507958 - GEOMECHANICS

courses

ID:

507958

Duration (hours):

62

CFU:

SSD:

GEOLOGIA APPLICATA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (01/10/2025 - 10/01/2026)

Course Objectives

Ability to describe quantitatively the physical-mechanical properties of rocks, discontinuities and rock masses.
Competence in field geomechanical surveys and geomechanical data processing.
Knowledge of the methods of investigation and classification of rock masses.
Application of geomechanics to practical problems (choice and determination of parameters, stability on rocky hillslopes).

Course Prerequisites

The course is part of the specialist geological training of students in Geosciences for Sustainable Development. The course does not provide preparatory prerequisites with other courses of the Master's Degree Program. However, knowledge of the geological concepts acquired in the Degree in Geological Sciences and in particular of the basic concepts related to the deformation of rocks is required. The preliminary frequency of the course in Structural Geology is recommended.

Teaching Methods

The course includes lectures and real case studies carried out in class and in the field with the aim of applying the theoretical notions acquired to practical problems. During the lessons and exercises, numerous real examples of geomechanical interpretation of rock walls and geomechanical reconstructions of areas with different characteristics will also be illustrated and discussed, with the aim of making students acquire the ability to apply the typical techniques of geomechanics. Examples of geomechanical analyzes will also be illustrated digitally through the three-dimensional photointerpretation of virtual outcrops.

Assessment Methods

The exam consists of two written tests with questions and exercises. The evaluation will be carried out to verify the achievement of the educational objectives of the course. The first test concerns in a series of questions on the theoretical part of the course aimed at verifying the learning of the basic notions of geomechanics. The second test consists in some practical exercises on geomechanical classifications, criteria of resistance, kinematic analyses or deterministic methods for the stability of rocky hillslopes, to assess the student's ability to apply geomechanical analysis techniques of the rocks.

Texts

Evert Hoeck Practical-Rock-Engineering (https://www.rocscience.com/documents/hoek/corner/Practical-Rock-Engineering-Full-Text.pdf)
Lecture notes, scientific papers and slides provided by the teacher.

Introduction
1.1. Definition of rock and rock mass;
1.2. Importance of geological modeling;
1.3. Fundamental properties of rock mass (intact rock, discontinuities and structure);

2- Characterization of intact rock
2.1. Physical properties (tests and methods of determination);
2.2. Mechanical properties (tests and methods of determination).

3- Characterization of discontinuities
3.1. Geometric properties;
3.2. Mechanical properties.

4- Structure of the rock mass
4.1. Definition;
4.2. Parameters for rock mass classification.

5- Classification of rock mass
5.1. RMR;
5.2. Q;
5.3. GSI;
5.4. SMR;
5.5. Estimation of the resistance and deformability parameters of the rock mass on the basis of RMR and Q classification;
5.6. Correlation between major classification systems.

6- Resistance Criteria for Discontinuities
6.1. Linear Criterion of Mohr-Coulomb;
6.2. Bilinear Criterion of Patton;
6.3. Curvilinear Criterion of Barton-Bandis;

7- Rock mass resistance criteria
7.1. Criterion of Hoek-Brown;
7.2. Deriving the Mohr-Coulomb criterion parameters by the Hoek-Brown envelope.

8- Application of Geomechanics to engineering geological problems: stability of rocky hillslopes
8.1. Stereographic projections
8.2. Kinematic analysis
8.3. Deterministic methods
8.4. Runout of rocky materials mobilized by landslides

Course Language

Italian

More information

Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher to
integrate their preparation with further educational material. The latter will be provided according to their needs, which will be evaluated by the teacher with a special preliminary interview.