Overall objectives:

1 - Acquire theoretical and practical knowledge about foundations of structures for professional activities in the areas of design and production (construction management and supervision).
2 - Understand the importance of geotechnical characterization for foundation design, know the main methods of field and laboratory testing and estimate geotechnical parameter values essential for foundation design.
3 - Know the main types of foundations, specificities and construction technologies.
4 - Acquire fundamental knowledge for the design of shallow and deep foundations. Verification of the Ultimate and Serviceability Limit States according to Eurocode 7.

Syllabus:

1 - Geotechnical characterization. Field tests and laboratory tests for physical and mechanical characterization of soils and rocks. Key geotechnical parameters for foundation design. Geotechnical zoning.
2 - Basis of geotechnical design. Global and partial safety factors. Introduction to Eurocode 7. Ultimate Limit States (ULS) and Serviceability Limit States (SLS).
3 - Shallow Foundations: Bearing capacity. Behaviour under serviceability conditions. Design of shallow foundations according to Eurocode 7. Reduction and control of settlements. Soil-structure interaction.
4 - Deep foundations: Solutions and construction technologies. Isolated piles and group of piles. Pile group effect. Limit states and design methods. Design of piles under vertical and horizontal loading. Evaluation of bearing capacity and prediction of displacements. Loading tests. Quality control.
5 - Pathologies of foundations.

Literature/Sources:

J.E. Bowles , 1996 , Foundation Analysis and Design , McGraw-Hill
M. Matos Fernandes , 2015 , Mecânica dos Solos. Vol. II: Introdução à engenharia geotécnica , FEUP
M. Matos Fernandes , 2020 , Analysis and Design of Geotechnical Structures , CRC PRESS
D.A. Velloso; F.R. Lopes , 2002 , Fundações. Vol. 2: Fundações Profundas , Oficina de Textos
J. Brito; J.D. Silvestre; R.C. Gomes , 2021 , Tecnologia de contenções e fundações , LIDEL
J. Milititsky; N.C. Consoli; F. Schnaid , 2014 , Patologia das fundações , Oficina de Textos

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
Theoretical and theoretical-practical classes, including the presentation of the contents outlined in the program and exercises for the application of concepts and knowledge consolidation. Evaluation Methodology: Quantitative assessment (0-20). Regular Season: Two Tests (weighting 40%, each, in the final grade) with theoretical and theoretical-practical questions, covering all topics of the curriculum unit, which focuses on student's ability to relate parts of the syllabus. Two individual problem-solving assignments (each with a weight of 10%). In this way, the student can, throughout the semester, assess their performance and change strategies, if necessary. To pass the course, the student must achieve a final grade equal or higher than 9.5. Resit and Special Seasons: exam covering all topics of the course.