CIV3244

Groundwater, seepage and environmental geoengineering

A Bouazza and K McKenry

3 points
* 13 lectures, 22 hours of design class or practicals and 4 hours of site visits
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives To gain knowledge of the processes to characterise different types of soil with regards to seepage characteristics; of sources and consequences of soil pollution; of physico-chemical and mechanical properties of soils; of flow characteristics of water and contaminant through porous media; of function of engineered soil barriers for controlling seepage and waste isolation; of design and construction of soil barriers for water and waste isolation; to be able to apply these models in the practice of geoengineering design; and to improve written and oral communication and computing skills.

Synopsis The scope of the subject is to give an overview of concepts relating to groundwater and seepage with emphasis on seepage containment in reservoirs, soil pollution and its avoidance, focusing on soil behaviour and its effect on seepage, earthdam design, groundwater percolation and migration of contaminant in the nearfield of waste containment facilities. Focus will also be on the function, design and construction of engineered soil barriers to prevent leakage from water reservoirs or to isolate different types of waste. Problem-based subject; students work in groups of three to solve practical geoengineering problems.

Assessment Design assignment: 70%
* Examination (2 hours): 30%
* Students must pass both assignment and examination components.

Prescribed texts

Holtz R D and Koracs W D An introduction to geotechnical engineering Prentice-Hall, 1991

Recommended texts

Koerner R Designing with geosynthetics Prentice-Hall, 1990
Rowe R K and others Clayey barrier systems for waste disposal facilities Chapman Hall, 1995
Yong R and others Principles of containment transport in soils Elsevier