Projects
Practicals
Continuous assessments
Terminal exam
Private study
Module Aim:
The aims of the module are:
(1) to provide the graduate with appropriate technical skills in analysis, design and construction work in the geotechnical area;
(2) to work effectively as an individual and in teams.
(3) to provide the graduate with the opportunity to progress to honours degree level in civil engineering.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1
Provide certain parameters related to soil behaviour to a structural or civil engineer for design purposes including the health and safety implications of design
LO2
Analyse and evaluate stresses in soil in selected areas;
LO3
Analyse the stability of simple slopes/excavations, earth retaining structures, shallow foundations including the responsibilities and roles of relevant parties
LO4
Have an understanding of Eurocode 7 and its application
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
6566
ENGR H3503
Geotechnical Engineering I
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
Module Content & Assessment
Indicative Content
(1) Stresses in a Soil Mass (10 hours)
(a) Stresses due to overburden
(b) Stresses due to applied loads, rectangular and circular
(2) Geology (30 hours)
(a) Rock forming minerals and crystallography
(b) Elementary petrology
(c) Stratigraphy and palaeontology
(d) Earth building forces
(e) Weathering and landscape change
(f) Erosion and deposition
(3) Settlement (18 hours)
(a) Immediate settlement based on elastic theory
(b) Consolidation settlement
(c) One dimensional consolidation test
(4) Shear Strength (25 hours)
(a) Review of Coulomb theory and undrained shear test
(b) Consolidated undrained triaxial test with porewater pressure measurement
(5) Foundations (20 hours)
(a) Ultimate & serviceability limit state design
(b) Introduction to piles and piling
(c) Ultimate & serviceability limit state design of shallow foundations
(d) Understanding the difference between undrained and drained analysis
(6) Retaining Walls (20 hours)
(a) Types of retaining walls
(b) Wall types – permanent vs. temporary, gravity, cantilever, basement, buttress/counterfort walls, propped, anchored
(c) Selection criteria for retaining wall types
(d) Retaining wall construction/installation
(e) Drainage of walls
(f) Modes of Failure
(g) Lateral earth pressures and forces
(i) Stability–overturning, sliding
(h) Application of software packages
(7) Health and safety and risk associated with geotechnical design (10 hours)
(a) Health and safety in geotechnical investigation, design and construction.
(b) Risk assessment of geotechnical investigation.
(c) Responsibilities of duty holders
(d) Safety file
(e) Health and Safety Plan
(8) Stability of Slopes(12 hours)
(a) Stability of cuttings and embankments
(b) Application of software packages
(9) Ground Improvement (5 hours)
(a) Compaction
(b) Chemical stabilization and grouting
(c) Geotextiles and geomembranes
Assessment Breakdown
%
Continuous Assessment
10.00%
Project
15.00%
Practical
15.00%
End of Module Formal Examination
60.00%
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type
Assessment Description
Outcome addressed
% of total
Assessment Date
Examination
n/a
2,3,4
10.00
n/a
Project
Assessment Type
Assessment Description
Outcome addressed
% of total
Assessment Date
Project
Analysis and design projects
1,2,3
15.00
n/a
Practical
Assessment Type
Assessment Description
Outcome addressed
% of total
Assessment Date
Practical/Skills Evaluation
Written Lab Report
1,2,3
15.00
n/a
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type
Assessment Description
Outcome addressed
% of total
Assessment Date
Formal Exam
No Description
1,2,3,4
60.00
End-of-Semester
SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment