Slope Stability (CE518) Course Detail

Course Name Course Code Season Lecture Hours Application Hours Lab Hours Credit ECTS
Slope Stability CE518 3 0 0 3 5
Pre-requisite Course(s)
None
Course Language English
Course Type N/A
Course Level Natural & Applied Sciences Master's Degree
Mode of Delivery Face To Face
Learning and Teaching Strategies Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Problem Solving.
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Ebru AKIŞ
  • Research Assistant Burak AKBAŞ
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 2 30
Final Exam/Final Jury 1 35
Toplam 8 105
Percentage of Semester Work 70
Percentage of Final Work 30
Total 100

Course Category

Core Courses
Major Area Courses X
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 Attains knowledge through wide and in-depth investigations his/her field and surveys, evaluates, interprets, and applies the knowledge thus acquired. X
2 Has a critical and comprehensive knowledge of contemporary engineering techniques and methods of application. X
3 By using unfamiliar, ambiguous, or incompletely defined data, completes and utilizes the required knowledge by scientific methods; is able to fuse and make use of knowledge from different disciplines. X
4 Has the awareness of new and emerging technologies in his/her branch of engineering profession, studies and learns these when needed. X
5 Defines and formulates problems in his/her branch of engineering, develops methods of solution, and applies innovative methods of solution. X
6 Devises new and/or original ideas and methods; designs complex systems and processes and proposes innovative/alternative solutions for their design. X
7 Has the ability to design and conduct theoretical, experimental, and model-based investigations; is able to use judgment to solve complex problems that may be faced in this process. X
8 Functions effectively as a member or as a leader in teams that may be interdisciplinary, devises approaches of solving complex situations, can work independently and can assume responsibility. X
9 Has the oral and written communication skills in one foreign language at the B2 general level of European Language Portfolio. X
10 Can present the progress and the results of his investigations clearly and systematically in national or international contexts both orally and in writing. X
11 Knows social, environmental, health, safety, and legal dimensions of engineering applications as well as project management and business practices; and is aware of the limitations and the responsibilities these impose on engineering practices. X
12 Commits to social, scientific, and professional ethics during data acquisition, interpretation, and publication as well as in all professional activities.

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 6 6
Project
Report
Homework Assignments 4 5 20
Quizzes/Studio Critics
Prepration of Midterm Exams/Midterm Jury 2 6 12
Prepration of Final Exams/Final Jury 1 11 11
Total Workload 125