Course Content (Syllabus)
The course of Engineering Geology (7th semester of undergraduate studies) is taught with 2 hours of lectures and 2 hours of tutorials.
Lectures:
12-13 lectures are given. The topics that are taught are:
1st Lecture: Introduction (Topics of Engineering Geology-The role of Engineering geology in engineering works)
2nd Lecture: Site investigation tools
3rd Lecture: Engineering geology of soils (consistence, soil description, Physical characteristics)
4th Lecture: Engineering geology of soils (shear strength, Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria)
5th Lecture: Engineering geology of rocks (Physical, Mechanical properties of rocks and discontinuities)
6th Lecture: Rock mass strength-Geotechnical classification (GSI, RMR, Q)
7th Lecture: Engineering Geology of Sedimentary, Igneous and metamorphic rocks.
8 th Lecture: Landslides
9 th Lecture: Slope stability
10 th Lecture: Tunnels
11 th Lecture: Dams
12 th Lecture: Foundations
Tutorials (3 teaching groups):
10-12 series of tutorials are given (15 tutorials in total). For every tutorial the associated exercise includes all data and geo- information, a presentation (PowerPoint) with all the necessary theoretical background and a supplementary assisting booklet with supporting information.
The topics of the tutorials are:
1st tutorial: The importance of the geological model in major construction projects. The consequences from its ignorance or misinterpretation.
2nd tutorial: Evaluation of site investigation program: Construction of geological and engineering geological sections from sampling boreholes, laboratory and in-situ tests .
3rd tutorial: Putting numbers in Geology I. Shear strength of soils. Mohr-Coulomb parameters, laboratory tests (triaxial, shear test, consolidation test) in soils. Total and effective stress, pore pressures.
4th tutorial: Putting numbers in Geology II.. Uniaxial compressive test of intact rock – UCS. Deformation modulus of the intact rock(Ei). Rock mass strength (σcm). Hoek-Brown failure criteria and equivalent evaluation of cohesion and angle of friction with the use of rock mass classification GSI. Deformation modulus of the rock mass (Em).
5th tutorial: Putting numbers in Geology III. Shear strength of rock joints (when the failure of the rock mass is controlled by them). Shear tests. Evaluation of angle of friction from the Barton – Bandis failure criteria.
6th tutorial: Cuts. Rock slope stability. Kinematic analysis. Definition of Factor of Safety. Groundwater influence. Rock slope support
7th tutorial: Dams I. Selection of Dam place and dam type. Water tightness issues in dam and basin. Slope stability. Foundation problems and mechanisms of failures. The role of Geology.
8th tutorial: Dams II. Water tightness below the dam. Lugeon tests. Grout curtain against seepage and internal erosion
9th tutorial: Tunnels. Evaluation of Engineering geological conditions along a tunnel. Behaviour types. Groundwater inflows.
10th tutorial: Geotechnical classifications in tunnelling. GSI, RMR and Q classifications
11th tutorial: Seismotectonics and engineering projects. Evaluation of the seismic hazard. Evaluation of the liquefaction susceptibility of soil deposits.
The final evaluation of the students is based upon:
Written examination in the end of the semester
Submission of 10-12 exercises-tutorials
Field work performance and report
Lectures:
9 digital presentations (PowerPoint) are prepared
Tutorials:
10 presenting papers (in most of the papers there are more than 1 exercises. They are provided to the students in printed and digital form.
Supporting booklets in digital and printed form (in 2012-13 they were given for the tutorials 1,2,4,5,8 and 10).
The booklet (around 10 pages) of every tutorial has as structure: Purpose-scope, solution «keys» – theoretical background guidance, step by step solution, form of the answers, references.
10 presentations are prepared for every paper (different than those of the lectures). They are provided in digital form.
Additional bibliography for study
Edu 1. CHRISTARAS B. (1992): logging methods in boreholes. Geotechnical News (Geotechnical Chamber of Greece), v. 39, Nov. 1992, pp. 41-56
Edu 2. CHRISTARAS B. (2003): Natural building stones. Technical characteristics – Non destructive methods of study. Notes for the post-graduate courses of “Monument protection”, NTUA – Dept. Chem. Eng. 25p.
Edu 3. CHRISTARAS, B. (2004). Soil Mechanics. AUTH Web Courses, www.geo.auth.gr/883/ , 149p
Edu 4. CHRISTARAS, B. (2004). Laboratory tests of soil mechanics. AUTH Web Courses, www.geo.auth.gr , 133p
Edu 5. CHRISTARAS, B & CHATZIANGELOU, M. (2004). Rock mass Description and Classification. AUTH Web courses, www.geo.auth.gr/883/ 28p.
Edu 6. CHRISTARAS, B. MAKEDON, TH. & VASALAKIS, AN. (2004). Diamond Core Bits. AUTH Web courses, www.geo.auth.gr/883/ 46p.
Edu 7. CHRISTARAS, B. (2005). Landslides (Gr) AUTH Web Courses, www.geo.auth.gr/883/
Edu 8. CHRISTARAS, B. (2005). Landslides (Gr) AUTH Web Courses, www.geo.auth.gr/883/
Edu 9. CHRISTARAS, B. (2006): Soil mechanics laboratory and in situ tests. Techn Chamber of Gr, 2nd Ed. 144p
Edu 10. CHRISTARAS, B. (2010). Simple steps on soil mechanics. University Studio Press, 276 p (in Greek)
Edu_11 CHRISTARAS, B. & CHATZIANGELOU (2010). Soil Mechanic Formulas AUTH