Geotechnics 2 (ECM3157)
DEVELOPER NOTES
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Module status - Active
Module description status - Inactive
Credits - 15
College code - EMP
Academic year - 2014/5
Module staff
- Professor Akbar Javadi (A.A.Javadi@exeter.ac.uk) - Convenor
Duration (weeks) - term 1
12
Duration (weeks) - term 2
0
Duration (weeks) - term 3
0
Number students taking module (anticipated)
24
Module description
A good knowledge of the philosophies and techniques of geotechnical design and analysis are essential elements of the training of civil engineers, and this module will give you a useful grounding in these important topics. You will get the chance to interpret geological features in the field and gain experience of field observation and measurement techniques, site investigation and preliminary design of a civil engineering structure. Furthermore, you will develop essential awareness of ground conditions and general safety on civil engineering sites. Finally, you will learn how to assess stresses in the soil mass, bearing capacity and settlement of shallow and deep foundations, stability of gravity and embedded retaining walls and stability of slopes.
Module aims
To introduce you to the techniques of geotechnical design and analysis and their limitations, the underlying philosophies of current geotechnical practice, and different practical applications in civil engineering projects, such as the design of foundations, the design of retaining walls and the stability of slopes.
This module covers Specific Learning Outcomes in Engineering, which apply to accredited programmes at Bachelors/MEng/Masters level. These contribute to the educational requirements for CEng registration (as defined under the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence – UK-SPEC).
This module correlates to references U1 - U3, E1, D1 - D4, D6, S1 - S4, P1 - P4, P6 - P8, Mu1, Mu3, MU4, ME2, ME3, MD1, MS2, MP1, MP2 and GM2 - GM4. These references are indices of the specific learning outcomes expected of Bachelors/MEng/Masters candidates set out in UK-SPEC, codified with reference to systems used by professional accrediting institutions. A full list of the standards can be found on the Engineering Council's website, at http://www.engc.org.uk
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. understand the physical and mechanical properties of soils and methods of determination of soil parameters;
- 2. display competence in analysing and solving problems related to geotechnical engineering;
- 3. appreciate the influence of soils and ground conditions on the design of civil engineering structures;
- 4. apply techniques acquired in previous modules to site investigation, field measurements, geotechnical analysis, observations and the practice observations in the field;
- 5. comprehend the relevance of geology and the role of geotechnical engineering in civil engineering;
- 6. relate geotechnical engineering considerations to analysis and design of civil engineering projects;
- 7. grasp the variability inherent in field data.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 8. fathom the variability of natural materials and how this influences the choice of design parameters;
- 9. demonstrate a deep understanding of the main concepts of the mechanical behaviour of soils;
- 10. use laboratory and in-situ test results in practical design;
- 11. show awareness of engineering design procedures through being able to estimate the reliability of soil parameters;
- 12. recognise how parameters measured in the field are used in design calculations;
- 13. take notes and make sketches in the field;
- 14. exhibit awareness of health and safety aspects of work on site.
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 15. exemplify observational skills in field work;
- 16. prove analytical skills in all the module topic areas;
- 17. reveal technical descriptive writing skills through writing reports on a field course and on laboratory testing;
- 18. cope with a long work day (daytime in the field followed up by exercises in the evening essential for the following day).
Syllabus plan
- stresses in soils: stresses at a point in a soil mass, geostatic stresses, stresses induced by various types of applied load, contact pressure;
- lateral earth pressure, retaining walls, gravity walls, cantilever and anchored sheet pile walls, braced excavations, diaphragm walls and reinforced soils;
- compression and consolidation of soils: immediate settlement, primary and secondary consolidation, foundation design criteria, theory of one-dimensional consolidation, governing equations, analytical and numerical solutions.
- bearing capacity of foundations: types of foundations, analytical methods for determination of the ultimate bearing capacity, determination of safe bearing capacity, in-situ testing for ultimate bearing capacity, bearing capacity of pile foundations.
- slope stability: slopes in granular materials, circular arc analysis under undrained conditions, method of slices, wedge analysis, progressive failure, end-of construction and long-term stability;
- choice of strength parameters;
- fieldwork: the activities will include: surveying exercise, group discussions about stages of preliminary design of an earth dam, including best location for a dam, water resources study, environmental issues associated with construction of dams, site investigation activities and design of in-situ and laboratory tests;
- site reconnaissance, surveying of the dam site, ground investigation (including drilling boreholes, carrying out in-situ tests, taking samples and carrying out laboratory tests;
- analysis of the laboratory and in-situ test results, analysis and preliminary design of an earth dam, writing a report.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 49 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 24 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 12 | Tutorials |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 15 | Laboratories |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 10 | Field work lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 40 | Field instruction |
| Guided independent learning | 49 | Preparation for scheduled tutorials, lectures, laboratory sessions and follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, revision. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 50 | 35 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exam closed book | 50 | 2 hours | 1-12, 16 | Revision of previous year's exam papers |
| Coursework technical reports on laboratory tests | 15 | 15-20 pages | 1-12, 14-17 | Feedback on reports |
| Practical group report on field activities | 35 | 20-25 pages | 1-18 | Feedback on reports |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| All above | Written exam (100%) | All | August Ref/Def period |
Re-assessment notes
If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk
Module ECTS
7.5
Module pre-requisites
ECM2110
NQF level (module)
1 (NQF Level 4)
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
19/11/2012
Last revision date
21/03/2013
Key words search
Geotechnical engineering; soil mechanics; consolidation and settlement; shallow and deep foundations; retaining walls; slope stability; geotechnical design; field course.