| Unit name | Introduction to Soil Mechanics and Geology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CENG10002 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Liz Holcombe |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Civil Engineering |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
This unit consists of two elements: Soil Mechanics 1 and Engineering Geology 1.
SOIL MECHANICS 1
To provide an introduction to concepts of stress, stiffness, strength and flow of water in soils.
STRESS IN SOILS
total stress, effective stress, pore pressure principle of effective stress, calculation of profiles of stress and pore pressure
DENSITY OF SOILS
definitions of void ratio, water content, specific volume, density, dry density, etc.
ONE DIMENSIONAL STIFFNESS OF SOILS
simple expressions for one-dimensional stiffness, calculation of deformation response to change in effective stress
ONE DIMENSIONAL CHANGES IN STRESS
spring/piston analogy for stress change in fine-grained soil, calculation and sketching of profiles of total and effective stress following changes in loading
ONE DIMENSIONAL SEEPAGE
total head, elevation head, pressure head, role of total head in controlling seepage, calculation and sketching of profiles of head
STRENGTH OF SOILS
link between strength and density of soils, simple empirical expression for frictional strength
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
soil formation, nature of soil particles
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
The unit will introduce students to the fundamentals of Geology and its application to Civil Engineering.
ROCKS
'Igneous Rocks, Sedimentary Rocks, Evaporates, Metamorphic Rocks. Lectures to include : Origin of the different rock types, Difference between Geological and Engineering descriptions, BS5930 descriptions, Basic Geological controls on engineering properties.
ROCK WEATHERING
Physical and chemical weathering
STRUCTURAL
Folds and Unconformities, Discontinuities, Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes, Superficial Structures. Lectures to include : Terminology, Elements of field measuring, Origin of structures, Significance to engineering
PALAEONTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY
Names and characteristics of main phyla, Basic understanding of life habitat, Geological column, Usefulness to Engineers
GEOLOGICAL MAPS
Introduction to maps and mapwork, geological sections, true and apparent dip.
SOIL MECHANICS
At the end of the unit the student will be able to
ULO 1. Recognise the nature of stress and pore water pressure in soils; state the definition of the principle of effective stress and state its importance; and calculate profiles of total and effective stress beneath horizontal ground for one-dimensional cases. PLO A2
ULO 2. State the definitions of soil phase relationships and soil properties (void ratio, porosity, moisture content, density, etc.); calculate these properties from their inter-relationships; and recognise their significance and use in practice. PLO A1
ULO 3. Recall and use simple descriptions of one-dimensional stiffness of soils to estimate deformations of soils. PLO B5
ULO 4. Apply the spring/piston analogy for stress change in fine-grained soils and calculate short term and long term responses to changes in total stress. Recognise the nature of soil strength and apply a simple empirical expression for frictional strength. PLO A2
ULO 5. State the definition of ‘total head’ and state its role in controlling the flow of water in soils. Sketch profiles of groundwater pressure, and calculate total head, elevation head and pressure head. PLO A2
ULO 6. Summarise the standard methods of soil classification. PLO A2
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
At the end of the unit the student will be able to
ULO 1. understand the fundamental and principles of Engineering Geology; PLO A2
Soil Mechanics: 10 hours of lectures; 10 hours of examples classes; 3 hours of laboratories
Engineering Geology: 10 hours of lectures; 10 hours of practical classes; half-day field local field trip
The unit is assessed by a combined 2 hour exam
Blyth FGN & de Freitas MN, A Geology for Engineers, 7th Ed. Arnold
David Muir Wood Soil mechanics: a one-dimensional introduction.
'Lambe TW & Whitman RV Soil mechanics. Wiley
