Unsaturated Soil Mechanics and Expansive Soils

Undergraduate | 2026

Course page banner
Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
ENGC X411
Course ID icon
Course ID
208420
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East, Mawson Lakes
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Civil Eng & Cons Mgt
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Brendan Scott
Course level icon
Course level
4
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
Discipline group B
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

The course aims to master the complexities of soil behaviour and foundation design, encompassing expansive soils, problematic soil treatments, and unsaturated soil mechanics.

Course learning outcomes

  • Develop the body of knowledge on expansive soil by research, reflect on and critically evaluate standards, notes and scholarly articles
  • Classify expansive soil sites (estimate soil reactivity) using the visual-tactile method and laboratory testing
  • Critically review the design philosophy for shallow footings on such sites and design using state-of-the-art tools
  • Design of footing and pavement on expansive soils
  • Evaluate effective stresses using unsaturated soil mechanics theory

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 52658
Section
Section PR01
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
11 Aug - 11 Aug Tuesday 10:10am - 11:30am Adelaide City Campus East Engineering Annexe, LG08
Class number
Class number 52657
Section
Section PR02
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
18 Aug - 18 Aug Tuesday 11:40am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering Annexe, LG08
Class number
Class number 52656
Section
Section PR03
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
18 Aug - 18 Aug Tuesday 10:10am - 11:30am Adelaide City Campus East Engineering Annexe, LG08
Class number
Class number 52655
Section
Section PR04
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
11 Aug - 11 Aug Tuesday 11:40am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering Annexe, LG08
Class number
Class number 59695
Section
Section PR05
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
18 Aug - 18 Aug Tuesday 2:10pm - 3:30pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering Annexe, LG08
Class number
Class number 52659
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 60
Available
Available 60
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 21 Sep Monday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2032
12 Oct - 9 Nov Monday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2032

Mawson Lakes

Class number
Class number 52661
Section
Section PR01
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
12 Aug - 12 Aug Wednesday 10:10am - 11:30am Mawson Lakes Building N, N1-04A
Class number
Class number 52660
Section
Section PR02
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
19 Aug - 19 Aug Wednesday 10:10am - 11:30am Mawson Lakes Building N, N1-04A
Class number
Class number 55835
Section
Section PR03
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
19 Aug - 19 Aug Wednesday 11:40am - 1pm Mawson Lakes Building N, N1-04A
Class number
Class number 55834
Section
Section PR04
Size
Size 16
Available
Available 16
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
12 Aug - 12 Aug Wednesday 11:40am - 1pm Mawson Lakes Building N, N1-04A
Class number
Class number 52662
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 60
Available
Available 60
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
7 Aug - 25 Sep Friday 2:10pm - 4pm Mawson Lakes Building A, A2-36B
16 Oct - 13 Nov Friday 2:10pm - 4pm Mawson Lakes Building A, A2-36B

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Mawson Lakes

Class number
Class number 30349
Section
Section LE01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
- Mawson Lakes ,

Prerequisite(s)

  • must have completed ENGM2010 Soil Mechanics

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A

Assumed knowledge

N/A

Textbook(s)

N/A

Inherent requirements

N/A

Other resources

N/A

Assessment

N/A

Fee calculator

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Study Abroad student tuition fees are available here.

Only some Postgraduate Coursework programs are available as Commonwealth Supported. Please check your program for specific fee information.

The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.

Degree list
The following degrees include this course
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours)
Master of Professional Engineering (Civil)