Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is this course only for Settle3 users? What if I use different software for Settlement Analysis?
A: No, this course is not exclusive to Settle3 software users. The course teaches the fundamentals of the settlement analysis — including design theory, manual calculations, and real-world applications — all of which are software-independent. You’ll gain skills that apply across any settlement analysis platform.

Q2. Why do you use Settle3 specifically in this course?
A: Great question! We use Settle3 because Rocscience offers a free two-week trial of the full-feature version, which is perfect for students. You can access it by signing up through their RocPortal here:
👉 Settle3 | Soil Settlement, Consolidation & Liquefaction Analysis

Q3. Does The Geotechnicals provide Settle3 licenses for course participants?
A: No, The Geotechnicals platform does not have a software licensing agreement with Rocscience. However, as mentioned, Rocscience generously provides a full-featured free trial for two weeks, which is enough to complete the software-based exercises in the course.

Q4. How do I receive my certificate of completion?
A: To receive your certificate, you must:

  1. Watch all course videos during your 8-week access period.

  2. Complete the course assignment and email your answers to: info@thegeotechnicals.com

Once we verify your submission, we’ll send your digital certificate of completion to the email you registered with.

Q5. Can I communicate with the course instructor during the course?
A: Yes! While this course is self-paced, you’re always welcome to reach out to the instructor via email for academic or technical questions. You can email us at info@thegeotechnicals.com, and we’ll do our best to respond promptly. Also, you can comment on any of the videos of the course and Dr. ElMouchi will answer your questions ASAP.

Q6. Is this course accredited for CPD hours?
A: Yes, your certificate of completion and the documented course hours (total of 20 hours) can be used toward CPD reporting depending on your local regulatory body.

 

Q7. Will I get lifetime access to the videos?
A: Course video access is limited to one year. However, please note that new Rounds may begin for other students, which could temporarily limit your access to specific videos scheduled for later weeks.

 Q8: What if I am unable to complete the course within one year?
A: We originally set a one-year completion window to encourage engineers to stay on track and complete the course in a timely manner. However, we understand that professional and personal commitments can sometimes delay progress. Our priority is not the calendar—it is ensuring that you have the resources and support you need when you are ready. If you are unable to finish within the year, simply reach out to our support team. We will gladly add you to the next available round so you can complete the course at your own pace.

English - Round (6): Module 2 - Settlement Analysis With Settle3 Software

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About Drip Course and The course Instructor!

  • Must Read - Important Information About the Course
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • Meet Your Instructor – Dr. Ahmed ElMouchi, PhD, PEng

Chapter (1): Introduction

  • 1- Introduction-Edited.mp4
  • Course Content by Week!

Chapter (2): Influence Zones

  • 2a- Stress Bulb.mp4
  • 2b - Square or Circular Footings - Influence Zone.mp4
  • 2c- Strip Footing - Influence Zone.mp4
  • 2d- Rectangular Footing - Influence Zone.mp4
  • 2e- Footing Interaction.mp4
  • Quiz - Part 2

Chapter (3): Estimating Stress Distribution (Boussinesq)

  • 3a- General.mp4
  • 3b- Point Concentrated Load (kN).mp4
  • 3c- Line Load (kN per m).mp4
  • 3d- Uniformly Loaded Strip (kN per m).mp4
  • Example 1 Settle3 - Strip Load.mp4
  • 3e- Uniformly Loaded Circle (kN per m2).mp4
  • Example 2 Settle3 - Circular Load.mp4
  • 3f- Uniformly Loaded Rectangle (kN per m2).mp4
  • Quiz - Part 3

Chapter (4): Settle3 – Other Stress Distribution Methods

  • 4a- Settle3 Other Distribution Methods.mp4
  • Example 3 - Settle3- Stress Distribution Methods Com.mp4

Chapter (5): Immediate, Consolidation, and Creep Settlements

  • 5a- Drained Vs Undrained Loading.mp4
  • 5b- Immediate, Consolidation, and creep settlements.mp4
  • 5c- Drained Settlements & Undrained Distortion.mp4
  • 5d- Local Yield Due to Undrained Distortion.mp4
  • Quiz - Part 5

Chapter (6): Cohesive Soil Vs Cohesionless soil settlement

  • Cohesive Vs Cohesionless soil settlement.mp4
  • Notes on Undrained Distortion
  • Quiz - Part 6

Chapter (7): Elastic Displacement Method

Delayed 7 days

  • 7a- Approximating Soil response as an Ideal Elastic Material.mp4
  • 7b- 3D elastic strain Integration–Drained Conditions(Effective Stres.mp4
  • 7c- 3D elastic strain Integration–Undrained Distortion (Total Stress.mp4
  • 7d- Flexible Strip Footing Solution.mp4
  • Example 4 - Settle3 - Flexible Strip.mp4
  • 7e- Flexible Circular Footing Solution.mp4
  • Example 5 - Settle3- Circular Footing.mp4
  • 7f- Circular Footing – General Solution.mp4
  • Example 6 - Settle3- General Circular Footing.mp4
  • 7g- Rigid or Flexible Footing.mp4

Chapter (8): Settlement of cohesionless Soils from SPT and CPT (CFEM and AASHTO)

Delayed 7 days

  • 8a- From SPT – Peck, Hanson and Thornburn (1974 )- CFEM.mp4
  • Example 7 - Settle3 - Peck 1974 Method - Copy.mp4
  • 8b- From SPT - Burland and Burbridge (1985) – CFEM.mp4
  • Example 8 - Settle3 - Burland and Burbridge Method - Copy.mp4
  • 8c- From SPT – Hough Method (1959) – AASHTO 2020.mp4
  • 8d- From CPT – Schmertmann et al. (1978) – CFEM & AASHTO 2020 – Coarse-Grained.mp4
  • Example 9- Settle3 - Schmertmann Method - Copy.mp4
  • Quiz - Part 8

