Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. Is this course accredited for CPD hours?
A: Yes, your certificate of completion and the documented course hours (total of 7.5 hours) can be used toward CPD reporting depending on your local regulatory body.

 Q4. 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.

Q5: 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 1 - Bearing Capacity (Resistance)

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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

Course Content

  • 0- Course Content
  • Course Content by Week!

Chapter (1): Introduction (1 Video)

  • 1 - Introduction

Chapter (2): Case History (1 Video)

  • 2 - Case History

Chapter (3): Three Failure Modes (4 Videos)

  • (3a) General Shear Failure
  • (3b) Local Shear Failure
  • (3c) Punching Shear Failure
  • (3d) Determine Failure Type

Chapter (4): General Bearing Capacity Equation (11 Videos)

  • (4a) Three Components of Bearing Capacity
  • (4b) Bearing Capacity Equation (CFEM - CSA S6-19 - AASHTO)
  • (4c) Bearing Capacity Factors
  • (4d) Shape Factor
  • (4e) Depth Factor
  • (4f) Example 1 - Covers "Bearing Capacity Factor - Depth Factor - Shape Factor"2
  • (4g) Inclination Factors2
  • (4h) Example 2 - Covers "Inclination Factor" 1
  • (4i) Surface Slope
  • (4j) Example 3 - Covers "Surface Slope"
  • (4k) Base Inclination

Chapter (5): Drained Vs Undrained (1 Video)

Delayed 7 days

  • 5 - Drained Vs Undrained

Chapter (6): Influence of Ground Water (3 Videos)

Delayed 7 days

  • (6a) CFEM and CSA S6-19
  • (6b) AASHTO
  • (6c) Example 4 - Covers "Effect of GWT on Bearing Capacity"

Chapter (7): Eccentric Forces and Moments (4 Videos)

Delayed 7 days

  • (7a) CFEM (Allowable Stress Design)
  • (7b) AASHTO and CSA (LRFD)
  • (7c) Stress Calculations
  • (7d) Example 5 - Covers "Eccentricity Effect"

Chapter (8): Consideration for Footings on Slopes (6 Videos)

Delayed 7 days

  • (8a) Introduction - AASHTO
  • (8b) Footings on Slope
  • (8c) Example 6 - Covers "Footings on Slopes"
  • (8d) Recall Footing on Sloped Ground CFEM
  • (8e) Footing Adjacent to Slope
  • (8f) Example 7 - Covers "Footing Adjacent to Slope"

Chapter (9): Consideration for Punching and Local Shear (4 Videos)

Delayed 7 days

  • (9a) Introduction
  • (9b) Vesic Detailed Approach3
  • (9c) AASHTOO Simplified Approach
  • (9d) Example 8 - Covers "Vesic Detailed Approach"2

Chapter (10): Two Layer System (7 Videos)

Delayed 14 days

  • (10a) AASHTO - H critical Determination
  • (10b) Undrained - Case (1)
  • (10c) Example 9 - Covers "Undrained Case (1)"
  • (10d) Undrained - Case (2)
  • (10e) Example 10 - Covers "Undrained Case (2)"
  • (10f) Drained Condition
  • (10g) Example 11 - Covers "Drained Condition"1

Chapter (11): Closely Spaced Footings (4 Videos)

Delayed 14 days

  • (11a) No Overlap
  • (11b) Passive Zones Just Overlap
  • (11c) Transition and Passive Zone Size Reduced
  • (11d) Very Close Footings

Chapter (12): Bearing Capacity from SPT and CPT (4 Videos)

Delayed 14 days

  • (12a) CFEM - Bearing Capacity from SPT
  • (12b) AASHTO - Bearing Capacity from SPT
  • (12c) CFEM - Bearing Capacity from CPT
  • (12d) AASHTO - Bearing Capacity from CPT

Chapter (13): Allowable Bearing Capacity (3 Videos)

Delayed 14 days

  • (13a) Uncertainties in Geotechnical Engineering
  • (13b) Commonly Used Values for Factor of Safety FOS
  • (13c) CFEM - Qall

Chapter (14): Factored Bearing Resisatnce (3 Videos)

Delayed 21 days

  • (14a) Limit State Design
  • (14b) Geotechnical Resistance Factors - AASHTO and CFEM
  • (14c) CSA S6-19 - Geotechnical Resistance Factors

Chapter (15): Horizontal Resistance - Check Against Sliding (3 Videos)

Delayed 21 days

  • (15a) Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code - CSA S6-19
  • (15b) AASHTO - Cohesionless Soils
  • (15c) AASHTO - Cohesive Soils

Chapter (16): Bearing Capacity of Rocks (3 Videos)

Delayed 21 days

  • (16a) Failure Modes
  • (16b) Methods for Bearing Capacity on rock
  • (16c) Core Strength Method

Chapter (17): Typical Values for Preliminary Design Bearing Pressures (7 Videos)

Delayed 21 days

  • (17a) Cohesionless Soil - CFEM
  • (17b) Cohesionless AASHTO
  • (17c) Cohesive Soils - CFEM
  • (17d) Cohesive Soils AASHTO
  • (17e) Rock - CFEM
  • (17f) Rock - AASHTO
  • (17g) Problematic Soils

Chapter (18): Geotechnical Structure Cycle

Delayed 21 days

  • 18- Geotechnical Structure Cycle5