday morning, from 8h00 to 12h30.
Each lesson (4 hours) will be divided into two parts: a theoretical lesson (2 hours) and practises (2 hours).
A visit of the laboratory will be organized.
Contacts :
Soils Mechanics and Geotechnology
Robert Charlier Frédéric Collin
BAT. B52/3 - ArGenCo Géomécanique et Géologie de l'ingénieur tel. +32 (0)4/366.93.34 direct(RC) tel. +32 (0)4/366.91.42 direct(FC)
tel. +32 (0)4/366.93.45 secrétariat fax. +32 (0)4/366.95.20
Robert.Charlier@ULg.ac.be F.Collin@ULg.ac.be
Side Process
Aurélia Hubert-Ferrari
tél. 04/366 93 95
email : aurelia.ferrari@ulg.ac.be