Syllabus for class CIVE 436/836 Foundation Engineering

Instructor: Dr. Maria M. Szerszen, Whittier Research Center, room Q362, phone (402)
472-8069, e-mail: mszerszen2@unl.edu
Catalog Description: (3 credits) Introduction to the design of shallow foundations, mats
and deep foundations. Emphasis is placed on bearing capacity analysis and settlement
analysis. Foundation analysis based on soil lab tests and in-situ tests is presented.
Geotechnical approach for design of combined footings and structural design of spread
foundations and piles is discussed. Prerequisite: CIVE 334.
Textbook:
Foundation Design, Principles and Practices by Donald Coduto, 2nd Edition, Prentice
Hall, ISBN 0-13-589706-8
References:
Model Codes:
The Uniform Building Code (ICBO 1997)
The National Building Code (BOCA 1996)
The Standard Building Code (SBCCI 1997)
Specialty Codes:
Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-12) and Commentary,
American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Michigan, ISBN 978-0-87031-264-9
Manual of Steel Construction, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC 2011),
Oakland, California, ISBN 978-1-56424-060-6
Goal:
The goal of this course is to provide students with basic understanding of the behavior
and design of foundations, shallow and deep. Classical theories of bearing capacity and
settlement are explained for shallow foundations supported on granular and cohesion
soils. Design and capacity analysis of deep foundations is presented for different types of
deep foundations and different types of soil. As a part of supporting function of
foundations in general, limits for total and differential settlement are discussed together
with safety factors for design. Student successfully completing this class should be able
to design any spread footing, pile or drilled shaft (geotechnical and structural design
included).
Prerequisites:
Fundamental knowledge of types of soil, soil mechanics and properties, and load effects
on foundations are required. Stress/strain relations for granular and cohesion soils and
influence of presence of ground water are also needed.

Lecture Topics:
Introduction - Safety, Building Codes, Classification of Foundations
Soil properties
3-1 to 3-4
Soil Strength
3-6,4-2, 6-5
Exploration and sampling
4-1,4-2
In-Situ soil testing
4-3 to 4-5
In-Situ soil testing
4-3 to 4-5
5-1 to 5-3,
Shallow Foundations - general
6-1
Bearing Capacity equations
6-2, 6-4
6-3, 6-6 to
BC - special situations
6-8
Stress increase in soil
7-1, 7-3
Consolidation settlement
3-5, 7-4
Review session
Interim Exam 1
Settlement by In-Situ-Tests
7-2, 7-6
7-8, 7-9,
Other causes of settlement
7-11
Geotechnical Design
8-1
Combined Footings
8-2, 8-3
Structural design of footings
9
Mat Foundations
10
11-1to11-3,
Deep Foundations, single piles
11-6
Pile Capacity from soil props.
14-2, 14-3
Pile Capacity by In-Situ Tests
14-5
11-4, 11-7,
Drilled Shafts, Auger Piles
14-2, 14-3
Review session
Interim Exam 2
11-4, 11-7,
Drilled Shafts, Auger Piles
14-2, 14-3
Driving Formulas, Wave Equations
15-1 to 15-5
Load Test on piles
13-2 to 13-7
Pile Groups
14-6
Review session
Final Exam Dec.17, 3:30-5:30 pm

Grading:
Homeworks
Project
Interim Exams
Final Exam
Total

20%
15%
20%
each
25%
100%

Office hours: Wed. 12:30-2:30 pm

8/26
8/28
9/02
9/04
9/09
9/11
9/16
9/18
9/23
9/25
9/30
10/02
10/07
10/09
10/14
10/16
10/23
10/28
10/30
11/04
11/06
11/11
11/13
11/18
11/20
11/25
12/02
12/04
12/09
12/11

Course operation:

Homeworks later than 3 day are not accepted for credit (2 points less/day late).
All exams are open book and open notes (only for access to graphs and tables
with factors, students comfort and stress free class environment, not for studying
during the exam).
Homeworks are designed to help students understand elements of design, capacity
and settlement analysis and to provide them with possibility of independent
decision-making process (when designing foundations).
Level of difficulty of exam questions is similar to homeworks and examples
discussed in class.
Students work on design project, which has different requirements for 436 and
836 part of class.
During the class discussion, students are encouraged to ask questions.
No exam make-ups are allowed; only different date for students exam can be
selected in extreme unforeseen reason.