| Unit name | Geomechanics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CENG20018 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Liz Holcombe |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Engineering by Investigation (MENG10005) or equivalent Field Methods (CENG10005) or equivalent Engineering Mathematics 1 (EMAT10100) or equivalent |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of soil mechanics. These concepts will give you the basis for understanding and applying the geotechnical design principles and processes that you will learn in your subsequent years of study.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
Geotechnical engineering, or geotechnics, is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behaviour of earth materials. In our Civil Engineering programme, geotechnics is taught across all years of study, including Engineering Geology (delivered as part of Field Methods in Year 1), Geomechanics (this unit, in Year 2), Geotechnical Design (delivered in Year 3), as well as some optional M/level units. Practical applications of Geotechnics are also included in the Design units of the programme.
An overview of content
To enable students to gain a sound grasp of the fundamentals of soil material behaviour. To introduce students to some analytical methods for use in Geotechnical Engineering.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
In this unit you will develop an appreciation of how the soils that you encounter during civil engineering design and construction can vary in their behaviour and strength in different locations and over time. You will grow in confidence in applying the technical vocabulary and skills for describing, measuring and calculating the basic mechanical properties of soils. You will start to develop your engineering skills for understanding the uncertainties involved in dealing with a variable natural material (soil) and imperfect geotechnical data. This will enable you to interpret the response of soils to stresses and groundwater conditions for simple geotechnical design scenarios.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, successful students will be able to:
1. Explain the nature of stress and pore water pressure in soils
2. Employ the definitions of soil phase relationships and soil properties in basic geotechnical calculations
3. Apply the principles of one-dimensional stiffness and groundwater seepage
4. Discuss the concept of drained and undrained shear strength and the implications for typical geotechnical design problems
5. Carry out geotechnical laboratory investigations and present the results
6. Evaluate the results from geotechnical laboratory investigations and their usage in a geotechnical design problem
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, which may include lectures, practical activities supported by drop-in sessions, problem sheets and self-directed exercises.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative soil properties laboratory class and in-class problem sheets
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Coursework comprising group laboratory investigations and an individual laboratory report (40%): ILOs 5-6
3-hour in person exam (60%): ILOs 1-4
When assessment does not go to plan:
Resubmission of coursework and/or resit of examination.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CENG20018).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
