Applied Soil Mechanics and Shoring Design

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Apply soil mechanics principles to the design and evaluation of retaining and shoring systems.
• Analyze earth pressures and loading conditions to support safe excavation design.
• Design common earth-retention systems, including sheet pile walls, braced cuts, and tieback anchors.
• Assess geotechnical conditions and site constraints that influence shoring performance and constructability.
• Apply trenching and shoring practices that support safety, compliance, and effective project execution.q

Description

Excavation and earth-retention projects often require critical decisions about ground stability, worker safety, constructability, and risk management. Inadequate shoring design can lead to excessive ground movement, structural damage, project delays, and potentially catastrophic failures. To make sound decisions, you must understand not only how soils behave under load, but also how that behaviour influences the design of temporary and permanent support systems.

This course reviews the fundamental principles of soil mechanics that underpin shoring and retaining system design, including soil classification, groundwater conditions, effective stress, shear strength, and site investigation practices. You will examine the equations, load calculations, and geotechnical considerations used to evaluate earth pressures and develop appropriate support solutions for excavation projects.

Through practical design examples, you will learn how to analyze and design a range of commonly used earth-retention systems, including retaining walls, sheet pile walls, braced excavations, soldier piles, and anchored tieback systems. The course provides a structured framework for applying geotechnical principles to real-world design situations while supporting safe, effective, and code-compliant construction practices.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Civil, geotechnical, and municipal engineers
• Project engineers, project managers, and construction managers
• Geotechnical and structural consultants
• Designers involved in excavation, retaining, or shoring projects
• Infrastructure, land development, and municipal professionals
• Operations and maintenance personnel involved in earthworks and excavation activities
• Professionals responsible for the planning, design, review, or implementation of retaining and shoring systems

Day I

Review of Soil Mechanics

• Soil origins
• Soil classification
• The flow of water in soil
• Effective and total stresses
• Shear strength
• Geotechnical investigation and site assessment

Day II

Shoring Design and Construction

• Lateral earth pressures
• Retaining walls
• Sheet pile walls (cantilever and anchored)
• Braced cuts
• Soldier pile
• Anchored tieback system

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes