CIVIL 741

Ground Improvements and Geosynthetics Engineering

Summary


Semester

Semester 2, 2019

Staff

Contents


Calendar notes

Advanced ground improvement techniques including: densification, consolidation, preloading and surcharge, soil reinforcement, stabilisation and thermal ground improvement.
Prerequisite: CIVIL 322 or equivalentRestriction: CIVIL 403

Further notes

PHILOSOPHY:
Engineering structures are frequently built over sub-soils which may not have adequate strength as it becomes increasingly difficult to find sites with suitable soil properties. In some cases, seismic demand can be large as a result of proximity to active faults. To meet these demands, sub-soil properties may need to be improved by the use of some form of soil improvement methods, such as: static or dynamic compaction, reinforcement, drainage or by the use of admixtures. Thus, it is important for the geotechnical engineers to know the different soil improvement methods, the degree in which soil properties may be improved, costs involved and benefits gained. Knowledge of these will enable a civil engineer to contribute towards providing sound, economical and practical solutions for clients.

In this course, we will be studying current ground investigation methods, ground improvement methods & design, and liquefaction mitigation. Students will undertake design projects that will consolidate what has been learnt during the course, from interpretation of available data through to design of a ground improvement scheme. Guest lecturers from the industry will share their expertise and knowledge on various techniques through case histories.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
 Understanding the aims of ground investigations, and introducing geotechnical in-situ testing methods.
 Identifying the basic principles of various ground improvement techniques.
 Selecting the most appropriate ground improvement technique in specific circumstances.
 Understanding the design procedure of various ground improvement techniques.
 Introducing an overview of the observational method and instrumentation used in geotechnical engineering.
 Consolidating all the principles discussed and using them in designing actual geotechnical project.

Assessment


Coursework

The assessment comprises coursework (reports, assignments, test) worth 30% and design projects worth 70%.

Exam rules

There is no examination for this course.

Inclusive learning

Students are urged to discuss privately any impairment-related requirements face-to-face and/or in written form with the course convenor/lecturer and/or tutor.

Other assessment rules

No description given

Academic integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting his or her learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the world-wide web. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

All students enrolled at the University of Auckland are required to complete a compulsory Academic Integrity course, usually in their first semester/year of enrolment. The University of Auckland’s full guidelines on procedures and penalties for academic dishonesty are available here.

Student feedback


Actions shared/based on previous feedback

Previous student feedback has been used to modify course content, structure of assessments and structure of the interaction with the course lecturers.

This site intends to guide you through your chosen specialisation at the Faculty of Engineering. The semester links lets you view detailed course information for your chosen course. Please note that the structure displayed for your specialisation here will reflect what’s available over the upcoming semesters, but detailed information may be from a previous year.

All the information here is accurate at the time of publication, but you are are advised to additionally consult our official document, the University of Auckland Calendar, for accurate academic regulations, requirements, and policies.