Slope Stability (CE418) Course Detail

Course Name Course Code Season Lecture Hours Application Hours Lab Hours Credit ECTS
Slope Stability CE418 Area Elective 3 0 0 3 6
Pre-requisite Course(s)
CE311
Course Language English
Course Type Elective Courses
Course Level Natural & Applied Sciences Master's Degree
Mode of Delivery Face To Face
Learning and Teaching Strategies Lecture, Question and Answer, Problem Solving, Team/Group.
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Ebru AKIŞ
Course Assistants
Course Objectives The objective of this course is to provide a detailed background for slope stability and to teach methods used in the stability analysis and stabilization.
Course Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • The students will learn the slope stability concepts.
  • The students will learn the causes of slope failures and landslides.
  • The students will be able to determine the shear strength parameters of the soil from laboratory and field test results.
  • The students will be able determine the factor of safety of a slope by carrying out slope stability analysis.
  • The students will be able to propose alternative stabilization methods to unstable slopes.
Course Content Overview of slopes and stability concepts, examples of slope failure, causes of slope failures, review of soil mechanics principles and shear strength of soil: drained and undrained conditions, total and effective stress, drained and undrained shear strength, laboratory and field Testing of earth materials for slope stability.

Weekly Subjects and Releated Preparation Studies

Week Subjects Preparation
1 Introduction to slope stability and landslides: overview of slopes and stability concepts, examples of slope failure, causes of slope failures
2 Introduction to slope stability and landslides: overview of slopes and stability concepts, examples of slope failure, causes of slope failures
3 Review of soil mechanics Principles and shear strength of soil: Drained and undrained conditions, total and effective stress, drained and undrained shear strength;
4 Review of soil mechanics principles and shear strength of soil: Drained and undrained conditions, total and effective stress, drained and undrained shear strength;
5 Review of soil mechanics principles and shear strength of soil: Drained and undrained conditions, total and effective stress, drained and undrained shear strength;
6 Laboratory and field testing of earth materials for slope stability: Field study in landslides, exploration methods at site, triaxial tests, direct shear tests, other tests and interpretation;
7 Laboratory and field testing of earth materials for slope stability: Field study in landslides, exploration methods at site, triaxial tests, direct shear tests, other tests and interpretation;
8 Laboratory and field testing of earth materials for slope stability: Field study in landslides, exploration methods at site, triaxial tests, direct shear tests, other tests and interpretation;
9 Laboratory and field testing of earth materials for slope stability: Field study in landslides, exploration methods at site, triaxial tests, direct shear tests, other tests and interpretation;
10 Slope stability analysis: Modes of failure, factor of safety concepts, stability conditions for analysis, limit equilibrium methods, slice methods, infinite slope, design charts, pseudostatic analysis;
11 Slope stability analysis: Modes of failure, factor of safety concepts, stability conditions for analysis, limit equilibrium methods, slice methods, infinite slope, design charts, pseudostatic analysis;
12 Slope stability analysis: Modes of failure, factor of safety concepts, stability conditions for analysis, limit equilibrium methods, slice methods, infinite slope, design charts, pseudostatic analysis;
13 Slope stability analysis: Modes of failure, factor of safety concepts, stability conditions for analysis, limit equilibrium methods, slice methods, infinite slope, design charts, pseudostatic analysis;
14 Slope Stabilization Methods
15 Final Exam Period
16 Final Exam Period

Sources

Other Sources 1. Abramson, L.W., Lee, T.S., Sharma, S., Boyce G.M., Slope Stability and Stabilization Methods, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001.
2. Duncan J.M., Wright S.G., Soil Strength and Stability, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005
3. Turner A.K., Schuster R.L., Landslides Investigation and Mitigation, Special Report 247, National Academy Press Washington, D.C., 1996.
4. Knappett,J.A., Craig, R.F., Craig’s Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition, Spon Press, 2012.
5. Das B.M., Sobhan K., Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 8th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2014.
6. Budhu, M., Foundations and Earth Retaining Structures, John Wiley & Sons, 2007.
7. Önalp A., Arel E., Geoteknik Bilgisi II-Yamaç ve Şevlerin Mühendisliği, Birsen Yayınevi Ltd. Şti., 2004.

Evaluation System

Requirements Number Percentage of Grade
Attendance/Participation - -
Laboratory - -
Application - -
Field Work - -
Special Course Internship - -
Quizzes/Studio Critics - -
Homework Assignments 4 15
Presentation 1 25
Project - -
Report - -
Seminar - -
Midterms Exams/Midterms Jury 1 25
Final Exam/Final Jury 1 35
Toplam 7 100
Percentage of Semester Work 65
Percentage of Final Work 35
Total 100

Course Category

Core Courses X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

The Relation Between Course Learning Competencies and Program Qualifications

# Program Qualifications / Competencies Level of Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
1 Gains the ability to have in-depth knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering, and to use this knowledge in solving Civil Engineering problems. X
2 Gains the ability to design and produce Civil Engineering systems under economic, environmental sustainability, and manufacturability constraints.
3 Gains the ability to identify, define, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems, and acquires the ability to select and apply appropriate analysis and modeling methods for this purpose.
4 Gains the ability to develop an approach to solve encountered engineering problems, and to design and conduct models and experiments.
5 Gains the ability to effectively use modern engineering tools, techniques, and capabilities necessary for design and other engineering applications.
6 Gains the ability to independently conduct fundamental research in the field, report research results effectively, and present them at scientific meetings.
7 Acquires sufficient verbal and written English skills to follow scientific developments in the field and to communicate with colleagues.
8 Gains the ability to effectively use the knowledge acquired in intra-disciplinary and interdisciplinary teams, and to take leadership roles in such teams.
9 Gains awareness of the necessity of lifelong learning, personal development, and continuous self-renewal in the field; follows developments in science and technology; acquires awareness of entrepreneurship and innovation.
10 Recognizes the importance of considering social, scientific, and ethical values in the stages of collecting, interpreting, disseminating, and applying data related to civil engineering problems.
11 Gains the competence to critically examine, develop, and, when necessary, take action to change social relations and the norms that govern them.

ECTS/Workload Table

Activities Number Duration (Hours) Total Workload
Course Hours (Including Exam Week: 16 x Total Hours) 16 3 48
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 14 2 28
Presentation/Seminar Prepration 1 15 15
Project
Report
Homework Assignments 4 7 28
Quizzes/Studio Critics
Prepration of Midterm Exams/Midterm Jury 1 15 15
Prepration of Final Exams/Final Jury 1 16 16
Total Workload 150