Course overview
This course will introduce students to common Geotechnical engineering design problems and develop the capability to critically analyse and economically design through the application of Geomechanics knowledge. Students will also learn how to evaluate risks associated with the use of different natural materials. Design of retaining walls, pore water pressure parameters, earth dams, tailings dams, landfills, expansive soils, site classification, design of shallow footings on expansive soils, pavement engineering, flexible pavement design, bituminous surfacing.
Course learning outcomes
- Analyse and design different types of embedded retaining structures (PO 1, 4, 5), (EA 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3).
- Analyse and design embankment dams under various service conditions and evaluate stability (PO 1,4,5,8), (EA 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6).
- Classify expansive soil sites, critically review the design philosophy for shallow footings on such sites, and design using state of the art tools (PO 1,4,5,8), (EA 1.1,1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.5, 3.6).
- Analyse and design flexible pavements and specify bituminous mixes for road surfacing (PO 1,4,5,8), (EA 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.5, 3.6).
- Synthesis of the principles used for designing landfills, tailing dams and prevention of liquefaction (PO 1,4,5), (EA 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3).
- Research, reflect on and critically evaluate scholarly articles related to geotechnical engineering (PO 1,2,7), (EA 1.3, 1.4, 3.2).