CVE3146

Geoengineering: stability and settlement

K H McKenry and C M Haberfield

4 points
* 26 lectures, 22 hours of design class or practicals and 4 hours of site visits
* Second semester
* Caulfield/Clayton
* Prerequisites: CIV2271 or CVE2131

Objectives To gain knowledge of the stress-strain response of soil and rock that pore water pressures play in strength development, consolidation and stability; the difference between long and short term behaviour of geoengineering structures and how to account for these influences during design and construction; to be able to apply these models in the practice of geotechnical engineering design to geotechnical structures and shallow foundations in particular; and to improve written and oral communication and computing skills.

Synopsis The effective stress principle, how it influences soil and rock strength and deformations, and its role in the design, construction and stability of geoengineering structures such as foundations, retaining walls, slopes and embankments. Topics covered include the stress-strain-pore pressure response of soil and rock; failure criteria; stress paths; drained and undrained strengths, consolidation and creep settlements; earth pressures; and over-consolidated and normally consolidated behaviour, shallow foundations. Problem-based subject; students work in groups of three to solve practical geotechnical engineering problems.

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

Recommended texts

Atkinson J Introduction to the mechanics of soils and foundations McGraw-Hill
Bowles J E Foundation analysis and design McGraw-Hill
Capper P L and others Problems in engineering soils (S1 edn) Spon
Das B M Principles of geotechnical engineering Kent, 1990
Leeper G W and Uren N C Soil science: An introduction MUP
Parry R H G Mohr circles, stress paths and geotechnics Spon
Scott C R An introduction to soil mechanics and foundations Applied Science Publishers
Smith G N Elements of soil mechanics for civil and mining engineers Granada
Sutton B H Solving problems in soil mechanics Longman
Tomlinson M J Foundation design and construction Pitman
Vickers B Laboratory work in soil mechanics Granada
Whitlow R Basic soil mechanics Longman