Chapter (9): Settle3 – Two More Empirical Methods for Settlement Calculations of Cohesionless Soil

Delayed 7 days

  • 9a- From SPT – Schultze and Sherif (1973).mp4
  • 9b- From SPT – D'Appolonia Method (1970).mp4
  • 9c- Settle3 – Comparing 4 empirical methods of SPT.mp4
  • 9d- Accuracy and Reliability of different empirical methods.mp4

Chapter (10): Notes on Obtaining Settlement Parameters

Delayed 7 days

  • 10a- General.mp4
  • 10b- E from Shear Wave Velocity Vs Measurements.mp4
  • Quiz - Part 10

Chapter (11): Settlement Parameters of Cohesionless Soils (Drained E’)

Delayed 7 days

  • 11a- Typical Values of E.mp4
  • 11b- E from SPT N-Value.mp4

Chapter (12): Consolidation Settlement

Delayed 14 days

  • 12a- 1D - Consolidation Test – ASTM D2435.mp4
  • Step by Step Consolidation Test
  • 12b- 1D Consolidation - Data Interpretation.mp4
  • 12c- 1D Consolidation - Settlement Calculation.mp4
  • 12d- 1D Consolidation (Terzaghi 1996) - Degree of Consolidation – Time D.mp4
  • Example 10 - Settle3 - Primary Consolidation.mp4
  • Example 11- Settle3 - Secondary Consolidation.mp4
  • 12e- 3D Consolidation Vs 1D Consolidation (Poulos 2000).mp4
  • 12f- Is Preconsolidation Pressure a Unique Value for the soil layer.mp4
  • Example 12- Settle3 - OCR- PCP - OCM'.mp4
  • Quiz - Part 12

Chapter (13): Settlement Parameters of cohesive soils (Eu and Consolidation Parameters)

Delayed 14 days

  • 13a- General.mp4
  • 13b- Undrained Young’s Modulus Eu – For Undrained Distortion.mp4
  • 13c- Consolidation - Compression Index Cc.mp4
  • 13d- Consolidation - Compression Ratio CR = Ccε.mp4
  • 13e- Consolidation - Recompression Index Cr.mp4
  • 13f- Consolidation–Constrained Modulus D–Coefficient of Volume Comp mv.mp4
  • 13g- Consolidation - Coefficient of Consolidation cv.mp4
  • 13h- Consolidation - Permeability k – Typical Values.mp4
  • 13i- Consolidation - Secondary Compression Cα- Typical Values.mp4
  • 13j- Consolidation - Secondary Compression Cα and Cαε.mp4

Chapter (14): Settle3 – Embankment

Delayed 14 days

  • Example 13- Settle3 - Embankment.mp4
  • Example 14- Settle3 - Preload with Back Analysis.mp4

Chapter (15): Settle3 – Excavation and Dewatering

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  • Example 15 - Settle3 - Excavation and Dewatering.mp4

Chapter (16): Allowable Settlement Limits

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  • 16a- General.mp4
  • 16b- Structural Frame.mp4
  • 16c- Load Bearing Walls or Raft Foundation.mp4
  • 16d- CFEM Limits.mp4
  • 16e- ICE 2012 Limits.mp4

Chapter (17): Ground Improvement - Soil Replacement

Delayed 21 days

  • Example 16 - Settle3-Ground Improvement- Soil Replacement.mp4

Chapter (18): Ground Improvement - Stone Columns

Delayed 21 days

  • 18a- Introduction.mp4
  • 18b- Design Theory.mp4
  • 18c- Parameters Settle3 Requires.mp4
  • 18d- Drainage Effect.mp4
  • 18e- Sensitivity Analysis.mp4
  • Example 17- Settle3 - Stone Columns.mp4

Chapter (19): Ground Improvement - Vibro-Compaction

Delayed 21 days

  • 19a- Introduction.mp4
  • 19b- Design Theory.mp4
  • 19c- Parameters Settle3 Require.mp4
  • 19d- Other Parameters (Diameter and Spacing).mp4
  • Example 18- Settle3 - Vibro-compaction.mp4

Chapter (20): Ground Improvement - Preloading with Wick Drains

Delayed 21 days

  • 20a- Introduction.mp4
  • 20b- What Parameters Settle3 Require.mp4
  • Example 19 - Settle3- Preloading with Wick Dra.mp4

Chapter (21): Modulus of Subgrade Reaction k

Delayed 21 days

  • 21a- Typical Values (kN per m3) – Terzaghi (1955).mp4
  • 21b- NAVAC 1986 for Dry Soils Correlations.mp4
  • 21c- Summary Typical Values of k (Three References).mp4
  • Example 20 - Settle3- Isloated Footing.mp4
  • Example 21- Settle3 - Raft.mp4
  • Example 22 - Settle3 - Importing Multiple Loads.mp4
  • Quiz - Part 21

Chapter (22): Factored Geotechnical Resistance - SLS

Delayed 21 days

  • 22a- Limit State Design.mp4
  • 22b- LSD European Vs North American Approach.mp4
  • 22c- SLS Resistance Factor.mp4

Chapter (23): Geotechnical - Structure Design Cycle

Delayed 21 days

  • 23- Geotechnical-Sturtcure Design Cycle.mp4

Assignment (Modulus of Subgrade Reaction for Raft)

Delayed 21 days

  • Homework - k Calculations.pdf