Geotechnics 1

Code

CIVE1008

School

Civil Engineering

Level

1

Credits

10

Semesters

Spring Malaysia

Summary

This course (module) provides an introduction to the basics of Geotechnics. It covers the following topics:
(1) Origin and types of soil
(2) Soil as a 3-phase material (phase relationships)
(3) Soil description and classification
(4) Stresses in soils (total stress, effective stress, Terzaghi's effective stress principle)
(5) Basic mechanics: Analysis of stresses in soil (Mohr circle of stress); 
(6) Yield and failure criterion including Tresca and Coulomb
(7) Soil compaction
(8) Ground investigation

For students requiring reassessment, this will be limited to the components which have been failed and these will be in the same form as the original assessment.

Target Students

Qualifying Year BEng/MEng students in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Classes

• One 1-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks

Assessment

• 100% Exam 1 (2-hour): Course (module) specific two hour written examination.

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course (module), students will be able to:
1. understand ground investigation methods and how to describe & classify soils
2. solve soil phase relationships and determine basic physical properties of soils
3. solve compaction related problems
4. compute total and effective stresses in soils
5. understand the concept of stress analysis and soil strength including the use of Mohr circles and different yield criteria

This will contribute to the following programme learning outcomes (see Plan (Programme) Specifications for details):
- Knowledge and Understanding: M1
- Intellectual Skills: M3, M6

Conveners

• Dr Min Lee Lee