Undergraduate - UnitCIV2242 - Geomechanics I

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering
Organisational Unit	Department of Civil Engineering
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Asadul Haque, Assoc Professor Jayantha Kodikara

Synopsis

The unit covers all aspects of geomechanics at an elementary level, as well as basic engineering geology, formation and weathering processes, sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks, the geotechnical spectrum: soil, rock, weathering, deposition cycle, basic soil and rock properties, engineering classification of soil and rock, soil structure, weight-volume relationship, and the two/three phase model. It also includes effective stress theory, stresses in a soil mass and shear strength. The unit includes elementary level application of geomechanics knowledge in the analysis and design of shallow and deep foundations, and pavements using CIRCLY software.

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

use knowledge of basic engineering geology in designing civil infrastructure on soils/rocks
classify soils and rocks including mineralogical compositions
identify different phases in soils and determine their densities, void ratios, porosities
determine total, effective and pore water pressures in soils/rocks including implications of loading on drainage behaviour of soils/rocks
identify and determine appropriate shear strength parameters of soils/rocks for engineering design
estimate incremental stresses in soils/rocks due to applied loads

7 use knowledge of soils/rocks in designing simple foundations and road pavements

8. communicate effectively through oral presentations and written reports

Assessment

Continuous assessment: 50%
Examination (3 hours): 50%
Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component (assignments, tests, mid-semester exams, laboratory reports) and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Jeffrey Walker

Contact hours

One 2 hour lecture plus one 1 hour lecture, one 2 hour practice class, one 1 hour laboratory and 7 hours of private study per week