| Unit name | Slopes and Dams 4 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CENGM2500 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Nash |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
CENG21200 Geotechnics 2 |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Civil Engineering |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
This challenging course aims to develop a sound understanding of the behaviour of natural slopes, cuttings and embankment dams.
This unit will focus on instability in natural and man-made soil and rock slopes, the stability analysis of slopes, and the design of remedial measures. It will also introduce students to the geotechnical aspects of the design of earth and rock-fill dams. An important part of the unit is a 3-day residential field course on the Isle of Wight to examine instability in soils and weak rocks resulting from marine attack.
By the end of the course, successful students will:
ULO 1. Have some knowledge and be able to explain the different types of landslides and demonstrate an understanding of their causes; (SS 2; PLO A2, A4, B2, B9, C5) ULO 2. Understand the principles of stability analysis and be able to apply them to the analysis of cuttings, landslides and embankment dams. Be able to use stability charts for preliminary assessment of stability problems. Understand the theoretical basis of the limit equilibrium method and of stability charts; (SS 3,4,5; PLO A2, B5) ULO 3. Have had experience using a slope stability computer package; (SS 5; PLO A2, B5) ULO 4. Understand the factors which control stability of a slope, and have some knowledge of selecting parameters for stability analysis. Have some knowledge of the ring shear apparatus; (SS 2,7; PLO A2, A4) ULO 5. Have examined some active landslides in the field, and developed an awareness of the salient features. Have an ability to describe soil and rock exposures in the field; (SS 2,7; PLO A2, A4, A7, B2, C1) ULO 6. Have some knowledge of remedial measures for stabilising landslides. Have some knowledge of strategies for managing coastal protection in areas of active degradation; (SS 5,6,7; PLO A4, A7, B2, B5) ULO 7. Have developed an awareness of some of the literature on landslides and dams; be able to give a detailed account of several important case histories; (SS 6; PLO C5) ULO 8. Have some knowledge of the historical development of design and construction methods for dams; (SS 6; PLO C5) ULO 9. Understand the basic geotechnical requirements in the design of embankment dams. Be able to identify the possible modes of failure, and critical stages during construction and in service. Be able to apply flow nets to analyse simple dam cross-sections. Be able to assess the stability of typical cross-sections using stability charts; (SS 3, 4, 5; PLO A4, B5) ULO 10. Understand the causes of cracking of cores and impermeable membranes, and know the measures used to avoid such problems and minimise the consequences. Understand the basis of filter rules and be able to apply them in simple situations; (SS 5, 6; PLO A4, B5, C5) ULO 11. Have some knowledge of geotechnical instrumentation systems and their application in practice to slopes and dams; (SS 7; PLO C5) ULO 12. Appreciate the differences between natural geomaterials and processes and the idealisations taught in lectures, and be able to give examples. Be curious about geotechnics; (SS 4, 8; PLO B1, B9)
Lectures, example classes, fieldwork
Coursework 30%, 2 hour exam 70%
The stability of slopes (2nd Ed.). Bromhead E.N. Blackie Academic, London 1992. In Geography Library; 1st Ed. in Queens Library at TA710 BRO. Slope stability: geotechnical engineering and geomorphology. Eds Anderson M.G. and Richards, K.S. Wiley 1986. In Queen's Library at TA710 SLO Slope stability engineering: developments and applications. Proceedings of the international conference on slope stability organised by the Institution of Civil Engineers and held on the Isle of Wight on 15-18 April 1991. Thomas Telford, London c1991. In Queen's Library at Oversize TA710 SLO Rock slope engineering (4th Ed.). Hoek, E. and Bray, J. 4th edition by Wyllie, D.C. and Mah, C.C London : Spon Press, c2004. In Queen's Library at TA706HOE see also http://www.rocscience.com/education/hoeks_corner Soil Mechanics. Lambe T.W. & Whitman R.V. Wiley. In Queen's Library at Oversize TA710 LAM Design of small dams. United States. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Reclamation. 1960. In Queen's Library at TC540 UNI Earth and earth-rock dams: engineering problems of design and construction. James L. Sherard et al. c1963. New York, N.Y : John Wiley In Queen's Library at TC543 EAR Geotechnical engineering of dams. Fell, R., MacGregor, P., Stapledon, D. and Bell, G. A.A. Balkema Leiden; London 2005. In Queen's Library at TC542 GEO.
