James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2018

CS2005 - Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

Credit points: 03
Year: 2018
Student Contribution Band: Band 2
Administered by: College of Science and 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's 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

Prerequisites:EG1011

Availabilities

Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 23-Aug-2018
Coord/Lect: Assoc. Professor Siva Sivakugan.
Contact hours:
  • 39 hours lectures
  • 13 hours tutorials
  • 27 hours practicals
    Assessment:end of semester exam (60%); other exams (20%); quizzes or tests (5%); 5 practicals worth 3% each (15%).

    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.