Note: This unit version is currently being edited and is subject to change!
CIVL3411: Geotechnical Engineering (2013 - Semester 2)
| Unit: | CIVL3411: Geotechnical Engineering (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Senior |
| Faculty/School: | Civil Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
Dr Nguyen, Giang
Dr Gan, Yixiang |
| Session options: | Semester 2 |
| Versions for this Unit: |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | The objectives of this unit are to provide an understanding of the factors influencing soil strength, and to give practice in the application of this understanding by exploring the stability of slopes, retaining walls and foundations. At the end of this unit students will be able to: determine the strength parameters appropriate to a range of stability problems, and understand the difference between total and effective stress approaches; evaluate strength parameters from laboratory data; critically analyse foundation stability and slope stability problems; use spreadsheets to perform parametric studies and produce design charts for simple geotechnical design problems; and communicate the results of experiments and analyses using written methods appropriate for professional geotechnical engineers. The syllabus comprises; methods of analysis for gravity and sheet pile retaining walls; reinforced soil; slope stability, including modes of failure, analysis and computer methods; bearing capacity of shallow foundations under general loading, and axial and lateral capacities of deep pile foundations; the mechanical behaviour of sands and clays; and Critical State models. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | CIVL2410. |
| Lecturer/s: |
Dr Nguyen, Giang
Dr Gan, Yixiang |
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| Tutor/s: | Thomas Miller, Yahya Nazhat, Arghya Das | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Timetable: | CIVL3411 Timetable | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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| T&L Activities: | Tutorials start in 2nd week of the semester. Attending the tutorial is compulsory. Students must attend the tutorial where they are specifically listed, unless approved by the coordinator. Students should be aware that missing more than two tutorials can lead to failing the course, unless their absence is fully justified via the proper special consideration form. |
Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.
| Attribute Development Method | Attribute Developed |
| Spreadsheet calculations are required to solve the problems given in the projects. In addition, students are instructed on how to perform parametric studies for simple geotechnical design problems | Design (Level 2) |
| Specific analytical tools are thought that are required for geotechnical engineers | Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) |
| The first 4 weeks of the course focus on the fundamental of soil mechanics, from advanced models of the material to their use in critically designing engineering solution strategies. | Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) |
| Students are required to submit their results through assignments/projects, following specific instructions on their written communication. | Communication (Level 2) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
1. Explain the effects of void-ratio, pressure, friction, and dilation on the strength of clays and sands using models of soil-mechanics.
2. Critically analyse slope and retaining walls stability problems, and shallow foundation and pile stability.
3. Use spreadsheets to perform parametric studies and produce design charts for simple geotechnical design problems
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
4. Determine the strength parameters appropriate to a range of stability problems, and understand the difference between total and effective stress approaches.
Communication (Level 2)
5. Communicate the results of analyses using written and visual methods appropriate for professional geotechnical engineers.
| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: | Project: Two project assignments (15% and 15%) due in week 8 and at end of semester. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assessment Feedback: | Every effort will be made to ensure that submitted work is returned within two weeks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grading: |
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| Faculty Policies & Procedures: | Academic Honesty in Coursework. All students must submit a cover sheet for all assessment work that declares that the work is original and not plagiarised from the work of others. Coursework assessment and examination policy. The faculty policy is to use standards based assessment for units where grades are returned and criteria based assessment for Pass/Fail only units. Norm referenced assessment will only be used in exceptional circumstances and its use will need to be justified to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Special consideration for illness or misadventure may be considered when an assessment component is severely affected. This policy gives the details of the information that is required to be submitted along with the appropriate procedures and forms. Special Arrangements for Examination and Assessment. In exceptional circumstances alternate arrangements for exams or assessment can be made. However concessions for outside work arrangements, holidays and travel, sporting and entertainment events will not normally be given. Student Appeals against Academic Decisions. Students have the right to appeal any academic decision made by a school or the faculty. The appeal must follow the appropriate procedure so that a fair hearing is obtained. Note that policies regarding assessment submission, penalties and assessment feedback depend upon the individual unit of study. Details of these policies, where applicable, will be found above with other assessment details in this unit outline. All university policies can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/policy Various request forms for the Faculty of Engineering and IT can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/forms/ |
| Recommended Reference/s: |
Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
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Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
| Week | Description |
| Week 1 | Intro to foundation engineering + Soil Characterisation |
| Week 2 | Soil Characterisation |
| Week 3 | Models of soil mechanics |
| Week 4 | Models of soil mechanics |
| Slope stability: Intro | |
| Week 5 | Quiz @ tutorial time. On "soil characterisation and models" |
| Slope stability: Limit equilibrium | |
| Assessment Due: Quiz | |
| Week 6 | Project #1– description |
| Slope stability: Limit equilibrium | |
| Slope stability: use of software | |
| Week 7 | Retaining Walls: Intro, Limit equilibrium |
| Week 8 | Retaining Walls: Rankine’s method |
| Foundations: modes of failure, plus intro to bound theories/solutions | |
| Assessment Due: Project #1 | |
| Week 9 | Foundation: bound theories/solutions. |
| Foundations: bound theories/solutions | |
| Week 10 | Foundations: general bearing capacity formulations and formulae |
| Project #2 description | |
| Week 11 | Other bearing capacity applications. critical settlements |
| Week 12 | Other bearing capacity applications. critical settlements |
| Week 13 | Foundations: bearing capacity ofpiles |
| Assessment Due: Project #2 | |
| Exam Period | Assessment Due: Final Exam |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Design (Level 2) | Yes | 0% |
| Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) | Yes | 64% |
| Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) | Yes | 11.5% |
| Information Seeking (Level 1) | No | 0% |
| Communication (Level 2) | Yes | 24.5% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.
