2023 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate major in Civil Engineering
Physical Modeling in Geotechnics
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Civil Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Jiro Takemura / Akihiro Takahashi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Fri (W3-205(W322))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CVE.C431
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 3-4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Geo-materials have complex mechanical properties with a lot of influential factors, which cause complicated behaviors of geotechnical structures such as foundations, slopes and tunnels. Physical modeling using scaled models under clear initial and boundary conditions is one of the effective approaches to observe the behaviors and study the influence of critical factors.
This course instructs theory, requirements, technology needed in physical modeling of geotechnical problems such as the scaling laws, appropriate simplification, sample preparation and measurement of the soil behaviors.
Course description and aims
Through lectures and group works, the students acquire fundamental knowledge of physical modeling in the field of geotechnics such as scaling laws for various geotechnical problems under static and dynamic loading conditions, simplification in model construction, soil preparation methods, measurement strategy, loading techniques.
Keywords
properties of geo-materials, scaled models, scaling law, sample preparation, measurement strategy and sensors, static problems, dynamic problems, group work
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Combination of the lectures on basic subjects on physical modeling in geotechnics and group exercises. Each group will conduct centrifuge model tests on the problems set by each group..
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction - role of physical model in geotechnical engineering | Advantages of physical modeling and its role in geotechnical engineering practice |
| Class 2 | Similitude and modeling principles | Dimensional Analysis, scaling law, modeling strategy of scaled physical model |
| Class 3 | Design of physical model and model ground preparation | Modeling of soil, structures and loading, soil sample preparation techniques |
| Class 4 | Modeling exercise -1: preparation of dry sand model ground in a mold | Exercise of dry sand sample preparation and |
| Class 5 | Measurements strategy and sensors | Understanding sensing technology and instrumentation |
| Class 6 | Recent development in physical modeling – static problems | Modeling for geotechnical problems under static loading conditions |
| Class 7 | Modeling exercise-2: Bearing capacity of shallow foundation on dry sand | Model planing and excution of scaled 1G model |
| Class 8 | Modeling exercise-2: continue | Idem |
| Class 9 | Presentation of exercise results and discussion – Exercises 1 & 2 | Idem |
| Class 10 | Recent development in physical modeling – dynamic problems | Modeling for geotechnical problems under dynamic loading conditions |
| Class 11 | Modeling exercise-3: Modeling of soil-structure interaction problems by centrifuge model and verification of numerical or analytical model: Orientation and Group discussion | Centrifuge modeling on soil - structure interaction problems |
| Class 12 | Modeling exercise-3: Proposal | Understanding the condtions and key behavior studied in the model |
| Class 13 | Modeling exercise-3: continue & progress report: | Idem |
| Class 14 | Presentation of exercise results and discussion – Exercise-3 | Derivation of main conclusions, confirmation of the accuracy and significance |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts on each topic will be provided by lecturer.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Geotechnical Centrifuge Technology, Blackie Academic & Professional
Evaluation methods and criteria
Assignments, Reports of exercise, presentation of experimental work
Related courses
- CVE.C201 ： Soil Mechanics I
- CVE.C202 ： Soil Mechanics II
- CVE.C311 ： Geotechnical Engineering in Practice
- CVE.C401 ： Mechanics of Geomaterials
- CVE.C403 ： Geo-environmental Engineering
- CVE.C402 ： Stability Problems in Geotechnical Engineering
Prerequisites
Knowledge of soil mechnaics and geotechnical engineering
Interests or curiocity on any observed behavior in the model and insight to find the mechanism behind