KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND BUILDING ENGINEERING
Bachelors Degree in Civil and Building Engineering II
SEMESTER TWO 2015/2016
TCBE 2205: ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
ASSIGNMENTS
INSTRUCTIONS:
This assignment is in two sections, that is, ASSIGNMENT A AND
ASSIGNMENT B.
These assignments are to be done in 8 groups each composed of ten
Members (from Group A Group H)
Assignment A study rocks given
Assignment B Research
Assignment C Literature study
Assignments will be presented as required

ASSIGNMENT A (10 marks)

This will be presented and handed-in on 14th June 2016.
Stone has been used as a construction material for thousands of years. One of the reasons for this
was its ready availability locally. Furthermore, stone requires little energy for extraction and
processing. Indeed, stone is used more or less as it is found. Therefore it is required of every
Civil engineer to be able to identify good stones to be used for a specific construction purpose.
Each Group will pick ten Samples of rocks. You are tasked to carry out a detailed study of
each rock and catalog them under the following endings
a) Nature of rock (is it igneous or sedimentary or metamorphic?)
b) Type of rock
c) Mineral composition
Assignment Engineering Geology. Prepared by Mr. Zzigwa Marvin
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d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

Physical properties of those mineral compounds

Chemical properties of mineral compounds
Suitability requirements as (Properties which can be determined in the laboratory)
Concrete Material
Road construction material

Hint: (Properties which can be determined in the laboratory)

i) Chemical properties which affect the durability of Concrete (and how?)

ASSIGNMENT B (10 marks)

This work will be presented in power point on 5 th July 2016, and reports handed-in on the
same date
QUESTION ONE
Geologists seek to understand how the earth formed and evolved into what it is today, as well as
what made the earth capable of supporting life. Earth is composed of a variety of naturally occurring and synthetic materials whose composition can be expressed in many ways. Solid Earth
materials are described by their chemical, mineral and rock composition. Atoms combine to
form minerals and minerals combine to form rocks. Little is known about the geological nature
of Uganda.
In you groups. You have tasked to carry out a literature review on the Topic: Geology of Uganda
Case Study: Focus on Catastrophic geological regions Report of more than 20 pages Minus
preliminary pages
Conclusion
Conclude with the Engineering measures which can be undertaken to overcome such.

ASSIGNMENT C (10 marks)

Earthwork forms the largest activity of a Civil Engineer. It is well understood that irrespective of
the type of civil engineering structure on earth

It has to be rested either in soil (e.g., foundations)

Rested on soil (e.g., pavements) or
The structure is itself constructed making use of soil (e.g., earthen dams).

This implies that a better knowledge of the spatial variation of the soils encountered is
essential. Therefore, before construction of any civil engineering work a thorough investigation
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of the site is essential. Site investigations constitute an essential and important engineering
program which, while guiding in assessing the general suitability of the site for the proposed
works, enables the engineer to prepare an adequate and economic design and to foresee and
provide against difficulties that may arise during the construction phase. Site investigations
are equally necessary in reporting upon the safety or causes of failures of existing works
or in examining the suitability and availability of construction materials.

You are required to study notes given about site investigation.

At end, answer Questions 1 to 14

(10 marks)

This work will be handed in on 26th July 2016

Assignment Engineering Geology. Prepared by Mr. Zzigwa Marvin

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