CIEN E4242: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering

Course Overview

This course focuses on the dynamic aspects of geotechnical engineering, with an emphasis on the behavior of soils and soil-structure systems under earthquake loading. You will explore the principles of stress wave propagation in one, two, and three dimensions, and examine how soils respond to cyclic loading through both field and laboratory testing.

Key topics include nonlinear soil models such as Complex Modulus, Hardin-Drnevich, Ramberg-Osgood, seismic design of retaining walls using displacement-limit approaches, and the analysis of slope stability and permanent ground deformation during seismic events. You will also learn to conduct seismic response analysis of level ground and evaluate liquefaction potential, including testing methods, predictive techniques, and remediation strategies.

The course will conclude with specialized topics such as ocean bed liquefaction, bridging theoretical foundations with real-world applications in seismic geotechnical design. This course will give you the knowledge and skills to understand and mitigate the geotechnical risks associated with earthquakes and dynamic loading.

To undertake this course, you must complete CIEN E3141: Soil Mechanics.

Course Instructor

Hoe Ling

Professor

Hoe Ling is a professor of Geotechnical Engineering, His major fields of research include geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures, soil constitutive modeling, geotechnical earthquake engineering, numerical and centrifuge modeling. 

Ling obtained his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Kyoto University, Japan (1988), and his master's (1990) and doctoral degrees (1993) from the University of Tokyo. In addition to his research, Ling collaborates actively with international institutions and agencies and has made several reconnaissance trips related to the typhoon and earthquake disasters.