civ3ge1 geotechnical engineering 1
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1
CIV3GE1
2015
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In this subject students will learn the fundamentals and basic principles of geotechnical engineering. In particular, it will provide students with the design and construction principles used in civil and geotechnical engineering. Topics covered in this subject include: Bernoulli's Equation and Darcy's Law; seepage and Laplace's Equation of Continuity; stresses in soil; calculation of stresses due to a different load types; compressibility of soil; relations for elastic settlement calculation; fundamentals of consolidation; slope stability and modes and calculation of slope failure. Studying through these topics, students will develop an in depth understanding of the fundamentals of geotechnical principles and soil behaviour under various conditions and in different scenarios. Skills and abilities to conduct experiments to verify laws and principles in geotechnical engineering and to apply relevant laws and principles to solve geotechnical engineering problems.
SchoolSchool Engineering&Mathematical Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorHossam Abo El-Naga
Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG
Exchange StudentsNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
PrerequisitesN/A
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditions Must be enrolled in course code SBECT
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 7th edn | Prescribed | Das, B 2010 | CENGAGE LEARNING, USA |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Describe Bernoulli#s principle and Darcy#s law for the flow of water through saturated soils and apply them to solve geotechnical engineering problems.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials and self study plus face to face and online group discussions. Problem solving assignments.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Explain and apply the key concepts in seepage and soil stresses, including in-situ stress in soil mass; of shear strain of soil and the plain of failure caused by shear; and of slope stability.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials and self study plus face to face and online group discussions.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Explain and interpret the compressibility property and related terminologies such as Compression Index (Cc), Swell Index (Cs) and Coefficient of Consolidation of different soil types from an engineering perspective.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials and self study plus face to face and online group discussions.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Determine shear strength of soils for an engineering project.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials and self study plus face to face and online group discussions. Problem solving assignments.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Quantitative Literacy)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
05. Calculate earth pressure in a range of different scenarios using Rankine's and Coulomb's methods
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials and self study plus face to face and online group discussions. Problem solving assignments.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
06. Conduct experiments to verify laws and principles in geotechnical engineering.
- Activities:
- Students work in small groups to conduct practical experiments as well as to analyse and interpret data and draw conclusions.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
07. Undertake basic technical investigations by performing a literature review, compile and analyse the information gathered, and produce a brief and concise (journal style) report with an appropriate conclusion.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials and self study plus face to face and online group discussions. Problem solving questions/cases in geotechnical engineering that demands literature review and application of cross topical knowledge and understanding to complete.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Subject options
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Epping, 2015, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorHossam Abo El-Naga
Class requirements
WorkShopWeek: 31 - 43
Two 2.0 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly Tutorial Class Activities and Topical Online Quiz | 15 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| Group Practical Experiment and Report (1000 words equivalent) | 15 | 01, 03, 06 | |
| Examination (3 hours) | 50 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07 | |
| Assignment (Case-based geotechnical engineering problem) (1500 words) | 20 | 02, 03, 07 |