Research Seminar Geotechnics in Science and Practice

Exciting geotechnical issues with potentially catastrophic consequences in case of misjudgement are presented by the lecturer instructor and explored in depth by the students in the form of publications. These publications are then presented by the students in the form of seminar presentations to all course participants. Quality criteria for the evaluation of applied publications will be developed in the seminar. The students prepare a short essay in which they critically evaluate a publication with regard to its quality.

Topics (depending on the number of participants):
Spannende geotechnische Fragestellungen mit potentiell katastrophalen Auswirkungen bei Fehleinschätzung werden vom Lehrenden vorgestellt und in Form von Publikationen durch die Studierenden vertieft. Diese Publikationen werden dann durch die Studierenden in Form von Seminarvorträgen allen Kursteilnehmern vorgestellt. Qualitätskriterien für die Bewertung von angewandten Publikationen werden im Seminar erarbeitet. Die Studierenden erstellen einen kurzen Aufsatz, in dem sie eine Publikation kritisch auf ihre Qualität hin beurteilen.

Themen (je nach Teilnehmerzahl):

(1) Bothkennar soft clay (Scotland):
- Characterisation of soft clays;
- Influence of sampling on soil behaviour of soft clays;
- Compressibility;
- Permeability

(2) Champlain quick clay (Ottawa, Canada):
- Characterisation of sensitive clays;
- Stabilisation of sensitive clays;
- Compressibility of sensitive clays

(3) Liquefaction in sandy soils (Christchurch, New Zealand):
- Introduction into cyclic soil behaviour;
- Cyclic soil behaviour of different soil types;
- Assessment of liquefaction potential in the field

1) Introduction to advanced problems in engineering geology.

2) Read, understand, evaluate, summarize, and present basic geotechnical engineering problems through published case studies and survey articles.

3) Develop quality criteria for publications on applied geotechnical problems.

Seminar presentation (50%)
Essay (50%)

Other form of examination

Will be announced in the course.

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