Un enseignement par projet de la géotechnique

A course based on a project of geotechnical engineering has been developed by considering real geotechnical problems that were modelled by using a geotechnical finite element code. The course is developed along 4 sessions and the validation is carried out by a final defence of the project in front of a committee. A written report is also asked. Thanks to this close contact with real geotechnical problems, various aspects that cannot easily be covered during conventional courses are considered. The complexity of geotechnical engineering is outlined. The necessary use of experience and intuition obviously strengthens the interest of students to geotechnical engineering.