ENCN452-19S1 (C) Semester One 2019

Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 18 February 2019
End Date: Sunday, 23 June 2019
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 1 March 2019
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 10 May 2019

Description

Stress-strain behaviour of soils. Critical-state soil mechanics. Approximations and limitations for geotechnical analyses. Piles under axial and lateral loading. Shallow foundations.

The aim of the course is to increase students' understanding of load-deformation characteristics of soils and fundamental concepts in geotechnical analysis and design. The course focuses on two aspects in particular: stress-strain behaviour of soils and design/analysis of shallow/deep foundations. The background theme of the course is modelling as a fundamental engineering problem-solving methodology.

Learning Outcomes

  • At the conclusion of this course you should be able to:

  • Interpret key features of stress-strain behaviour of soils
  • Explain fundamental concepts in modelling of stress-strain behaviour of soils
  • Apply analytical and numerical methods for geotechnical analysis, and discuss their approximations and limitations
  • Apply principles of foundation engineering to geotechnical/structural design of shallow foundations
  • Discuss and apply methods for analysis and design of piles under axial and lateral loads
  • Explain the process and techniques necessary for testing of soils in the geotechnical laboratory
  • Solve complex problems in foundation engineering

Prerequisites

Restrictions

ENCI452

Timetable Note

The course is delivered in 36 lectures, 2 tutorials, and 4 laboratory sessions. The tutorials are used to prepare for and facilitate laboratory sessions. The methods and tools covered in tutorial and lab sessions are directly used in course assessments.

Examples and problems will be used during lectures to illustrate techniques and concepts, but students are expected to put in time outside lectures to refine their understanding through preparation for lectures, revision, additional reading, and additional problems. A rough guide to the amount of time you should be putting into the various parts of this course is listed as follows:

Contact Hours
Lectures 36 hours
Tutorials 2 hours
Laboratories 10 hours
Total 48 hours

Independent Study

Lecture review and reading 27 hours
Tutorial/lab prep and assignments 45 hours
Exam preparation        25 hours
Total      150 hours

Note: This is an indication of average expected workload. Actual time spent by students may vary widely

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Christopher McGann

Lecturer

Professor Steven Kramer (University of Washington)

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Assignment 1 (state concept interpretation) 5%
Assignment 2 (Geotech lab 1 : triaxial test) 10%
Assignment 3 (Geotech lab 2 : liquefaction test) 5%
Assignment 5 (settlement of piles) 5%
Assignment 6: (Piles: elastic & nonlinear analyses 10%
Assignment 7 (shallow foundations) 10%
Assignnment 4 (stress strain modelling) 5%
final exam 50%


1. A minimum pass mark of 50% in the final exam is required to pass the course.
2. All assignments must be completed individually.
3. All assignments must be submitted by the due date. Late submissions will not be accepted. If a student is unable to complete an assignment by the deadline due to personal circumstances beyond their control, they must discuss this with the course coordinator as soon as possible (and before the deadline).

Textbooks / Resources

Electronic files of course materials, including assignments, course materials, and any lecture notes will be made available through LEARN. Handouts may be provided during lectures and recommended readings from textbooks may be assigned.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,080.00

International fee $5,250.00

* 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.

For further information see Civil and Natural Resources Engineering .

All ENCN452 Occurrences

  • ENCN452-19S1 (C) Semester One 2019