Course syllabus

Bergmekanik och bergbyggnad
Rock Mechanics and Construction

VTGF01, 7,5 credits, G2 (First Cycle)

Valid for: 2012/13
Decided by: Education Board 1
Date of Decision: 2012-05-02

General Information

Main field: Technology.
Elective Compulsory for: V3
Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish

Aim

The aim of the course is to enhance the student's knowledge and skills in rock geology and rock engineering as a tool to handle infrastructure and building projects and to take into account the general goals for development of a sustainable society. The course is of value for all civil engineers and particularly appropriate for the specializations towards civil engineering and water resources within the civil engineering programme.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to define and explain basic conceptions and principles regarding rock characteristics and structural features and also how rock discontinuities influence the localisation, orientation and design of for example tunnels, caverns and bridges.
• be able to describe the basic principles for rock engineering classification, rock mechanics, tunnelling techniques and construction techniques in rocks.

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to interpret a geological map and erect a geological cross-section with geological strata and also be able to establish a conceptual engineering geological expectation model in three dimensions, taking into account other civil engineering and construction aspects.
• show an ability to evaluate engineering geological preinvestigation methodology, in particular drilling, sampling and geophysical investigations.
• be able to outline a rock engineering proposal for drilling, blasting, tunnelling and rock support based on the mechanical properties of the rocks and a conceptual engineering geological model of the rock characteristics.
• be able to estimate, discuss and also to present orally and in written form information from archive material and field investigations, concerning engineering geology, rock mechanics and rock construction. The presentation shall be directed to engineers, politicians as well as to the public.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• indicate an understanding of the need for alternate localisation and construction proposals and also an analysis of the consequences regarding the environmental requirements on constructions in rock.

Contents

The following is included in the course contents.

 

• Basic rock geology emphasizing characteristics of rocks, in particular structural features and the importance of discontinuities in rock construction works. Examples on situations with magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks of various age and in different parts of the world. Weathering, clay alteration, fracturation and hardness. Engineering geological prognosis of the rock characteristics.
• Rock mechanics. Reasons for variation in strength of rock and rock mass. Load, strain and deformation of rock, the response curve of the rock mass (reference to corresponding descriptions of soil mechanics in the course VGTF05). Influence of discontinuities and anisotropy on the strength of the rock mass and on the possibilities of building constructions.
• Rock construction. Techniques for rock foundation works and anchorage of e.g. dams, bridges and embankment sides and also for construction of rock caverns and tunnels. Methods for rock support. Proposals for support of strength and running of construction works in rocks based on conceptual engineering geological models, assessment of the Q-value and of the mechanical characteristics of the rock mass.
• The influence of the groundwater conditions on the characteristics of the rock mass, in particular concerning strength and stability but also rock construction technique and environmental consequences. Aquifer tests and pumping tests for assessment of groundwater flow and environmental influence.
• Establishment of a conceptual model of the expected geological situation including engineering geological characteristics. Engineering geological pre-investigations and field reconnaissance.
• Introduction to common geophysical investigation methods and field investigation methodology.
• Techniques for drilling and rock sampling. Borehole investigations including geophysical logging.
• Descriptions of environmental consequences and the environmental legislation. Other kinds of descriptions of consequences. The content of the course FMI031 is developed and deepened.

At least two days of field exercises and study visits in rock quarries and at rock construction sites. A comprehensive rock construction assignment is running in parallell with the course. The students get the responsibility for a particular part of the assignment in groups of three persons. Each group is offered at least three hours of advicing in the small group in addition to advicing during the scheduled exercises. The assignment is presented as a written report and orally at the final seminar of the course. Each student group is offered a detailed written and oral feedback from the teachers. Each group shall also carry out a written peer review of a report dealing with another part of the assignment. The students do also have to prepare and perform an oral opposition of a third group with a third particular task at the final seminar.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH
Assessment: Written examination. Written and oral presentation of a rock engineering tasks. Compulsory participation in excursions, field exercises and seminars. The final mark is a weighted average of the marks from the different parts (written test 90%, written and oral presentation of rock engineering tasks 10%) rounded off downwards to an integer. To pass the written examination it is necessary to obtain at least 50% of the total points.

Parts
Code: 0110. Name: Written Examination and Presentation of Assignments.
Credits: 7,5. Grading scale: TH.
Code: 0210. Name: Excursions, Laboratory Work and Seminars.
Credits: 0. Grading scale: UG.

Admission

Admission requirements:

• VTGA01 Engineering Geology

Required prior knowledge: VSMA05 Structural Mechanics, VBK013 Structural Engineering, Basic Course , VVR145 Water, FMI031 Environmental Science, Especially Environmental Chemistry and VGTF05 Soil Mechanics.
The number of participants is limited to: No
The course overlaps following course/s: VTG100, VTG101

Reading list

• Individual literature of each student:.
• Svensson, C.: Större makrostrukturer i berggrunden. Kompendium säljes av teknisk geologi, 2001. Available in Swedish only.
• Svensson, C.: Kompendium i Teknisk geologi AK. KFS, 2010. Available in Swedish only.
• Lindblom, U.: Bergbyggnad. Liber, 2010, ISBN: 978-91-47-09409-7.
• Reference literature available at the department:.
• Stanfors, R., Triumf, C.-A. och Emmelin, A.: Geofysik för bergbyggare. SveBeFo, 2001, ISBN: 91-631-0633-7.
• Waltham, T.: Foundations of Engineering Geology., 2a upplagan. Spon Press Taylor & Francis , 2002, ISBN: 0-415-25450-7.
• Nordlund, E., Rådberg, G. och Sjöberg, J.: Kompendium om bergmekanikens grunder. Luleå Tekniska Universitet , 1998.
• For the presentation of rock engineering tasks the following personal reference literature is recommended:.
• Strömquist, S.: Skrivboken., Skrivprocess, skrivråd och skrivstrategier. Gleerups, 2005, ISBN: 91-40-64513-4.
• Svenska språknämnden: Svenska skrivregler. Liber, 2000, ISBN: 47-04974-X.

Contact and other information

Course coordinator: Universitetsadjunkt Peter Jonsson, Peter.Jonsson@tg.lth.se
Course homepage: http://www.tg.lth.se/grundutbildning/kurser
Further information: Field exercises, excursions and study visits are accounted as laboratory work in the time plan.