Geotechniques of Dams, Tunnels and Underground Spaces

By Prof. R. K. Dubey | IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

Learners enrolled: 70

ABOUT THE COURSE:

The course on geotechniques of dams, tunnels and underground spaces is a practical and field oriented course related to characterization of foundation and host grounds, construction materials, design and methods for development and support system of dams and underground space structures like tunnels, underground storage, caverns, military chamber, etc.

The basic aims of this course is to provide technical knowledge for application fundamental related to behaviour and response of ground for construction and creation of various engineering structure related to hydropower and underground spaces. This course is broadly designed to emphasize the involvements of rock mechanics, soil mechanics, surface and groundwater sciences and engineering design in construction of dams and tunnels and underground spaces and their future status, life and safety, thus this course will be useful for students and professional belonging to civil, mining and environmental engineering, geology and geophysics for understanding, conceptualizing and solving various kinds of technical problems arises in pre- syn- and post phases concern to construction of dams and underground spaces and associated similar structures. This course is also significant to consultants and engineers working with ground on various aspects of dams, tunnels and similar engineering developments.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: The students of graduation, post-graduation and Ph.D. students of civil engineering, mining engineering, geophysics. geology, environmental science and engineering, and professional working on various aspects of ground and foundation related to dams, tunnels and other kinds of underground spaces in the fields of hydropower, hydropower and tunnel related environment concerns, natural hazards associated with dams and underground spaces, and construction sectors.

PREREQUISITES: Students should have a sound understanding of geotechnical behviour of rock strata and soils

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: All the hydropower and construction industries and industries working in field of mitigation of hazards interrelated to dams and underground spaces.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Civil Engineering Earth Sciences
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	02 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Introductory aspects of dams, tunnels and underground spaces,

Week 2: Structural components and different kinds of dams viz., gravity dam, arch dam, embankment dam, masonry dam, buttress dam and other small dams

Week 3: Site investigation techniques for dams construction, causes and frequency of failure of dams

Week 4: Excavation methods, dam’s foundation problems, treatment and reinforcement of foundations, and foundation grounds

Week 5: Hazards associated with dams, repair and mitigation methods

Week 6: In-situ stress and permeability of dam foundation ground, measurement and application

Week 7: Stability analysis, monitoring and strengthening of dams and dam foundation ground

Week 8: Creation of underground space structures and tunneling philosophy

Week 9: Tunnel support pressure, estimation methods, design and recommendation of support system

Week 10: Tunnelling ground and tunnels instrumentation, monitoring and management

Week 11: Tunnelling hazards types, monitoring, assessment and mitigation,

Week 12: Anchoring of ground for dam foundation and underground space structures.

Books and references

Fell, R., MacGregor, P., and Stapledon, D (1992). Geotechnical Engineering of Embankment dams. A.A. Balkema, pp. 1-647.
Singh, B., and Geoel, R.K. (2006). Tunnelling in weak rocks Geoengineering Book Series (Editor Prof. John A. Hudson), Elsevier, Vol. 5, pp. 5- 481.
Lama, R.D., and Vutukari, S. (1978). Mechanical Properties of Rocks. Trans Tech Pub. II.pp.28-314 & 45-243.
Hudson, J.A. and Harrison, J. (2000). Engineering Rock mechanics: an introduction to the principles, Elsevier pp. 1- 456.
Xia-Ting, F. (2017). Rock Mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 1-5, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, pp. 1-379

Instructor bio

Prof. R. K. Dubey

IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

Prof. R. K. Dubey is a faculty member of Department of Applied Geology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, India. His research thrust areas are related to geotechnical characterization of ground with inclusion of rock mechanics, soil mechanics, and hydrology in providing pertinent solution of problems concern to various kinds of surface and subsurface engineering construction and development for proper, stable and safe settlement in domain of natural and anthropogenic environments.

Prof. R. K. Dubey teaches courses of geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, geotechniques of dams, tunnels and underground spaces for geoscientists and engineers.

Prof. R. K. Dubey has 20 years of teaching and 22 years research experiences in working on various kinds of problems related to, engineering geology, geotechnical engineering. geomechanics, and hydrological aspects, he has experience in taking various kinds of consultancies and research projects related to engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, rock engineering, and hydrological aspects.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: November 02, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Kharagpur. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team