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Unit of study_
CIVL9411: Geotechnical Engineering 1
2025 unit information
The objectives of this unit are to provide an understanding of the factors influencing soil strength, and to give practice in the application of this understanding by exploring the stability of slopes, retaining walls and foundations. At the end of this unit students will be able to: determine the strength parameters appropriate to a range of stability problems, and understand the difference between total and effective stress approaches; evaluate strength parameters from laboratory data; critically analyse foundation stability and slope stability problems; use spreadsheets to perform parametric studies and produce design charts for simple geotechnical design problems; and communicate the results of experiments and analyses using written methods appropriate for professional geotechnical engineers. The syllabus comprises; methods of analysis for gravity and sheet pile retaining walls; reinforced soil; slope stability, including modes of failure, analysis and computer methods; bearing capacity of shallow foundations under general loading, and axial and lateral capacities of deep pile foundations; the mechanical behaviour of sands and clays; the Cam Clay model and the breakage model.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Engineering
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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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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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Fundamentals of soil mechanics including effective stress, pore pressure, consolidation and seepage |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Understand the effects of void-ratio, pressure, friction, and dilation on the strength of clays and sands, based on models of soil mechanics
- LO2. Determine the strength parameters appropriate to a range of stability problems, and understand the difference between total and effective stress approaches.
- LO3. Use charts and software to perform analysis of simple geotechnical design problems
- LO4. Communicate the results of analyses using written and visual methods appropriate for professional geotechnical engineers.
- LO5. Critically analyse slope and retaining walls stability problems, and shallow foundation and pile stability
Unit availability
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