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Course specification
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CIV3403 Geotechnical Engineering

Semester 2, 2023 Springfield On-campus
Units : 1
School or Department : School of Engineering
Grading basis : Graded
Course fee schedule : /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules

Staffing

Course Coordinator:

Requisites

Pre-requisite: CIV2401 or CIV2403 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or MEPR or GCNS or GDNS or MENS

Overview

Geotechnical Engineering is concerned with the stability analyses of soil structures. Topics covered in this course include soil shear strength, slope stability analysis, retaining wall analysis, shallow foundations, landfill liners and subsoil exploration.

Course learning outcomes

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. explain what is meant by the shear strength of a soil and the implication of loading duration on the measured shear strength of a soil and become familiar with the terminology of 鈥渄rained鈥� and "undrained" loading and procedures involved in various shear strength tests;
  2. determine lateral earth pressures using Rankine, Coulomb and curved failure surface methods and use this knowledge for the basis of designing earth retaining structures;
  3. analyse drained and undrained slope stability problems using the method of slices, design charts and computer programs;
  4. determine the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations and use this knowledge for the basis of designing shallow foundations;
  5. determine the axial capacity and settlement of pile foundations;
  6. explain the use of liners and geosynthetics in landfill application;
  7. explain the processes involved in subsoil exploration.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOILS AND FAILURE CRITERIA The Mohr circle of stresses, Coulomb's failure criterion, Mohr Coulomb failure criteria, review of strength tests. 20.00
2. LATERAL EARTH PRESSURES Rankine, Coulomb and curved failure surface methods. Stability of gravity and cantilever retaining walls. Design of bracing systems for cuts. 15.00
3. STABILITY OF SLOPES Method of slices, total stress analysis, effective stress analysis, and computer analysis. 25.00
4. SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS Ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations. 15.00
5. PILE FOUNDATION Static capacity of single piles and pile groups, settlement of single piles and pile groups 15.00
6. LANDFILL LINERS AND GEOSYNTHETICS Application of geosynthetics, geotextiles, geomembranes and geonets in landfills. 5.00
7. SUBSOIL EXPLORATION Planning for soil exploration. Boring methods. Sample disturbance. Soil exploration report. 5.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

Das, BM 2021, Principles of geotechnical engineering, SI version, 10th edn, Cengage Learning, Stamford, CT.
(ISBN-13: 9780357420485.)

Student workload expectations

To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.

Assessment details

Approach Type Description Group
Assessment		 Weighting (%) Course learning outcomes
Assignments Written Problem Solving 1 No 15 1,6,7
Assignments Written Problem Solving 2 No 35 1,2,4,5
Assignments Written Case 精东传媒app No 50 1,3,4
Date printed 9 February 2024