| Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba | |
| Short Description: | Agricultural Soil Mechanics |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Civil Engineering and Surveying |
| Student contribution band : | Band 2 |
| ASCED code : | 039999 - EnginTech not classified |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Synopsis
Agriculture machinery interacts with soils in a number of ways, and so the processes of tillage, traction and compaction are of vital interest to engineers involved in agriculture. This course investigates these processes by developing a detailed understanding of the response of soils to imposed stresses and their resulting deformations and modes of failure. A theoretical framework that explains and describes the action of tillage tools, the development of wheel tractive forces, and the process of soil compaction is established. Methods for accessing and describing soil structure, and efficient operation of soil engaging tools are discussed and linked to plant growth and crop yield. The process of soil compaction and the practice of controlled traffic will also be reviewed. The course uses real world data sets from both field and lab work to show how the theory is related to practice.
Objectives
The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On completion of this course, students should be able to:
- assess soil structure, understand its importance for plant growth;
- describe and calculate mechanical and strength properties of soil elements;
- evaluate the tillage process and calculate tillage forces;
- methods to measure soil forces and compare the influence of different tillage tool designs;
- describe and interpret the process of soil compaction, calculate its effect on soil properties, and discuss its effects on plant growth;
- calculate wheel tractive forces, rolling resistance and tractive efficiency of tractor/implement systems;
- describe and discuss the theory and applications of controlled traffic farming systems;
- describe and discuss the concept of critical state soil mechanics
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Soil structures. Soil physical properties. | 10.00 |
| 2. | Stress theory. Soil failure and mechanical behaviour. Soil strength measurement methods. | 15.00 |
| 3. | The tillage process and soil failure modes. Calculation of tillage forces. Analysis and design of tillage tools and implements. | 20.00 |
| 4. | Implications of soil compaction on machinery design and for root and plant growth. | 10.00 |
| 5. | Development of traction by wheels and tracks. Calculation of soil rolling resistance and wheelslip. Optimum matching between the tractor and the implement. | 20.00 |
| 6. | Critical state soil mechanics | 10.00 |
| 7. | Soil compaction and controlled traffic farming method | 15.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=AGR4305)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
There are no texts or materials required for this course.
Reference materials
Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
McKyes, E 1985, Soil cutting and tillage, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 40.00 |
| Examinations | 2.00 |
| Lectures | 26.00 |
| Private 精东传媒app | 61.00 |
| Tutorials | 26.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Objectives Assessed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 200 | 20 | 03 Apr 2020 | 1,2,3 | |
| Assignment 2 | 100 | 10 | 01 May 2020 | 3,4,5 | |
| Assignment 3 | 100 | 10 | 22 May 2020 | 5,6 | |
| Online Exam | 600 | 60 | End S1 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | (see note 1) |
Notes
- This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via 精东传媒appDesk. The examination date will be available via Uconnect when the official examination timetable has been released.
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Requirements after S1 2020:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the marks available for that assessment item.
Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.
To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2). -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination
Requirements after S1 2020:
Candidates are only allowed to access specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are:
i. writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination);
ii. calculators which cannot hold textual information (students must indicate on their examination paper the make and model of any calculator(s) they use during the examination).
iii. Students may take into this examination an A4 sheet (two sides) containing any information that they believe will be relevant and useful. The A4 sheet of information must be submitted with the answer booklet. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date
Requirements after S1 2020:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period. -
精东传媒app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
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The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.
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Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if required by the Examiner.
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In accordance with 精东传媒app Policy, the Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
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If electronic submission of assessments is specified for the course, students will be notified of this in the course Introductory Book and on the USQ 精东传媒app Desk. All required electronic submission must be made through the Assignment Drop Box located on the USQ 精东传媒app Desk for the course, unless directed otherwise by the examiner of the course. The due date for an electronically submitted assessment is the date by which a student must electronically submit the assignment. The assignment files must be submitted by 11.55pm on the due date using USQ time (as displayed on the clock on the course home page; that is, Australian Eastern Standard Time).
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If the method of assessment submission is by written, typed or printed paper-based media students should (i) submit to the Faculty Office for students enrolled in the course in the on-campus mode, or (ii) mail to the USQ for students enrolled in the course in the external mode. The due date for the assessment is the date by which a student must (i) submit the assessment for students enrolled in the on-campus mode, or (ii) mail the assessment for students enrolled in the external mode.
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The Faculty will NOT normally accept submission of assessments by facsimile or email.
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Students who do not have regular access to postal services for the submission of paper-based assessments, or regular access to Internet services for electronic submission, or are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements prior to the submission date.
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Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded one of the temporary grades: IM (Incomplete - Make up), IS (Incomplete - Supplementary Examination) or ISM (Incomplete -Supplementary Examination and Make up). A temporary grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non directed personal study.
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Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
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Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.