CS3002 - Soil Mechanics and Geology

Credit points:	03
Year:	2009
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	Discipline of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Introduction to engineering geology and geo-engineering; Basic geology: identification of rocks and minerals in relation to engineering problems, stratigraphy, structural geology, weathering and landscape formation, sediment processes, geomorphology, geological hazards. Soil Mechanics: seepage analysis (two-dimensional), pore pressure measurement and method of fragments; response of soils to stress changes, Terzaghi theory, consolidation and one-dimensional settlement, secondary compression; shear strength and compressibility, Mohr-Coulomb strength criteria for drained and undrained conditions, triaxial testing, peak and residual strength, stress paths; slope stability, infinite slope analysis, method of slices, Bishops method, GALENA; site investigation, CPT and other insitu tests, interpretation of CPT data. Case histories.

Learning Outcomes

• analyse cases of two-dimensional seepage in saturated soils;
• appreciate the significance of geological factors in geo-engineering problems;
• identify the rocks and minerals of most significance to civil and environmental engineering;
• make estimates of consolidation settlement;
• read and interpret geological maps;
• select appropriate strength parameters for analysis and investigate the stability of slopes using Bishops method;
• specify appropriate methods of soil site investigation and interpret the results.

Prerequisites:

CS2005

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 27-Mar-2009
Coord/Lect:	Assoc. Professor Siva Sivakugan.
Contact hours:	65 hours - Lectures, tutorials, demonstrations, practicals, site visits and/or seminars. Refer to Subject Outline for details.
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50% - 70%); on-course assessment, some of which may be invigilated (30% - 50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.