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2025-2026 / GCIV0620-2

Introduction to geotechnics, Part A

Duration

20h Th, 10h Pr, 1d FW

Number of credits

 Master in geography: geomatics, professional focus in land surveyor3 crédits 

Lecturer

Bertrand François

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course presents an introduction to soil mechanics and design of geotechnical works, for students from scientific but non engineering masters. The dimensioning methods are especially summarised.

The course contents the following items :

  • Identification and classifications of soils
  • Groundwater system
  • Stress state in soil
  • Compression and consolidation
  • Shear strength
  • In-situ geotechnical investigation
  • Shallow foundations (Bearing capacity anf settlement)
  • Various geotechnical systems (deep foundations, Retaining structures, slope)
The course combines parts given by the teacher and exercise sessions. 

Partim B of the course includes also some laporatory sessions. These sessions allow students to compare and complete their theoretical knowledge with practical demonstrations for the main soil tests performed in the laboratory (particle size, Atterberg limits, oedometer, proctor).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this teaching unit, the student will be able to:

  • Identify and classify a soil from a geotechnical point of view and deduce its general characteristics
  • Understand the physical processes related to simple geotechnical and soil mechanics problems
  • Comprehend simple case study in geotechnical engineering
  • Explain and analyse the behaviour of shallow foundations in terms of settelement and bearing capacity
  • Partim B: Catch the main protocol of laboratory tests and analyse the results of geotechnical tests in laboratory

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The theorical lecture is given ex-cathedra while during the exercise sessions, the students solves exercise by them-selves with the help of the teacher or assistant. Those exercise sessions are idal moments to interact with the teacher and ask questions. 

In addition to those sessions, the students following the partim B of the course will have to participate to laboratory sessions during which they will perform classical soil mechanics tests (grain size distribution, Atterberg limit, oedomtric test, proctor test). After each session, student will have to produce a report, to be delivered for the next week, including the objective of the test, the obtained results and the interpretation of the results. 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Lecture and pratical work face-to-face

In addition for partim B: Laboratory session (Laboratory of Geotechnologies)

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

The ppt used during the theoretical courses are the basic course material. They are available on e-campus. Additionnaly, course notes (more complete, covering a content beyond the scope of this course), written in English, are available on e-campus and at the  student centrale des cours - AEES.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam AND oral exam

Written work / report


Further information:

For students following only partim A:

The evaluation is based 50% on an oral (closed-book) exam based on the theory and 50% on an written (open-book) exam based on exercise.

For studentrs following partim A and B:

The evaluation is based 45% on an oral (closed-book) exam based on the theory, 45% on an written exam (closed-book, with access to a equation form provided to the students) based on exercise and 10% on the evaluation of the report delivered after each laboratory session.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

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Contacts

Bertrand FRANCOIS, Bertrand.francois@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs