CIV4249

Foundation engineering

J P Seidel

5 points
* 26 hours lectures, 26 hours tutorials and practicals, and 6 hours site visits
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: CIV3244, CIV3245 and CIV3246

Objectives The student is expected to acquire knowledge, make critical observations, apply the acquired knowledge and develop skills related to the analysis and design of shallow and deep foundations. The student will also learn to work as part of a team and enhance their written and oral communication skills. The student should gain an appreciation of the relevance of engineering knowledge to engineering practice and develop confidence to tackle new engineering problems, particularly in the design environment.

Synopsis Review of soil mechanics model; the geological context of a project; site investigation and laboratory testing techniques; conceptual design of foundations; elastic, consolidation and creep settlement of shallow footings; total and differential settlement; bearing capacity of shallow footings of layered soils; raft foundations; piling options; the relationship between construction techniques and pile performance; axial capacity of single piles in compression and tension; settlement of single piles; capacity and settlement of pile groups; piled rafts; lateral capacity of piles; rational methods for design of rock-socketed piles; static, dynamic, statnamic and integrity testing of piles.

Assessment Assignments and interviews: 100%
* Students work in groups toward the assignments
* This subject is conducted using problem-based learning.

Course material Course material and presentations are available on the World Wide Web. Lecture notes and sets of problems and solutions are available at a fee.

Recommended texts

Atkinson J Introduction to the mechanics of soil and foundations McGraw-Hill
Bowles J E Foundation analysis and design McGraw-Hill
Das B M Principles of geotechnical engineering PWS-Kent
Das B M Principles of foundation engineering PWS-Kent
Fleming, Weltman, Randolph and Elson Piling engineering Wiley, 1992
Poulos and Davis Pile foundation analysis and design Wiley, 1980
Scott C R An introduction to soil mechanics and foundations Applied Science Publishers
Tomlinson M J Foundation design and construction Pitman
Whitlow R Basic soil mechanics Longman