Near-Surface Geophysics
University of Freiburg
Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences
 
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Mass Movements

Summer Term 2022

Teachers and Tutors

Stefan Hergarten
lecture, assignments
Alexa Pietrek
assignments, students' support

Appointments

Topics

  1. Slope instability
    • Continuum mechanics approach
    • Classical methods of slices (Fellenius, Bishop)
  2. Mass movements
    • Talweg and fahrboeschung concepts
    • Lumped-mass models
    • Falling (bouncing)
    • Rapid mass movements, granular flow
The module is somewhat complementary to the module "Engineering Geology" where methods of measuring the relevant parameters and potential remedial actions are considered.

Examination

Your marks will be derived according to the following scheme:

Component Contribution
assignments 5/6
helping your classmates in solving the assignments or solving your assignments on your own 1/6*
* also depending on your own score, e.g., 20 % of your own score if you solve all on your own

Assignments
  • The assignments are designed individually for each student using the enrollment number (7 digits). As there is no official list of participants, you have to register before you can download assignment sheets. Registrations made for previous classes or for the fieldtrip registration system are valid here, too. If you want to register or if you are not sure whether you are already registered, please use the following form to test your registration or to register.
    Enrollment number
  • If you are not yet registered and want to take a look at the assignments, you may use any 7 digit number for downloading. However, your submitted solution must be consistent with the assignment sheet of your real enrollment number. Solutions not corresponding to your assignment sheet will not be marked without the chance of resubmission.
  • Criteria of evaluation are the correctness of the solution, interpretations being consistent and understandable, and the quality of the figures (e.g., axis labels and units).
  • You may either submit your solutions alone or in groups of 2 students. If you want to submit as a group, you must already fill in both enrollment numbers when downloading your assignment sheet.
  • Beyond being allowed to submit your solution in a group of 2 students, are encouraged to solve the assignments together. You are even allowed to adopt significant ideas from your classmates. According to the general ethics of scientific work, collaboration must be acknowledged when submitting an assignment. Details are given during the submission procedure. Copying codes, figures or parts of the text from solutions of your classmates is, however, not allowed. Any solutions violating this rule will not be considered without the chance of resubmission.
  • As the assignments accompany the progress of the class, the deadlines announced on the assignment sheets must be obeyed. A tolerance of 15 days is given for all assignments in sum. You may, e.g., be late by 7 days at one assignment, 4 days at another, and 4 days by a third one. This tolerance also includes short periods of sickness or failure of your computer. If your submissions exceed this limit, you will lose some of your scores. Please keep in mind that the rule concerns individual assignments, not entire assignment sheets.
  • The deadline for the two final assignments is Aug. 12, 2022.

Assignment sheets

Assignment sheet 1 (25.04.–05.05.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 2 (02.–12.05.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 3 (09.–19.05.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 4 (19.–29.05.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 5 (23.05.–12.06.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 6 (02.–19.06.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 7 (13.–26.06.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 8 (23.06.–03.07.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 9 (30.06.–13.07.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 10 (07.07.–12.08.)   enrollment number(s): 
Assignment sheet 11 (21.07.–12.08.)   enrollment number(s): 

Submission of Solutions

Solutions can only be submitted as PDF files using the form below. A submission of printouts or by e-mail is not possible. Details are given during the submission procedure.

Enrollment number

Downloads

No regular presentation file this semester, only some figures and the screenshots from the interactive whiteboard.

Further Reading

Highland, L. M. & Bobrowsky, P. (2008): The Landslide Handbook – A Guide to Understanding Landslides, U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1325, Reston, Viginia, 129.
Bromhead, E. (1992): The Stability of Slopes. Taylor & Francis, London, 411.
de Blasio, F. V. (2011): Introduction to the Physics of Landslides. Springer, 408.

© 2005-2024
Stefan Hergarten