This course gives a comprehensive introduction in clay mineralogy, properties, characterising and testing methods as well as applied aspects and problems of clays and clay minerals in geotechnics.
Objective
Upon successful completion of this course the student is able to: - Describe clay minerals and their fundamental properties - Describe/propose methods for characterisation of clays and clay minerals - Draw conclusion about specific properties of clays with a focus to their potential use, problematics and things to consider in geotechnics and engineering geology.
Content
- Introduction to clays and clay minerals (importance and application in geosciences, industry and everyday life) - Origin of clays (formation of clays and clay minerals, geological origin) - Clay mineral structure, classification and identification incl. methods for investigation (e.g., XRD) - Properties of clay materials, characterisation and quantification incl. methods for investigation (e.g., cation exchange, rheology, plasticity, shearing, swelling, permeability, retardation and diffusion) - Clay Minerals in geotechnics: Problems and applications (e.g. soil mechanics, barriers, slurry walls, tunnelling)
Lecture notes
Lecture slides and further documents will be provided.
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course