Future Students - Courses

Geomechanics

Unit Code: HES2155

Duration	Contact Hours	Campus	Prerequisite	Corequisite
1 Semester	56 hours	Hawthorn, Sarawak	HES2120 Structural Mechanics	Nil

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) and Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)/ Bachelor of Commerce.

Aims & Objectives:

To introduce students to basic geology, geological principles, engineering properties of soils and their importance to civil engineering projects. Students should be able to identify rock/soil specimens, construct simple geological cross sections, carry out a basic site classification, and determine strength and compressibility parameters of soils

After successfully completing this unit, students should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the rock cycle and identify common rock forming minerals, basic types of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks in the field
Read and understand geological maps as well as construct geological cross-sections
Determine the physical engineering properties of sediments (soils) and apply these quantities to phase relationships
Undertake a mechanical analysis of a sediment and perform Atterberg limits on the fine fraction in order to classify sediments to Australian Standards AS1726
Understand the basic concepts of water flow through soil to construct a simple flow net and perform the relevant flow calculations
Clearly understand the effective stress concept in soils by calculating total stresses, effective stresses and pore pressures within layers of soil
Calculate the changes in stress resisted by soil due to external point loads, line loads and loaded areas
Determine a soil's strength parameters from a range of physical field and/or laboratory tests
Understand the principle of settlement and the distinct difference between immediate settlement and consolidation
Be able to simulate external soil loadings to calculate potential immediate settlements and consolidation settlements

Teaching Methods:

Lectures (36 hours), Tutorials (12 hours), Laboratory (8 hours)

Assessment:

Examination (50-60%)
Assignments, laboratory reports and class tests (40-50%)

Generic Skills Outcomes:

In this unit, students are expected to enhance the Key Generic Skills below as recognised by Engineers Australia. The Unit Outline explains how these outcomes will be achieved.

Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
Ability to utilize a systems approach to design and operational performance
Ability to function effectively as an individual and in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
Expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, and capacity to do so

Content:

Basic Geology and Geological Mapping (20%)

Introduction to Geology, Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering and their role in Civil Engineering projects
The Rock Cycle – the role of magma, the formation and identification of igneous rocks, the weathering process, formation of sediments, formation and identification of sedimentary rocks, and the formation and identification of metamorphic rocks
Basic Structural Geological Formations and Basic Geological Mapping
Brief Geological Overview of Victoria and Melbourne areas

Engineering Properties and Classification of Soils (20%)

Definition of Soil (Clay, Silt, Sand, Gravel, Cobbles and Boulders) as per Australian Standard
Structure of Soil by Phase Relationships, including Weight – Volume Relationships, Water Content, Void Ratio, Porosity, Degree of Saturation, and Specific Gravity
Mechanical Analysis of Soil (particle size determination) and classification of coarse-grained soils
Consistency of fine grained soils by index tests and classification of fine grained soils
Overall Soil Classification in accordance with Australian Standard: AS1726-1993

Soil Hydraulics (10%)

Water flow through soils, including the Bernoulli's principle and the determination of soil permeability coefficients from field and laboratory methods
Basic flow net analysis

Geostatic Stresses and the Shear Strength of Soil (30%)

Effective Stress Law (Total Stress, Effective Stress and Pore Pressures)
Stresses in a Soil Mass – caused by point loads and loaded areas
Normal and Shear Stress on a Plane: Pole Method and Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria. Laboratory and Field Tests to Determine Shear Strength of Soils: Direct Shear Test, Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Test, Consolidated Drained Triaxial Test
Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Test, Unconfined Compression Test, Vane Shear Test and Penetrometer Tests

Compressibility of Soils (20%)

Immediate Settlement based on Elastic Theory
Consolidation Theory and One-Dimensional Consolidation Test
Consolidation Settlement, Time Rate of Consolidation and Coefficient of Consolidation

Textbooks:

Standards Australia, SAA HB2.1 Australian Standards for Civil Engineering Students, Part 1: Materials and Testing, Standards Australia, 1998.

References:

Coduto, DP, Geotechnical Engineering, Prentice Hall, 1998.
Craig, RF, Soil Mechanics, 6th edn, E & FN Spon, 1997.
Das, BM, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 4th edn, PWS, 1998.
Holtz, RD & Kovacs, WD, An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Prentice Hall, 1981.
Whitlow, R, Basic Soil Mechanics, 4th edn, Prentice Hall, 2001.