Course Syllabus
Download the syllabus here
Instructor: Dr. K.K. "Muralee" Muraleetharan
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Kimmell-Bernard Chair in Engineering, David Ross Boyd and Presidential Professor Civil Engineering and Environmental Science Areas of Interest
Phone: (405) 325-4247 Email: muralee@ou.edu Live Sessions: Wednesdays 6:00-7:00 pm CDT |
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;
- Be able to analyze wave propagation through soils;
- Be able to describe the differences between the behavior of clays and sands under cyclic loading;
- Be able to evaluate liquefaction potential and settlement of level ground sites during earthquakes and know how to remediate liquefaction prone sites; and
- Be able to 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 6:00–7:00 pm (CDT). This will give us an opportunity to interact face-to-face in real time. You will enter the Live Session by using the Zoom login information provided in the Live Session page of each module. You are expected to have completed the readings and watched all 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 (Start Here). 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 me. I 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 (OU) is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity and full educational participation for students with disabilities. If you have already established reasonable accommodations with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), please submit your semester accommodation request through the ADRC as soon as possible and contact me privately, so that we have adequate time to arrange your approved academic accommodations.
If you have not yet established services through ADRC, but have a documented disability and require accommodations, please complete ADRC’s pre-registration form to begin the registration process. ADRC facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations for students at OU. For more information on ADRC registration procedures, please review their Register with the ADRC web page. You may also contact them at (405)325-3852 or adrc@ou.edu, or visit www.ou.edu/adrc for more information.
Note: disabilities may include, but are not limited to, mental health, chronic health, physical, vision, hearing, learning and attention disabilities, pregnancy-related. ADRC can also support students experiencing temporary medical conditions.
Mental Health Support Services
Support is available for any student experiencing mental health issues that are impacting their academic success. Students can either been seen at the University Counseling Center (UCC) located on the second floor of Goddard Health Center or receive 24/7/365 crisis support from a licensed mental health provider through TELUS Health. To schedule an appointment or receive more information about mental health resources at OU please call the UCC at 405-325-2911 or visit University Counseling Center. The UCC is located at 620 Elm Ave., Room 201, Norman, OK 73019.
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 the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center at 405/325-3852 and/or the Institutional Equity Office at 405/325-3546 as soon as possible. Also, see the Institutional Equity Office FAQ on Pregnant and Parenting Students’ Rights for answers to commonly asked questions.
Title IX Resources and Reporting Requirement
The University of Oklahoma faculty are committed to creating a safe learning environment for all members of our community, free from gender and sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, in accordance with Title IX. There are resources available to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you have (or someone you know has) experienced any form of sex or gender-based discrimination or violence and wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or University Counseling Center (M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 405-325-2911)
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, and because of our Title IX obligations, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in: class discussion, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails and during Student/Office Hours. You may also choose to report directly to the Institutional Equity Office. After a report is filed, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to provide resources, support, and information and the reported information will remain private. For more information regarding the University’s Title IX Grievance procedures, reporting, or support measures, please visit Institutional Equity Office at 405-325-3546.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2]
Copyright Policy
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
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:
https://www.ou.edu/registrar/academic-records/academic-calendars
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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