CIVIL 221

Geomechanics 1

Summary


Semester

Semester 2, 2018

Staff

Contents


Calendar notes

The basic concepts and principles governing the mechanical behaviour of soil, including phase relationships, permeability and seepage, the principle of effective stress, soil strength, compressibility and basic stability analysis. .

Outcome mapping


Intended learning outcomes
Related graduate attributes
Related assessments

Soil description & phase relations: Students will be able to identify various soil types and describe their characteristics. They will be able to determine the particle sizes and distributions and relate them to soil behaviour. They will be able to explain the 3-phase nature of soil and compute various soil indices from phase relations. They will be able to apply phase relation concepts to various geotechnical problems. They will be able to explain the concept and ways of determining relative density.

ENGA01: engineering knowledge (3)
ENGK01: theory of natural sciences (4)
ENGK03: abstraction and formulation (4)
ENGP01: depth of knowledge required (2)
ENGP02: range of conflicting requirements (2)
UOA_1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice (3)
UOA_3: Solution Seeking (2)
UOA_5: Independence and Integrity (1)
Final Exam
Test
Project
Lab attendance and reporting

Permeability and seepage: The student will be able to analyse changes in effective stress due to seepage. They will be able to compare differences between discharge velocity and seepage velocity. They will be able to estimate the equivalent coefficient of permeability in uniform and stratified soil. They will be able to sketch flow nets and compute seepage flow in 2D condition. They will be able to compute total and effective stresses within deposits due to seepage. They will be able to assess dam stability against piping.

ENGA01: engineering knowledge (3)
ENGA02: problem analysis (3)
ENGA03: design and solution development (1)
ENGA09: individual and team work (1)
ENGA10: communication (1)
ENGK01: theory of natural sciences (4)
ENGK02: mathematical modelling (2)
ENGK03: abstraction and formulation (4)
ENGK06: engineering practice (2)
ENGK08: research literature (1)
UOA_1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice (3)
UOA_2: Critical Thinking (2)
UOA_3: Solution Seeking (2)
UOA_4: Communication and Engagement (1)
UOA_5: Independence and Integrity (1)
UOA_6: Social and Environmental Responsiblities (1)
Final Exam
Test
Project
Lab attendance and reporting

Effective stress: The student will be able to explain the principle of effective stress. They will be able to compute the total stress, pore water pressure and effective stress at any given point in the deposit for both the horizontal and vertical directions. They will be able to solve for stresses due to surface loads.

ENGA01: engineering knowledge (3)
ENGA02: problem analysis (3)
ENGK01: theory of natural sciences (4)
ENGK03: abstraction and formulation (4)
ENGP02: range of conflicting requirements (2)
UOA_1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice (3)
UOA_2: Critical Thinking (2)
UOA_3: Solution Seeking (2)
UOA_5: Independence and Integrity (1)
Final Exam
Test
Project
Lab attendance and reporting

Soil compaction: The student will be able to explain the principle of soil compaction and how compaction tests are performed. They will be able to determine the compaction properties of the soil and the factors affecting them. They will be able to evaluate the degree of compaction in the field and specify compaction specifications.

ENGA01: engineering knowledge (3)
ENGA02: problem analysis (3)
ENGA04: investigation (1)
ENGK01: theory of natural sciences (4)
ENGK03: abstraction and formulation (4)
ENGK06: engineering practice (2)
ENGP01: depth of knowledge required (2)
ENGP02: range of conflicting requirements (2)
UOA_1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice (3)
UOA_2: Critical Thinking (2)
UOA_3: Solution Seeking (2)
UOA_5: Independence and Integrity (1)
UOA_6: Social and Environmental Responsiblities (1)
Final Exam
Project

Shear strength of soil: The student will be able to explain various laboratory tests to determine shear strength parameters. They will be able to draw the Mohr circle of stress and compute stresses at any given planes. They will be able to describe the behaviour of loose and dense sands under monotonically increasing shear stress. The student will be able to explain differences between soil response in drained and undrained conditions. They will be able to evaluate lateral earth pressure under active, passive and at-rest states.

ENGA01: engineering knowledge (3)
ENGA02: problem analysis (3)
ENGA03: design and solution development (1)
ENGK01: theory of natural sciences (4)
ENGK02: mathematical modelling (2)
ENGK03: abstraction and formulation (4)
ENGK06: engineering practice (2)
ENGP02: range of conflicting requirements (2)
UOA_1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice (3)
UOA_2: Critical Thinking (2)
UOA_3: Solution Seeking (2)
UOA_5: Independence and Integrity (1)
UOA_6: Social and Environmental Responsiblities (1)
Final Exam
Project
Lab attendance and reporting

Assessment


Coursework

Coursework will consist of a group project, laboratory sessions and a mid-semester test.

The group project will require statements from group members in relation to the level of effort that each group member put into the project. Failure to contribute a fair level of effort may result in a loss of marks for group members in this situation.

Three compulsory 2 hour laboratory sessions are held. These are to help students to understand the subject, and are an integral part of the course. Completion of the laboratory requirements is necessary to pass the course - failure to complete the laboratory sessions will result in a Did Not Complete grade for the course. A short report will be required from each student for each of the laboratory exercises. The journals will be inspected and, when satisfactory, signed-off. The laboratory sessions are an integral part of the course and satisfactory performance, i.e. attendance at the assigned laboratory sessions and the completion of the journal report, is required. In addition, examination questions may include material covered in laboratory sessions.

Exam rules

2 hour exam, closed book, restricted calculators (no memory functions).

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

Feedback from previous years has been used to update course content, materials, modify laboratory sessions.

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