Course content

The course is given every second year, next time fall semester 2025.

Basic theory for dynamic systems with one or many degrees of freedom. Wave propagation in elastic media and soils. Development of simple spring-dashpot analogs for foundations on soils. Earthquake engineering. Pile driving. Traffic vibrations. Parameters for soil dynamics determined by laboratory and field tests. Examples of application, partly by Finite Element Methods.

Learning outcome

KNOWLEDGE

The candidate should have knowledge of how the basic theory yielding oscillating systems and wave propagation may be used to analyse geodynamic problems.

SKILLS

The candidate is able to:

• Determine appropriate geodynamic parameters
• Calculate the oscillation of foundations and determine parameters for analogue models
• Calculate the attenuation of earthquakes in soil deposits
• Assess measured vibrations from traffic or construction activities and compare with acceptance criteria

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The candidate can:

• Assess the effect of earthquakes and traffic vibrations
• Perform dynamic analyses of geotechnical problems by the use of the finite element method

Learning methods and activities

The course is taught in English and is made up by intensive lecturing in combination with exercises. The course is offered in the fall semester every second year (2025, 2027 etc.). Guest lecturers are invited from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and Aarhus University. To pass the course, a score of at least 70 percent is required.

If you wish to attend, please contact the course coordinator.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

MSc degree in geotechnical engineering or structural mechanics.

Required previous knowledge

Many of those who follow this course are external candidates, whether from the industry, other universities etc. Note that if you wish to follow the course the semester it runs, but are not affiliated with the PhD programme in Engineering at NTNU, please contact the course coordinator to check that you have the right background to attend. Once given the go-ahead from the course coordinator, please forward the correspondence with the course coordinator to our PhD coordinator, maren.grimstad@ntnu.no. She will then help you sign up, if possible. To check if you are eligible to gain credits for PhD courses at NTNU, please look at https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/researchcourses.

Course materials

Lecture notes will be available from Geotechnical Division, NTNU.