Course Syllabus
Download the syllabus here
Instructor: Dr. K.K. "Muralee" Muraleetharan
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David Ross Boyd and Presidential Professor, Kimmell-Bernard Chair in Engineering Civil Engineering and Environmental Science Areas of Interest
Phone: (405) 325-4247 Email: muralee@ou.edu Live Sessions: Wednesdays 7:00-8: 00 pm CDT Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/9650069487 |
Course Purpose
The behavior of soils subjected to dynamic loads is very complex. Dynamic loads on soils and earth structures are imposed by several sources. These sources include earthquakes, blasts, operation of machinery, construction and mining operations, traffic, wind, and wave actions. Among these sources, earthquakes typically cause widespread damage to earth structures. In this course, we will focus on hazards to subsurface soils and earth structures caused by earthquakes and learn how to minimize the damage to civil engineering structures from these hazards. We will learn about hazards such as ground shaking, liquefaction, and dynamic deformations. In the first part of the course, we will learn the basics of dynamics of structures to give us a framework to understand the behavior of soils during earthquakes. We will then move onto wave propagation through soil deposits and behavior of soils during cyclic loading. In the last part of the course, we will learn the state-of-the-art techniques used to evaluate and design earth structures subjected to earthquakes.
Course Prerequisites
Undergraduate soil mechanics.
Course Format
This course will have 10 weekly modules.
Course Materials
There are no required textbooks for this course. The following are recommended reference books:
- Kramer S.L. (1996). “Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering,” Prentice Hall, NJ.
- Das, B.M., and Luo, Z. (2015). “Principles of Soil Dynamics,” Cengage Learning, Boston, MA.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, the students will:
- Have a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of deformable bodies;
- Analyze wave propagation through soils;
- Be able to describe the differences between the behavior of clays and sands under cyclic loading;
- Evaluate liquefaction potential and settlement of level ground sites during earthquakes and know how to remediate liquefaction prone sites; and
- Calculate lateral deformation of slopes during earthquakes.
Course Expectations
Live Sessions: Although the participation in the Live Sessions is not required, it is highly recommended.
Discussion Boards: There will be a discussion board in each module. You may use the discussion board to ask questions over the module material. It is expected that you would have completed the module reading assignment and watched all lecture materials before asking questions in the discussion board. You may also utilize the discussion board for homework assistance from your classmates. However, sharing answers is not permitted.
Assignments: All assignments are to be prepared neatly and professionally. Collaboration among students is encouraged; however, assignments should represent individual work. You will scan and upload your PDF assignment and submit for grading.
Exams: All exams will be open book/open notes exams and will be open for a specified time and will have a time limit. You will access the exam document, calculate your answers on a separate sheet of paper, scan as a PDF and upload for grading.
Grades
Breakdown
Course Components
Live Session
Each week we will have a Live Session via Zoom. Live Sessions will be held every Wednesday from 7:00–8:00 pm (CDT). This will give us an opportunity to interact face-to-face in real time. You will enter the Live Session by clicking on the Zoom icon in the Live Session page of each module. You are expected to have completed the reading and watched all the lecture material before the Live Session.
Course Policies
Communication
Please post your questions about the administrative functioning and logistics of the course to the Course Help Board in Module 0. Subject matter questions about each module can be posted to the Discussion Board under each module. These questions may be of interest to the entire class and are highly encouraged. This way you can learn from each other's questions. If you prefer, you can also email your questions directly to both the TA and the instructor and one of us will respond. We will generally respond to Discussion Board or email questions within 24 hours M-F, but on weekends there may be more of a delay depending on our availability. A Zoom or a phone call appointment can also be arranged to answer your questions, if needed. Response time will be similar to those above.
Late Policy
Late assignments will not be accepted unless the reasons are compelling. The instructor reserves the right to judge whether an excuse or reason for a late assignment is compelling.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
Catalog
Please familiarize yourself with the student catalog: http://catalog.ou.edu/courses/courses.htm
Online Library
Students can use the University of Oklahoma library by visiting: http://libraries.ou.edu/
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity, available at http://integrity.ou.edu/students_guide.html
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
Go to http://integrity.ou.edu/students_guide.html to learn more about the rules for avoiding plagiarism. Watch this video and then test your skills in avoiding plagiarism by taking this plagiarism tutorial and quiz.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or visit the Disability Resource Center and other disability services at OU at: http://drc.ou.edu/
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Please see www.ou.edu/content/eoo/faqs/pregnancy-faqs.html for commonly asked questions.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24.7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of Admissions and Records or online at http://www.ou.edu/admissions/home/academic_calendar.html
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
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