Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering, School of Civil Engineering

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Details

Code 17152

Level of study Second Year

Credit value 20

Semester 1 & 2

Pre-requisite modules None

Other pre-requisites None

Module description

This module offers the students their first contact with engineering geology and soil mechanics on the civil engineering degree programmes.

In Semester 1, the module introduces the subjects of engineering geology, rock strength and mass strength, physical properties and description of soils, stresses in soil, water flow in soils (including groundwater control), compaction and shear strength of soils.

In Semester 2, the topics covered are compression and consolidation of soils, lateral earth pressures and stability of slopes. This means that this module covers the basics required to understand the behaviour of soils (soil mechanics) and also introduces some applications of these into practical geotechnical designs.

Teaching and learning methods

2 hrs lectures weekly plus 1 hr tutorial weekly, plus five 2-hr laboratory exercises.