James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2011

CS2005 - Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

Credit points: 03
Year: 2011
Student Contribution Band: Band 2
Administered by: School of Engineering

Engineering classification of soils, engineering characteristics and uses, phase relationships, Atterberg limits, compaction. Origin of soils. Saturated and unsaturated soils, effective stress and pore pressure, capillary effects simple stress states in soils. Permeability and one-dimensional seepage, filter design, quick conditions. Consolidation. Shear strength of soils, Mohr-Coulomb failure theory, direct shear and triaxial testing. Foundation types, bearing capacity of shallow foundations, introduction to stresses beneath footings. Lateral pressures on retaining walls, Rankine earth pressure theory, design of simple retaining walls. Foundations on reactive soils, shrink-swell behaviour, site classification. Simple site investigation, disturbed and undisturbed sampling.

Learning Outcomes


Availabilities

Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
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.