Soil Strength and Slope Stability is a practical short course that covers the factors that determine drained and undrained strengths of soils, and methods of evaluating the stability of slopes using computer programs and simple approximate methods.
The course is designed to answer common questions about soil strength and slope stability analyses such as:
- How are soil strengths influenced by factors such as grain size, water content, pore pressures, and sample disturbance?
- How can soil strengths be evaluated using common laboratory tests, in situ tests, or correlations with index properties?
- How do soil strengths vary with time?
- When should undrained strengths be used to evaluate slope stability, and when should drained strengths be used?
- When should slope stability analyses be performed using total unit weights? When should they be performed using buoyant unit weights?
- Which methods of slope stability analysis are most accurate? Which methods are easiest to use?
- How can slope stability be improved using geosynthetics, anchors, or piles?
- Which slope stability computer programs provide the best capabilities for analyzing short term, long term, and rapid drawdown stability? Which afford the most efficient data input? Which provide the best reportready output?
Who should attend?
Engineering staff from project level engineers through senior level managers who wish to refresh and expand their knowledge of the soil mechanics principles involved in soil strength and slope stability, and effective and reliable methods of applying them in practice.
What you’ll receive:
- 14 hours of instruction
- Notes for all lectures in a 3-ring binder
- A flash drive with reference materials
- A trial copy of the slope stability computer program SLIDE by Rocscience useable for 30 days
- An opportunity to interact with the instructors regarding your particular concerns regarding evaluation of soil strength and slope stability
- Refreshments at breaks, lunches both days
- 1.4 CEUs
For More Information
For further technical information about the short course, contact Lisha Farrier at phone (540) 231-5052, or e-mail: lfarrier@vt.edu. For all other information, please contact Sam Linkous (540) 231-8569.