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Geotechnical Design

Unit Code: HES6194

Duration

Contact Hours

Campus

Prerequisite

Corequisite

1 Semester

36 hours

Hawthorn

PG: UG Civil Degree
UG: HES3150 

Nil

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

> Related Course/s
> Teaching Methods
> Assessment
> Aims & Objectives
> Generic Skills Outcomes
> Content
> Reading Materials
> Recommended Reading

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the


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Aims & Objectives:

On successful completion of this unit, the student should be able to:

  • Determine suitable site investigation technique to be used for site characterisation.
  • Understand the applications and analysis of in-situ testing methods with equipment such as self-boring pressure meter, dilatometer, cone penetration tests and field vane shear tests to obtain various geotechnical parameters.
  • Demonstrate an understanding for various foundation design options as well as understand foundation engineering design.
  • Demonstrate an understanding for the design of excavations and slope stability.
  • Demonstrate an understanding for the design of tunnels in soft soil and rock.
  • Understand the application and methods of back-analysis of field instrumentation with settlement plates, settlement gauges, piezometers, inclinometers and hydrostatic profile gauges.
  • Understand the basic theory and design methodology for ground improvement works such as preloading with or without surcharge, prefabricated vertical drains, vibro-replacement with stone columns.
  • Understand the design methodology for designing with various geosynthetics such as geogrids, geocomposites, geofabrics as well as piled embankments with geogrids.
  • Understand the methodology of dredging and land reclamation works as well as the associated equipment involved and design methodology.


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Teaching Methods:

Lectures (24 hours) and
Syndicate work (12 hours)

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Assessment:

Written exam (60-80%) and
design assignments (20-40%).


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Generic Skills Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit the student should have:

  • An understanding of the principles of key aspects of geotechnical design and development.
  • Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution.
  • Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Highly developed oral and written communication skills.
  • Highly developed teamwork skills.


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Content:

Geotechnical Design is a geotechnical engineering unit that deals with the study of various specialized geotechnical engineering concepts and design methodologies. A number of industry based case study examples will be introduced to complement the lectures.
Topics include: (i) site characterisation (ii) in-situ testing, (iii) foundation engineering (iv) excavations and slope stability, (v) tunnelling (vi) field instrumentation, (vii) ground improvement (viii) geosynthetics (ix) dredging and land reclamation.

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Reading Materials:

 Students will be provided relevant reading material.


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Recommended Reading:

Bo, M.W. and Choa, V. Reclamation and Ground Improvement, Singapore, Thomson Learning, 2004.
British Standard, BS6349, Code of Practice for Dredging and Land Reclamation, Part 5, 1991.
Das, B.M. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 6th Edition, Toronto, Thomson Learning, 2006.
Das, B.M. Principles of Foundation Engineering, 4th Edition, USA, PWS Publishing, 1999.
Dunnicliff, J. Geotechnical Instrumentation for Monitoring Field Performance, John Wiley & Sons, USA, 1988.
Hanna T.H. Field Instrumentation in Geotechnical Engineering, 1st Edition, Transtech Publications, 1985.
Hausmann, R.M. Engineering Principles of Ground Modification, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 

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