CIVL9411: Semester 2, 2023

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Units CIVL9411 Semester 2 2023 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

CIVL9411: Geotechnical Engineering

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

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

Unit code	CIVL9411
Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Fundamentals of soil mechanics including effective stress, pore pressure, consolidation and seepage
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Francois Guillard, francois.guillard@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Oral exam ?	Final oral examination 30 minute preparation followed by 15 minute oral exam, staggered times	40%	Formal exam period	15 minutes (oral)
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Quizzes Regular short quizzes, 6 in total during the semester (5x2%+1x5%).	15%	Multiple weeks	15-30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab report 1 Report on laboratory work and analysis related to soil characterisation.	10%	Week 03 Due date: 18 Aug 2023 at 23:59	Max 5 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment Analysis of a slope stability problem analytically and numerically	15%	Week 09 Due date: 03 Oct 2023 at 23:59	Report and source code
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab report 2 Report on laboratory work and analysis related to retaining walls.	10%	Week 10 Due date: 13 Oct 2023 at 08:50	Max 5 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab report 3 Report on laboratory work and analysis related to foundation stability.	10%	Week 12 Due date: 27 Oct 2023 at 23:59	Max 5 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Cf. assessment table

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Follows University of Sydney guidelines.

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	Introduction to geotechnical engineering; Stress and strain	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	Soil characterisation	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Models of soil mechanics	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Introduction to slope stability	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Slope stability: limit equilibrium	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 06	Slope stability: Taylor's charts, wedge method	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 07	Retaining walls: introduction, limit equilibrium	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	Retaining walls: Rankine’s method	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Foundations: bound theories/solutions	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Foundations: general bearing capacity formulations and formulae	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 11	Other bearing capacity applications, settlements	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 12	Foundations: bearing capacity of piles	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 13	Conclusion, summary, and revision.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials.

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. 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 spreadsheets to perform parametric studies for 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

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.

Update to course assessment and content based on students interest.

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

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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