ENGE413-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Soil Mechanics and Soil Engineering

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

Formation, properties, description and representation of soils. Stress and strain in soils. Deformation and failure of soils. Engineered soil slope stability and foundation analysis. Underground excavation and ground treatment in soil.

This course introduces the subject of soil mechanics and the use of soils as an engineering material. Concepts covered in this course include:
1. the characterisation of soils for engineering purposes,
2. one-dimensional compression of soils,
3. soil shear strength under drained conditions, and
4. flow of water in soils
5. application of theoretical soil behaviour to engineering geology.

Learning Outcomes

  • At the conclusion of this course you should be able to:
  • Interpret data from standard laboratory tests for the purpose of soil characterisation and classification
  • Estimate total and effective stresses for one-dimensional soil profiles.
  • Apply analytical methods to the flow of water through the ground to calculate flow rates, heads and pore pressures for two-dimensional flow.
  • Estimate model parameters for the one-dimensional compression of soils, and apply this model to estimate settlements due to changes in soil loading.
  • Describe the shear stress – shear strain behaviour of soils under drained conditions, and estimate the drained shear strength for different soil states.
  • Apply soil mechanics principles in engineering geology practice, including case studies and practical design.

      • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

(1) MATH101 or MATH102 or MATH103 and (2) approval from the Head of Department of Geological Sciences

Restrictions

ENCN253; ENGE 485

Lecturer

Katherine Yates

Contact Person

Clark Fenton

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Assignments and Tutorials 25% Assignments and Tutorials
Lab Reports 25% Lab Reports
Design Project 50% Design Projects (2)

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,213.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All ENGE413 Occurrences

  • ENGE413-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025
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