COURSE OUTLINE

Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology School of Engineering

3031ENG GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

1 Identifying Information
Course catalogue no: Course title: 3031ENG

Geotechnical Engineering

Field of Education Code Year and semester of offer: 2004, semester 1 Credit point value 10CP Program/s for which course is BEng (Civil) designed Convenor: Dr. Sam Fragomeni Status of Course within Core Course in BEng (Civil) program/s or academic plan/s Prerequisites: Geology and Surveying (2032ENG)

Soil Mechanics (2031ENG)

Course convenor Teaching team members: Dr. W. D. Guo Room G09 1.62 Professor A. S. Balasubramaniam Dr. W. D. Guo Moderator: Professor YC Loo Date course outline was last 29th May 2003 modified Room G09 1.19 Room G09 1.62 Room G09 1.02

Objectives The main purpose of this course is to introduce the design principles in geotechnical engineering. This course is a continuation of the 2nd Year Soil Mechanics of the Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering program and reflects the primary purpose of the program to provide a practical, professional engineering education with sound fundamental background. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: design and analyse both shallow and deep foundations, calculate foundation settlements, perform earth pressure calculations, analyse slope stability, conduct site investigation, and have knowledge on instrumentation and ground improvement techniques.

Links with other Courses

This is a core course in the Bachelor of Civil Engineering program and deals with the elements of analysis, design and construction of the geotechnical aspects of civil engineering. The core elements in the course complement the materials that are taught in the other analytical and applied courses in the program such as: structural analysis, structural design, concrete structures, and, water and waste water engineering.

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Brief Description The course covers: site investigation, design and construction aspects of shallow foundations, calculation of settlements in soils, piled foundations, earth pressure calculations and earth retaining structures, slope stability analysis, instrumentation and ground improvement techniques. Assessment is by evaluation of written reports on laboratory and field studies, midsemester and final examinations. 5 Content
Topic Weighting (%)

Revision of soil mechanics and site investigation Bearing capacity and design of shallow foundations Settlement calculations Piled foundations Earth pressures and earth retaining structures Slope stability analysis Instrumentation in major projects Ground improvement techniques

10 10 15 20 15 10 10 10

Generic Skills Development

Practiced

Assessed * * * * *

Oral communication Written communication Problem identification, formulation & solution Analysis & critical evaluation Ability to work effectively as a team member Ability to take responsibility & make decision * * * * * Tutorial exercises and laboratory reports Worked examples, tutorial exercises and examinations Tutorial exercises & examinations Laboratory and field activities Evaluating the test data and discussing their reliability and influence in geotechnical works

3031ENG GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Taught

Attribute

Developed through:

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Flexible Learning
This course is web supplemented. Copies of handouts are available from the course website at Learning@GU. In addition the assignment details and the marks awarded for assessment items are progressively uploaded onto the web site.

Rationale for Content

Analytical and problem solving abilities are major components in the design and construction aspects of geotechnical activities within the general framework of civil and construction engineering. Students will be trained to perform appropriate analysis of the key elements such as: bearing capacity of shallow and deep foundations, settlement of shallow and deep foundations, earth pressures and slope stability analysis, which are of direct application in geotechnical engineering. Instrumentation of large scaled projects and ground improvement techniques will also be included as these aspects are of importance in current practice in civil engineering.

Organization and Teaching Methods

The contact hours in this course will be as follows: ACTIVITY Lectures (13 weeks) Tutorials (week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) Laboratory sessions (week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) (Consolidation Test, Direct Shear Test, Triaxial Test, In-situ Test) CONTACT HOURS 39 12 10

___ 61 Note: Each student MUST stay with her/his own tutorial/lab group. Students should attempt to attend ALL laboratory sessions. Submission of a laboratory report without laboratory attendance carries a penalty of 50% of the mark.

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Rationale for Teaching Methods The lecture material will be carefully selected and presented in a logical manner to provide a sound understanding of the analytical and problem solving aspects of geotechnical engineering. Simple problems will be solved in every section and gradually a degree of sophistication and complexity will be introduced to make the students to be able to solve complex problems as well. This will then be followed by carefully selected exercises given as tutorial to further amplify the teaching material and the problems solved in the classes. The laboratory classes are in three separate time slots. In each time slot about 20 to 25 students will be engaged and they will further be sub-divided into groups of 4 to 6. The students will perform the experiments by themselves with the guidance of the instructor, analyse the data so obtained and write a comprehensive report individually. Substantial credit will be given to a critical discussion of the results indicating the testing errors and possible improvements, the application of the results and other means by which such information can be gathered for geotechnical practice.

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Assessment
Assessment items: NO. 1 2 3 DESCRIPTION WEIGHTING (%)

25% 25% 50% 100% To be eligible to pass the subject, the student is required to complete all forms of assessment and achieve at least 50 (fifty) percent of total mark.

Five (5) Laboratory reports (due week 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) One (1) Mid-semester examination (90 min) Final examination (180 min)

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Rationale for Assessment

The laboratory reports are to test the students ability in technical report writing as well as his/her understanding of soil testing procedures. The closed-book tests are intended to allow the student to gauge his/her progress in the course, while the final examination is to assess the students knowledge and understanding of the course as a whole.

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Texts and Supporting Materials

Specified Texts Lecture notes in geotechnical engineering by A.S. Balasubramaniam, Griffith University Worked examples in geotechnical engineering by A.S. Balasubramaniam, Griffith University Day to day lecture materials in bound form by A.S. Balasubramaniam, Griffith University Other References Comprehensive compiled notes in geotechnical engineering by A.S. Balasubramaniam, Griffith University Craig, R.F.,1997, Soil Mechanics. Chapman & Hall, 6th Edition. Lambe, T.W and Whitman, R.V.,1979, Soil Mechanics, SI Version, John Wiley & Sons. Whitlow, R., 1995, Basic Soil Mechanics, Longman Scientific & Technical, 3rd Edition

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Course Evaluation A formal survey of the students will be undertaken towards the end of the semester. The results of the survey will be discussed by the teaching team and any necessary modifications to the course planned for the next offering.

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Administration
Unless otherwise stated, the normal course administration policies and rules of the School of Engineering apply. See the School of Engineering Notice Board for details. The attention of students is drawn to the Universitys Policy on Academic Misconduct. http://www62.gu.edu.au/policylibrary.nsf/mainsearch/352f26aa1a1011e64a256bbb0062fd5f?o pendocument. It is recommended that students read this policy.

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For tutorial exercises and assignments, whereas students may work together in problem solving, writing up should be the sole work of the student submitting. The course website on Learning@Griffith will be used to provide feedback on marks and to post other relevant information.

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Course Communications
The Course Convenor is available for consultation at times that are displayed on the Convenors office notice board (outside G09_1.62). Queries may also be emailed to the Course Convenor at w.guo@griffith.edu.au.

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