CIVL5452: Semester 1, 2020

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Units CIVL5452 Semester 1 2020 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

CIVL5452: Foundation Engineering

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

The objectives of this unit are to gain an understanding of the design process in foundation engineering, to understand the importance of site investigation and field testing, and to learn how to deal with uncertainty. To achieve these objectives students are asked to design foundations using real data. Students will develop the ability to interpret the results of a site investigation; to use laboratory and field data to design simple foundations; develop an appreciation of the interaction between the soil, foundation system and the supported structure. The syllabus is comprised of field testing, site characterisation, interpretation of field data, design of pile raft and surface footings, support of excavations, soil improvement, and geotechnical report writing.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	CIVL5452
Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	CIVL6452
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	[CIVL2410 OR CIVL9410] AND [CIVL3411 OR CIVL9411]. Students are assumed to have a good knowledge of fundamental soil mechanics, which is covered in the courses of soil mechanics (settlement, water flow, soil strength) and foundation engineering (soil models, stability analyses; slope stability; retaining walls; foundation capacity)
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	David Airey, david.airey@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Dang Phan, dangkhoa.phan@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Site investigation report Report describing geotechnical model and interpretation of site data	15%	Week 05 Due date: 26 Mar 2020 at 15:00	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Design Project Conceptual design exercise	10%	Week 06 Due date: 02 Apr 2020 at 18:00	In class
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz Short questions on course material, weeks 1-7.	20%	Week 08	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Foundation design Report setting out recommended design, with supporting calculations	12.5%	Week 09 Due date: 30 Apr 2020 at 15:00	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Retaining wall design Report setting out recommended design, with supporting calculations	12.5%	Week 12 Due date: 21 May 2020 at 15:00	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Design Project Conceptual design exercise	10%	Week 13 Due date: 28 May 2020 at 18:00	In class
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 2 Short questions on course material, weeks 8-13.	20%	Week 13	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Quizzes: Two quizzes to test individual understanding of soil mechanics theories and concepts applied to foundation design.
Assignments: Three assignments to demonstrate design and problem solving skills and reporting. These will cover development of a geotechnical model from site investigation data and designs for foundation and retaining walls.
Project: The design projects are an additional opportunity to demonstrate and earn marks for creatively applying the skills you develop over the foundation engineering course: thinking about time, cost and risk issues associated with parameter variability and uncertainty that arise with real problems, communicating these to the client, and teamwork.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Site investigation	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	1. Soil and rock properties; 2. Developing a geotechnical model	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Shallow foundations - bearing capacity and settlement	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	1. Pile raft foundations and analysis; 2. Design codes	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Axial pile capacity and settlement analysis	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Laterally loaded piles and pile group analysis and Design Project	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Slope instability, stabilisation and risk assessment	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Retaining structures and gravity wall design and Quiz	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Embedded wall design, excavation induced movements and risk management	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Earthworks and problematic soils	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Soft ground characterisation, behaviour and improvement	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Ground improvement	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Quiz and Design project	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. write a geotechnical report
LO2. interpret borehole log data to determine soil parameters and develop a geotechnical model
LO3. design foundations (shallow, piled, piled raft) and retaining wall systems
LO4. understand basic principles of soil mechanics, and the limitations of these theories
LO5. creatively apply theories of soil mechanics to foundation design; in particular, deal with parameter variability and uncertainty that arises with real problems.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Inclusion of another design assignment in response to feedback

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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