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During 2021 we will continue to support students who need to study remotely due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and travel restrictions. Make sure you check the location code when selecting a unit outline or choosing your units of study in Sydney Student. Find out more about what these codes mean. Both remote and on-campus locations have the same learning activities and assessments, however teaching staff may vary. More information about face-to-face teaching and assessment arrangements for each unit will be provided on Canvas.
Unit of study_
CIVL6455: Engineering Behaviour of Soils
This is an advanced soil mechanics course. It is concerned with the mechanical stress, strain, strength behaviour and the application of this knowledge in geotechnical engineering. The course includes an introduction to critical state soil mechanics, which is used to assist with the interpretation of soil data, and to enable prediction of ground behaviour. The course uses the critical state framework to provide a firm basis for an understanding of the stress, strain, strength behaviour of all soils, and to enable a rational approach to the selection of parameters for use in geotechnical design.
| Code | CIVL6455 |
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| Academic unit | Civil Engineering |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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CIVL5455 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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[CIVL2410 OR CIVL9410] AND [CIVL3411 OR CIVL9411]. A knowledge of basic concepts and terminology of soil mechanics is assumed. Experience with geotechnical practice in estimating parameters from field and laboratory data would be useful but not essential. |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. identify the contributing factors influencing soil behaviour and explain their interactions, using the framework of critical state soil mechanics
- LO2. explain models used in predicting soil behaviour, including their practical requirements and potential limitations
- LO3. operate the cam clay model using real laboratory data to produce reliable, meaningful results
- LO4. critically evaluate the quality of soil lab data sets and ensure readiness for use in soil behaviour modelling
- LO5. produce soundly-based interpretations of soil modelling results, giving due consideration to assumptions and limitations of the data used and those of the model used
- LO6. engage with alternative possible interpretations of the same results, critically examine the merits of each and draw appropriate conclusions
- LO7. determine the soil design parameters for given geotechnical engineering situations based on a rational consideration of soil factors.
Unit outlines
Unit outlines will be available 2 weeks before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.
- Semester 1, 2022 [Normal evening] - Camperdown
- Semester 1, 2022 [Normal evening] - Remote
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