Application of Expert Systems to Soil Mechanics Laboratory Instruction

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This project develops an expert system data acquisition and analysis program for teaching one-dimensional consolidation testing and triaxial shear testing in the undergraduate soil mechanics laboratory. These tests are used to predict the amount of settlement that foundations will undergo and the factor of safety against foundation collapse. Expert systems are powerful tools with many engineering applications. The programs allow students to answer their own questions by using a mouse and clicking on the screen area hot spots to display and analyze a problem. One of the objectives of the project is give undergraduates early exposure to this tool so that they may develop their own applications once they are part of the workforce. This project connects data acquisition and computer equipment to existing laboratory equipment. The equipment enables digital loads and displacements to be recorded and analyzed using the expert systems program. The expert systems program uses color screens that depict sketches and equations relevant to the topics of consolidation and triaxial shear to assist students in learning these specific topics.