Course Catalogue.

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Evaluate the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on foundation performance in cold climates.
• Assess the risks and design responses to permafrost degradation in shallow and deep foundation systems.
• Determine the most suitable foundation types for varying permafrost conditions.
• Design effective and resilient shallow and deep foundations on frozen soils.
• Apply advanced techniques to ensure long-term stability and performance of foundations in permafrost regions.

Description
Permafrost, which covers 24% of the Northern Hemisphere's terrestrial surface, is ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years. Understanding the unique challenges posed by building on permafrost is vital, as shallow and deep foundations have been utilized in cold regions to support critical structures and infrastructure. With climate change accelerating permafrost degradation, knowing how to mitigate these effects is increasingly important.

In this course, you'll explore advanced design techniques specifically tailored for the challenges of constructing shallow and pile foundations in permafrost regions. You'll learn how temperature changes and global warming impact the settlement behavior of frozen soils, affecting the long-term stability of these foundations. The course will cover essential topics such as bearing capacity, creep settlement analyses, and how to design for both ice-poor and ice-rich conditions.

By the end of the course, you will gain practical insights and hands-on strategies that you can immediately apply to your projects. This will ensure that your designs are robust and future-proofed against the unique challenges of permafrost.

Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for professionals dealing with construction-related geotechnical engineering issues, particularly those seeking to deepen their understanding of foundation design in permafrost regions. Civil, environmental, and transportation engineers or technicians involved in infrastructure projects will find the course particularly beneficial. Geologists, city planners, and public works officials responsible for planning and implementing projects in cold regions are also encouraged to attend.

Additionally, this course is highly valuable for architects and structural engineers who must collaborate closely with geotechnical teams to ensure the stability and safety of buildings and infrastructure on permafrost. Environmental scientists and researchers focused on climate change impacts and land use in cold regions will also gain critical insights. Contractors and project managers overseeing construction in permafrost areas can benefit from understanding the foundational challenges and solutions to minimize risks and ensure successful project outcomes.

Course Syllabus

Lecture 1: Permafrost depth and distribution, Engineering characteristics of frozen ground, Fundamental concepts required for foundation design in permafrost

Lecture 2: Site investigation for foundation projects in frozen soils, subsurface exploration, soil data, climate data

Lecture 3: Common foundation types used in permafrost, shallow foundations used in frozen soils, Bearing capacity analysis for shallow foundations, Creep settlement of foundations in frozen soils

Lecture 4: Deep foundations used in permafrost, Bearing capacity analysis for pile foundations, Creep settlement of pile foundations in frozen soils, the impact of climate change on foundation behaviour in warming permafrost